Feroz Khan (born Zulfiqar Ali Shah Khan; 25 September 1939 — 27 April 2009)[2] was an Indian actor, film editor, producer and director 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.[3][4][5] Feroz Khan is known for his roles in successful Hindi films, such as Arzoo (1965), Safar (1970), Mela (1971), Apradh (1972), Khotte Sikkay (1974), Kaala Sona (1975), Dharmatma (1975), Nagin (1976), Qurbani (1980), Kachche Heere (1982), Janbaaz (1986) , Dayavan (1988), Yalgaar (1992), Welcome (2007).[6][7]

Feroz Khan
Khan in 2005
Born
Zulfiqar Ali Shah Khan

(1939-09-25)25 September 1939
Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore, British India
(present-day Karnataka, India)
Died27 April 2009(2009-04-27) (aged 69)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film editor
  • producer
  • director
Years active1960–2007
Spouse
Sundari Khan
(m. 1965; div. 1985)
Children2, including Fardeen Khan
RelativesSanjay Khan (brother)
Akbar Khan (brother)
Sussanne Khan (niece)
Zayed Khan (nephew)
AwardsFilmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2001)[1]

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.[1] He has been called "the Clint Eastwood of the East".[8]

Early life

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Feroz Khan was born on 25 September 1939[9][10][11] in Bangalore, India, to Sadiq Ali Khan, an Afghan from Ghazni, Afghanistan, and Fatima, who had Persian ancestry from Iran.[9][12][13][14] His mother's family dealt in horse breeding.[9]

His brothers are Shah Abbas Khan (Sanjay Khan), Shahrukh Shah Ali Khan, Sameer Khan and Akbar Khan. Apart from Shahrukh, all other brothers would be associated with the entertainment industry. His sisters are Khurshid Shahnavar and Dilshad Begum Sheikh, popularly known as Dilshad Bibi.[15][16][17][18]

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.[9] He made his debut as the second lead in Didi in 1960.[19][20]

Career

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1960s: Early works and success in supporting roles

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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.[21][22] Again, in the same year, he played a sacrificing lover in the mushy musical Arzoo, starring Sadhana. With this, Khan started to receive A-list second leads.

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 Safar, Khotey Sikkay, Geeta Mera Naam, Kaala Sona and Shankar Shambhu.

He appeared alongside his real-life brother Sanjay Khan in the hit films Upaasna (1971), Mela (1971) and Nagin (1976).

1970s-1980s: Popularity as director-producer

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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.[23] 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".[22]

In 1986, he directed and starred in Janbaaz, a box office hit,[24] which some consider to be one of his best movies, featured an all-star cast and possessed great songs and excellent cinematography.

In 1988, he directed and starred in Dayavan, which was a remake of an Indian Tamil film titled Nayakan.

1990s: Decline and retirement from acting

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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.

2000s: Return to acting through character roles

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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.[citation needed]

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.

Personal life

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Family

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Feroz Khan married Sundari Khan in 1965 and they divorced in 1985.[25] She hailed from a Sindhi Hindu background.[26][27]

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,[28] while Fardeen is married to Natasha Madhwani, daughter of former Bollywood actress Mumtaz.[29] Mumtaz has stated in an interview that Feroz Khan was the most handsome hero in Hindi film industry.[30]

Hobbies

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Feroz Khan's hobbies included horses, being a horse breeder and also participating in horse racing, as well snooker, himself organizing competitions.[31]

During his last years, his other hobbies included reading philosophy books and writing poetry.[9]

Death and funeral

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Feroz 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.[32]

He was buried in Bangalore near his mother's grave at Hosur Road Shia Kabristan.[33]

Awards and nominations

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Award Movie Category Won/Nominated
BFJA Awards Aadmi Aur Insaan Best Supporting Actor Won
Filmfare Awards Won
Safar Nominated
International Crook Nominated
Lifetime Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award (2001) Won
IIFA Awards Janasheen Best Performance in a Negative Role Won
Zee Awards Lifetime Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award (2008) Won
Stardust Awards Pride Of Industry Pride Of Industry (2009) Won

