By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
जहां न हो कोई
हम दोनों के सिवा
दूर कहीं दूर हमें ले चलो सनम
दूर कहीं दूर हमें ले चलो सनम
Feroz Khan, the handsome debonair 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 “Khote 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 fifties 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 cine goers 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. I met the actor at Juhu, Bombay.
Ramanand Sagar’s “Arzoo” starring Rajendra Kumar and Sadhna was another of his best films. He came into the limelight with “Apradh”, “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 Chale Re Dhara” & “Hum The Jinke Sahare”. 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), “Qurbami” (190) “Janbaaz” (1986), “Dayavan”(1988) ” Yalgaar” ( 1992) and ” Janasheen” (2003). He introduced his son Fardeen in “Prem Aggan”(1998). Fardeen is married to actress Mumtaz’s daughter Natasha Madhwani. His infatuation with actress Mumtaz was too well known. Both worked in Apradh, Mela, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Nagin & Upaasna to mention some.
