Syed Rehman Khan (23 June 1921 – 5 November 1984) was an Indian actor whose career spanned from the late 1940s through to the late 1970s. He was an integral part of the Guru Dutt team, and most known for his roles in films such as Pyar Ki Jeet (1948), Badi Behen (1949), Pardes (1950), Pyaasa (1957), Choti Behen (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966) and Waqt (1965).
In 2022, he was placed in Outlook India "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.
Early life and education Syed Rehman Khan was an actor in Hindi and Indian films. He was born on 23 June 1921 in Lahore, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan) into the royal Mohammadzai clan of the Barakzai tribe of the Durrani confederacy of Pashtuns. His Afghan ancestors moved to Punjab, India from Kabul, Afghanistan in 1905 during the British Raj. His family claims ancestry from king Amanullah Khan of Paghman and from founder of the Durrani Empire and the modern state of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali of Herat.
He graduated from Robertson College Jabalpur, staying in BeoharNiwas Palace. Among his nephews are prominent Pakistani film and TV actor Faisal Rehman and Fasih Ur Rehman, Indian classical dancer, and sons of his younger brother Massud-ur-Rehman, the famous cinematographer in Pakistan.
Film career After college (1942), he joined the Royal Indian Air Force and trained at Poona as a pilot. The Air Force didn't appeal to him and soon left for a career in films at Bombay. He is best known for his suave sophisticated roles, which suited his personality. His movie career started with a job as third assistant director to Vishram Bedekar at the studios in Pune. Vishram needed an Afghan who could tie a Pashtun turban on one of his characters. Rehman could do that, being a Pashtun, and that brought him to the screen for some lead roles. One of his major hits as hero was Pyar Ki Jeet with Suraiya, and the song-"Ek Dil Ke Tukade Hazar Hue, Koi Yahan Gira, Koi Wahan Gira" was a major hit. Badi Behen was another big hit with Suraiya. He was also interested in marrying Suraiya, along with many other suitors, though she was adamant in wanting to marry Dev Anand. He also worked with Madhubala in Paras (1949) and Pardes (1950); both the films were critical and commercial successes.
Initially he played lead roles, but as time passed, he accepted supporting roles and made his mark in some hit films like Pyaasa, Chaudhvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (in which he played a debauched zamindar, Chhote Sarkar), and Waqt which were some of his memorable roles, the first three with Guru Dutt, famous actor, producer, director. Rehman also did key roles in Baharon Ki Manzil, Gomti Ke Kinare, Dushman and Holi Aayi Re.
Rehman received four Filmfare nominations as Best Supporting Actor for Phir Subah Hogi (1958), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) and Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966) but did not end up winning any of them.
Death In 1977, he suffered three heart attacks due to excessive alcohol consumption. He was also a chain smoker and he was diagnosed with throat cancer. A man whose majestic voice was his signature, lost his voice and he was unable to speak during his last days in his life. Rehman died in 1984.
Selected filmography Year Film RoleNotes1946Hum Ek HainYousufDebut filmNargis1947Intezar Ke BaadTohfa1948Pyar Ki JeetVeena1949Bari BehenShyamParasKumarRoomalRoop Lekha1950Badi BahenPardesRajanPyar Ki ManzilRaj RaniShaanShadi Ki Raat1951Ek NazarRaj (Rajju)1952Ajeeb Larki1953GauharManohar1954Pyaase Nain1957Miss BombayPerveenPyaasaGhoshUstad195812 O'ClockPhir Subah HogiRehmanTrolley Driver1959AanganChhoti BahenShekharPehli Raat1960Chaudhvin Ka ChandNawab Pyare MiyanChhaliaKewalGhunghatManohar1961BatwaraPranDharmputraJaved1962Sahib Bibi Aur GhulamChhote Babu1963Taj MahalNoor-ud-din JahangirYeh Rastey Hain Pyar KeAshok Shrivastav1964Ganga Ki LahrenDr. BalrajGazalAkhtar NawabKaise KahoonDr. ShaileshShehnaiAmarjeetGuest Appearance1965JanwarMahendra ShrivastavWaqtChinoy1966Baharen Phir Bhi AayengiVikram Verma's elder brotherChhota BhaiDewanDaadi MaaDr. BharatiDil Diya Dard LiyaSatishDil Ne Phir Yaad LiyaAmjadDo Dilon Ki DastanSagaaiDr. TandonSunehre KadamShekhar1967Dulhan Ek Raat KiRanjeetMera MunnaAnandNoor JehanJalaluddin Mohammed AkbarPalkiNawab1968AabrooChandra Shekhar VermaAbhilashaRanjeet SinghBaharon Ki ManzilSubodh RoyHumsayaPratap SinghJuariChaariMere Hamdam Mere DostAjeet NarangPayal Ki JhankarDiwanShikarSharma1969IntaqamSohan Lal1970DarpanDr. Jayadev DuttDeviDr. Shekhar's elder brotherMaa Aur MamtaFather HenryHoli Ayee ReGopal SinghMastanaDhanrajUmang1971ChingariEk Thi ReetaGanga Tera Pani AmritDevkinandan1972DushmanJudgeGomti Ke KinareGopal DasJai Jwala alias Puja Aur PayalRut Rangeeli Aayi1973AnhoneeInspector GeneralHeera PannaRaja SahibInsaan Aur InsaanKashmakashRana ChaudharyNainaBansi Lal Verma1974Aap Ki KasamSunita's fatherAaropAsliyatAzad MohabbatDostKaajal Gupta's fatherMajboorSurendra SinhaNirmaanShyam LalPrem ShastraRajan Arora1975AandhiK. Bose1977Aashiq Hoon Baharon KaChandidas RaiAmaanatAmarChacha BhatijaRanveer Singh Teja1979Salaam MemsaabMehra1980Ramu Toh Diwana HaiSanjh Ki BelaZalim1981Ahista AhistaDr. SiddiquiDhanwanShyam SethGuest Appearance1982RajputPratap SinghVakil BabuKhanDil...Akhir Dil HaiArvind DesaiFinal film & role2013Love In BombayPreeti Mehra's fatherPosthumous release; Made in 1971 but completed in 2013.
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