Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan (born as Zulfiqar Ali Shah Khan; 25 September 1935 — 27 April 2009) 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 rose to prominence with Phani Majumdar's drama film Oonche Log, 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. 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.

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.

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

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. Farhana Farook of Filmfare said, "Feroz Khan wore his identity with elan. He is the original Khan." 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

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