By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
तेरे चेहरे में वो जादू है
बिन डोर खिंचा जाता हूँ
जाना होता है और कहीं
तेरी ओर चला आता हूँ
Feroz Khan, the handsome debonaire needs no introduction. Khan mesmerized the audience for decades as an actor, producer and director. He was highly influenced by the Hollywood cinema, especially of Western style films starring 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. His “Waqt Ki Roti”(1988) also portrayed him in the western style also featuring Sanjeev Kumar.
Like other Bollywood stars Feroz Khan, too, had a lean period in the tinsel town. He worked in several low- budget films in the 1950s and 1960s 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 limelight 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.
Khan 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 license 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. I met the actor at Juhu in 1988 & later at Sanjay Khan’s Palatial Juhu flat in the vicinity of Sun-n-Sand.
Many hit songs were picturized on the actor like- ‘Jaag Dil-E-Deewana Rut Jaagi’ (1965), ‘Hum Tumse Juda Hoke ‘Ek Sapera Ek Lutera-1965) , ‘Dil Ki Girah Khol Do, Chup Na Baitho’ (Raat Aur Din-1967), ‘Jo Tumko Ho Pasand Wohi Baat Kahenge’ (Safar-1970), ‘Darpan Ko Dekhaa Tune Jab Jab Kiyaa Shrringaar’ (Upaasana-1971), ‘Kya Khub Lagti Ho, Badi Sundar Dikhti Ho’ & ‘Tere Chehre Me Vo Jaadu Hai’ (Dharmatama-1975) & ‘Har Kisee Ko Naheen Milata Pyaar Zindagi Mein’ (Janbaaz-1986), & not last but least ‘Hamaare Sivaa Tumhaare Aur Kitane Divaane Hain’ (Apradh-1972) featuring Mumtaz , to mention some.
