Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Feroz Khan,the handsome debanaire of the Hindi cinema,is known as an actor,producer and director who was highly influenced by the Hollywood cinema ,especially of Western style films of Clint Eastwood genre like “For a few Dollars More” and “The Good the Bad and the Ugly”.His “Khotte Sikkay” was his answer to Hollywood .Like other Bollywood stars Feroz Khan,too,had a lean period in the tinsel town.He worked in several low- budget films in the fifities and sixties like Didi,Ghar Ki Laaj,Reporter Raju and “Tarzan goes to India”.He was noticed in”Suhaagan” and Phani Majumdaar’s “Oonche log”where he was cast opposite Raaj Kumar and Ashok Kumar:the film won acclaim and adulation both from the cinegoers and critics.It was followed by ” Ek Sapera Ek Lootera”( 1965) opposite Kumkum with hit numbers like “Hum Tumse Juda Ho kar Mar Jayenge Ro Ro ke”, ” Uthao Jaam Chalo Dono Saath Saath Chale”,& ” Door Kahin Door Hume Le Chalo Sanam” to boast.I saw this film at Sadar Bazar Delhi in 1970. Ramanand Sagar’s “Arzoo” starring Rajendra Kumara and Sadhna was another of his best films.He came into the limilight with “Apraadh”, “Dharmatma” and “Qurbani”.His other notable films include Asit Sen’s “Safar” also featuring Ashok Kumar,Rajesh Khanna,Sharmila Tagore with many hit songs like” Zindagi Ka Safar”,” Jo Tumko Ho Pasand Wohi Baat “.”Nadia Chale Cale Re Dhara” & “Hum The Jinke Sahare”, “Mela”,”Dayawan”and “Janbaaz”.Some of his later films were musical hits. Won Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ” Aadmi Aur Insaan” . Also received nominations for many films as Supporting Actor.Produced & directed many hits like ” Apradh” ( 1972), “Dharmatma” ( 1975) “Qurbani” ( 1980), “Jaanbaaz” (1986),”Dayavan”(1988) ” Yalgaar” ( 1992) and ” Janasheen” ( 2003).He introduced his son Fardeen in “Prem Aggan”(1998).
Feroz Khan was fond of hunting and owned a licence for the purpose.He was also fond of throwing lavish parties at his bungalow.Known as Clint Eastwood of India Khan had a charismatic personality .His son Fardeen Khan is also an actor and so are two brothers Sanjay and Akbar Khan.He was said to be the most sophisticated actor of the 70s. Born Zulfiqar Ali Shah in 1939,Feroz Khan died on 27 April,2009 at Bengaluru.