Filmography

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Year Title Role Producer Director Notes
1957 Zamana
Bade Sarkar Newly Wed Man
1959 Didi Madhu
1960 Ghar Ki Laaj Suresh
1961 Mr. India Feroz
1962 Private Detective
Tarzan Goes to India Prince Raghu Kumar
Reporter Raju Rajkumar
Main Shaadi Karne Chala Kewal
1963 Bahurani Vikram
1964 Suhagan Shankar
Samson Salook
Char Dervesh Qamar Bhakt
1965 Arzoo Ramesh
Oonche Log Rajnikant (Rajjo)
Teesra Kaun Prakash
Ek Sapera Ek Lootera Mohan/Vijay Pratap Singh
1966 Tasveer Prakash
Main Wohi Hoon Vijay
1967 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 Shankar
1968 Nadir Shah Nadir Shah
Aaja Sanam Dr. Satish
Jahan Mile Dharti Akash
Anjaam Shekhar
1969 Anjaan Hai Koi Anand
Aadmi Aur Insaan Jai Kishan/J.K.
Pyasi Shaam Ashok
1970 Safar Shekhar Kapoor
1971 Ek Paheli Sudhir
Upaasna Advocate Ram
Mela Shakti Singh
1972 Apradh Ram Khanna / Ramu Yes Yes
1973 Kashmakash Satish Gupta
1974 Kisan Aur Bhagwan Shyamu
Bhagat Dhanna Jatt Shyamu
Khote Sikkay Dilbar
Geeta Mera Naam Raja
Anjaan Raahein Anand
International Crook SP Rajesh
1975 Dharmatma Ranbir Yes Yes
Kaala Sona Rakesh
Rani Aur Laal Pari Gulliver Special appearance
1976 Nagin Raj
Shankar Shambhu Shankar/Badey Thakur
Sharafat Chhod Di Main Ne Raju
Kabeela Mangal
1977 Jadu Tona Dr. Kailash
Darinda Rajesh
1980 Chunaoti Vijay
Qurbani Rajesh Kumar Yes Yes
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 Yes Yes
1987 Raj Kapoor Himself Cameo
1988 Dayavan Shankar Waghmare Yes Yes Remake 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 Yes Yes
1998 Prem Aggan Himself Yes Yes Guest appearance in the song "Har Dam Dam Badam"
2002 Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein Himself
2003 Janasheen Saba Karim Shah Yes Yes
2005 Chitappa
Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena Jahangir Khan
2007 Om Shanti Om Himself Cameo
Welcome Ranvir 'RDX' Dhanraj Xaka

References

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  1. ^ a b Bollywood's style icon Feroz Khan is dead The Economic Times, 27 April 2009
  2. ^ Jaskiran Chopra (29 September 2018),"Feroz Khan: From a shy young hero to self-styled cowboy star", DailyO. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Feroz Khan". The Daily Telegraph. London. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. ..one of Bollywood's biggest stars; with his swagger and tough-guy styling he was compared to American leading men like Clint Eastwood or Steve McQueen.
  4. ^ Feroz Khan, the ultimate trendsetter of Bollywood buried[permanent dead link] Press Trust of India.
  5. ^ 'Feroz Khan was an Indian style icon' R G Vijayasarathy in Bengaluru, Rediff.com, 27 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Feroz Khan Birth Anniversary: A Look at His 5 Superhit Films". 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Blockbusters Of Twenty-Five Years (1973-1997)". 13 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Feroz Khan Death Anniversary: Remembering Bollywood's Clint Eastwood". news18.com. 27 April 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Feroz Khan: A life in multi-colour". The Times of India. 7 December 2003. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024.
  10. ^ Vijayasarathy, R G (27 April 2009). "Feroz Khan: 1939-2009". Rediff.com.
  11. ^ "Feroz Khan laid to rest in Bangalore". Mangalorean.com. 29 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Feroz Khan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  13. ^ Bharati, Dubey (28 April 2009). "Feroz Khan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Feroz Khan, Bollywood Actor, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Agence France-Presse. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  15. ^ "'I have never known FEAR'". Indian Express. The Indian Express ltd. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Feroz Khan: 1919-2009". Rediff.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Feroz Khan lived life king size". Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  18. ^ "How a movie star cheated death". Rediff.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  19. ^ IANS. "Feroz Khan - Bollywood's all time style icon". India Today.
  20. ^ Farhana, Farhana (25 September 2019). "We remember the late actor, Feroz Khan". filmfare.com.
  21. ^ "Review: Blast from the past: Oonche Log (1965)". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009.
  22. ^ a b Feroz Khan lived life king size The Times of India. 27 April 2009.
  23. ^ Feroz Khan was the only man who called me baby: Hema Malini Archived 30 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Hindustan Times, 28 April 2009.
  24. ^ "Far removed from Feroz's films". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 1 December 2003. Archived from the original on 6 December 2003.
  25. ^ "Feroz Khan Birth anniversary: Lesser-known facts about the legendary actor". newsd.in. 24 September 2019.
  26. ^ "fardeenfkhan". Instagram. 22 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Fardeen Khan's birthday: 6 Facts about the actor that you must not have known". Radio Mirchi. 22 September 2023.
  28. ^ Lalwani, Vickey (22 October 2013). "I saw death staring in my face: Fardeen Khan's sister". The Times of India.
  29. ^ Indrani Roy Mitra (12 December 2005). "Mumtaz on Fardeen-Natasha wedding". Rediff.com.
  30. ^ Mumtaz Interview: Rajesh Khanna-Anju Mahendroo BREAK-UP | Feroz Khan | Dev Anand on YouTube
  31. ^ "Horses to pool, Feroz lived life king-size". The Times of India. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Feroze Khan believed in living life king size". Hindustan Times. hindustantimes.com. 27 April 2009.
  33. ^ "Fareed Khan, Zayed Khan and Sanjay Khan at Feroz Khan's funeral". The Times of India.
  34. ^ "Bengal Film Journalists' Association". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  35. ^ "Lifetime Achievement (Popular)". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  36. ^ "BollywoodLens: Stardust Awards 2009". Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  37. ^ "Winners of Max Stardust Awards 2009". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
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