Feroz Khan (born as Zulfiqar Ali Shah Khan; 25 September 1935 — 27 April 2009) "Remembering Feroz Khan on his 82nd birth anniversary"Jaskiran Chopra (29 September 2018),"Feroz Khan: From a shy young hero to self-styled cowboy star", DailyO. Retrieved 17 March 2019. was an Indian actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor, best known for his work in Indian cinema. He appeared in over 60 films throughout his career and became one of Bollywood's popular style icons.'Feroz Khan was an Indian style icon' R G Vijayasarathy in Bengaluru, Rediff.com, 27 April 2009. Feroz Khan rose to prominence with Phani Majumdar's drama film Oonche Log (1965), and starred in successful Hindi films, such as Arzoo (1965), Aag (1967), Safar (1970), Mela (1971), Apradh (1972), Geeta Mera Naam (1974), Khotte Sikkay (1974), Kaala Sona (1975), Dharmatma (1975), Nagin (1976), Shankar Shambhu (1976) and Qurbani (1980). The 2007 superhit Welcome (2007), was his final film.
He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) in 1970, and was honored with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.Bollywood's style icon Feroz Khan is dead The Economic Times, 27 April 2009 He has been called "Clint Eastwood of India".
Early life Feroz Khan was born on 25 September 1935 in Bangalore, India, to Sadiq Ali Khan, an Afghan from Ghazni, Afghanistan, and Fatima, who had Persian ancestry from Iran. His mother's family dealt in horse breeding. Khan was educated at Bishop Cotton Boys' School and St. Germain High School, Bangalore. Describing himself as a "rebel", he was kicked out from three schools, and never went to college, despite clearing his Senior Cambridge examinations, as he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue a film career.
His younger brothers are Shah Abbas Khan (Sanjay Khan), Shahrukh Shah Ali Khan, Sameer Khan and Akbar Khan. Except Shahrukh, all brothers were associated with the entertainment industry. His younger sisters are Khurshid Shahnavar and Dilshad Begum Sheikh, popularly known as Dilshad Bibi.
Career
1960s: Early work and breakthrough Khan made his debut as the second lead in Didi (1960).
Through the early 1960s and 1970s, he made low-budget thrillers opposite starlets. In 1962, he appeared in an English-language film titled Tarzan Goes to India opposite Simi Garewal.
His first big hit was in 1965, with Phani Majumdar's Oonche Log (1965), where he was pitted against screen idols Raaj Kumar and Ashok Kumar; he gave a notable sensitive performance. It was followed by more small budget hit films like Samson, Ek Sapera Ek Lootera and Char Darvesh. Again, in the same year, he played a sacrificing lover in the mushy musical Arzoo, starring Rajendra Kumar and Sadhana. With this, Khan started to receive A-list second lead roles.
With the film Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Khan won his first Filmfare award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. His other hit films were Pyasi Sham (1969), Safar (1970), Khotey Sikkay (1974), Geeta Mera Naam (1974), Kaala Sona (1975) and Shankar Shambhu (1976).
He appeared alongside his younger brother Sanjay Khan in the hit films Upaasna (1971), Mela (1971) and Nagin (1976).
1970s-1980s: Directorial and production success He became a successful producer and director in 1971 so as to improve his career opportunities as a leading man with his first directorial film Apradh, which was the first Indian movie showing auto racing in Germany; Mumtaaz was his co-star.
He produced, directed and starred in the 1975 film Dharmatma, which was the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan and was also his first blockbuster hit as producer, director and star and marked the appearance of actress Hema Malini in a glamorous avatar.Feroz Khan was the only man who called me baby: Hema Malini , Hindustan Times, 28 April 2009. This movie was inspired by the Hollywood film The Godfather.
He also starred in the Punjabi film Bhagat Dhanna Jat (1974).
In 1980, he produced, directed and starred in Qurbani, alongside Vinod Khanna and Zeenat Aman, which was the biggest hit of his career and launched the singing career of iconic Pakistani pop singer Nazia Hassan, with her memorable track "Aap Jaisa Koi".Feroz Khan lived life king size The Times of India. 27 April 2009.
In 1986, he directed and starred in Janbaaz, a box office hit, which some consider to be one of his best movies, featuring an all-star cast with great songs and excellent cinematography.
In 1988, he directed and starred in Dayavan, which was a remake of the Indian Tamil film titled Nayakan.
1990s to 2000s: Hiatus and final projects In 1991, he starred in Meet Mere Man Ke, an outside production which was directed by Mehul Kumar.
After directing and starring in Yalgaar (1992), he took a long break from acting for 11 years.
He launched his son Fardeen Khan's career with the 1998 film Prem Aggan, which, however, was a box office bomb.
In 2003, he produced and directed Janasheen, also starring alongside his son Fardeen. This film marked his return to acting after 11 years and was also the last film he directed. Apart from sports cars, he also used performing animals in his films — a chimpanzee and lion were used in Janasheen.
He starred alongside his son again in an outside production Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena in 2005.
He made his last film appearance in the 2007 comedy film Welcome, co-starring Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat. Initially reluctant, Khan had finally agreed to do the role. Welcome eventually became a massive success, and Khan's dialogue Abhi Hum Zinda Hai(I am still alive) became largely popular among masses.
Personal life
Family Feroz Khan married Sundari Khan in 1965. She hails from a Sindhi Hindu family. They had two children, Laila Khan (born 1970) and Fardeen Khan (born 1974): Laila is married to businessman Farhan Furniturewala, Pooja Bedi's ex-husband, while Fardeen is married to Natasha Madhwani, daughter of former Bollywood actress Mumtaz. Mumtaz has stated in an interview that Feroz Khan was the most handsome hero in Hindi film industry.
In May 2006, Khan was a subject of major controversy while invited to visit Pakistan. In his remark, Khan stated "I am a proud Indian. India is a secular country. Muslims there are making lot of progress. Our President is a Muslim, Prime Minister a Sikh. Pakistan was made in the name of Islam but look how the Muslims are killing each other. I have not come here on my own. I was invited to come. Our films are so powerful that your government could not stop them for long." The remarks did not go well with then President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, who subsequently stated that Khan will not be issued a visa to Pakistan again.
Hobbies Feroz Khan's hobbies included horse breeding and participating in horse racing, as well snooker, himself organising competitions.
During his last years, his other hobbies included reading philosophy books and writing poetry.
Legacy Khan is known for his flamboyant persona and inimitable style. Tina Das of ThePrint said, "Feroz Khan brought the wild west to Bollywood with his leather boots, hats and cigars, and he did it with swag." Farhana Farook of Filmfare said, "Feroz Khan wore his identity with elan. He is the original Khan." Subhash K Jha called him "the coolest actor of India". Filmfare placed him fourth in its "Bollywood's most stylish men" list.
In 2022, Khan was placed in Outlook Indias "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.
Illness, death and funeral Right after success of his son Fardeen's movie No Entry, Khan invited Anees Bazmee for dinner, who convinced him to do Welcome. During the meeting, Khan displayed signs of lung cancer but kept it to himself then and during the shoot, which was revealed by Bazmee in an interview in 2024.
Khan died of lung cancer on 27 April 2009. He was undergoing treatment at Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai, but expressed his desire to visit his farmhouse in Bangalore. Accordingly, he was brought here, where he died at around 1 a.m.
He was buried in Bangalore near his mother's grave at Hosur Road Shia Kabristan.
Awards and nominations Award Movie Category Won/Nominated BFJA Awards Aadmi Aur Insaan Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Awards Safar International Crook Lifetime Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award (2001) IIFA Awards Janasheen Best Performance in a Negative Role Zee Awards Lifetime Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award (2008) Stardust Awards Pride Of Industry Pride Of Industry (2009)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aadmi Aur Insaan (1971) BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actor for Aadmi Aur Insaan (1971) Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Safar (1971) Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for International Crook (1975) Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 Filmfare Nomination as Best Villain for Janasheen (2004) IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role in 2004 Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008 "Pride of the industry" at the Max Stardust Awards 2009.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1957 Zamana Bade Sarkar Newly Wed Man 1959 Didi Madhu 1960 Ghar Ki Laaj Suresh 1961 Mr. India Feroz1962 Private Detective Tarzan Goes to India Prince Raghu Kumar Reporter Raju Rajkumar Main Shaadi Karne Chala Kewal1963 Bahurani Vikram 1964 Suhagan Shankar Samson Salook Char Dervesh Qamar Bhakt1965 Arzoo Ramesh Oonche Log Rajnikant (Rajjo) Teesra Kaun Prakash Ek Sapera Ek Lootera Mohan/Vijay Pratap Singh1966 Tasveer Prakash Main Wohi Hoon Vijay1967 Raat Aur Din Anil Aurat Anand Woh Koi Aur Hoga Gopal Raat Andheri Thi Dilip C.I.D. 909 Raju/C.I.D. Agent 909 Aag Shankar1968 Nadir Shah Nadir Shah Aaja Sanam Dr. Satish Jahan Mile Dharti Akash Anjaam Shekhar1969 Pyasi Sham Ashok Aadmi Aur Insaan Jai Kishan/J.K. Anjaan Hai Goli Anand 1970 Safar Shekhar Kapoor1971 Ek Paheli Sudhir Upaasna Advocate Ram Mela Shakti Singh 1972 Apradh Ram Khanna / Ramu 1973 Kashmakash Satish Gupta1974 Kisan Aur Bhagwan Shyamu Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Shyamu Khote Sikkay Dilbar Geeta Mera Naam Raja Anjaan Raahein Anand International Crook SP Rajesh1975 Dharmatma Ranbir Kaala Sona Rakesh Rani Aur Laal Pari Gulliver Special appearance1976 Nagin Raj Shankar Shambhu Shankar/Badey Thakur Sharafat Chhod Di Main Ne Raju Kabeela Mangal1977 Jadu Tona Dr. Kailash Darinda Rajesh1979 Chunaoti Vijay 1980 Qurbani Rajesh Kumar 1980 Lahu Pukarega Sandeep 1981 Khoon Aur Paani Ram Singh/Thanedar Singh 1982 Kachche Heere Nephew of Kamal Singh 1985 Ram Tere Kitne Naam Himself Cameo 1986 Janbaaz Inspector Rajesh Singh 1987 Raj Kapoor HimselfCameo 1988 Dayavan Shankar WaghmareRemake of Mani Ratnam's Nayagan Do Waqt Ki Roti Shankar Akarshan Himself Cameo 1991 Meet Mere Mann Ke Thakur Jagat Pratap Singh 1992 Yalgaar Rajesh Ashwini Kumar 1998 Prem Aggan Himself Guest appearance in the song "Har Dam Dam Badam" 2002 Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein Himself 2003 Janasheen Saba Karim Shah2005 Chitappa Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena Jahangir Khan2007 Om Shanti Om Himself Cameo Welcome Ranvir 'RDX' Dhanraj Xaka
Other crew positions Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Notes 1972 Apradh 1975 Dharmatma 1980 Qurbani 1986 Janbaaz 1988 Dayavan 1992 Yalgaar 1998 Prem Aggan 2003 Janasheen
References
External links