Remembering Feroz Khan: A style icon for generations
Feroz khan started his career in B Grade movies and quickly progressed to the top playing in such movies like Safar and Aadmi aur Insaan.
STYLE ICON of Bollywood Feroz Khan was born to an Afghan father, Sadiq Ali Khan and an Iranian mother, Fatima at Bangalore on September 25, 1939.Feroz did his schooling in the city. He later moved to Mumbai to make a career in the Hindi film industry. He got a big break in the film, Didi (1960), and went on to act in many films like Aarzoo, Aadmi Aur Insaan and Safar. The actor found him self restricted to doing small budget action films, and could not join the big league.
He based one typically all-action picture, Dharmatma (1975), on Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar-winning film, The Godfather, and starred in another as a suave racing driver who wins the world championship. Later he appeared in a series of cowboy films. In the late 1960s he thrived as a supporting actor, winning the first of many prizes for Aadmi aur Insaan (1969), as one of a pair of close friends who fall out over a girl. Deprived of leading roles, though, Khan decided to set up his own production company. His debut as producer, and leading man, was Apradh (1972), whose plot intertwines the glamorous worlds of Formula One and jewel theft. He won his first Filmfare for Best Actor in supporting role for Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969). By then, Sanjay had managed to get a break in Bollywood as well. Both the brothers worked together in the successful film Mela (1971). Feroz khan started his career in B Grade movies and quickly progressed to the top playing in such movies like Safar and Aadmi aur Insaan for which he won… the best supporting actor Filmfare. It was in Apradh that he debuted as a director, followed by the highly stylish, Godfather influenced, Dharmatma, where he showed his visual genius In Qurbani, Feroz Khan can also be credited with bringing Disco to Hindi cinema and making it popular. With an amazing eye for visuals and cinematography and music, he was instrumental in bringing in many talented artists to cinema including the late Nazia Hassan and Biddu .But for the avid movie watcher, who’s followed the 70s and 80s Hindi cinema, Feroz Khan holds a special place in their hearts for the crazy Cowboy rides he provided in such movies as Khote sikkey, Geeta mera Naam, Kala sona, Shankar sambhu and so many more. His Qurbani divided India in to two definite parts. On one side were kids, dying to watch the film because everywhere Aap jaisa koi , laila main laila etc.Qurbani keeps a special place in the lives of kids of 70s and 80s Feroz Khan had a Charming personality and a good voice but in spite of having a dashing personality required to play the leading man’s roles, Hindi filmmakers did not offer him big films as a solo hero and he decided to pave the way himself and became the director and the producer with a crime thriller Apradh. Feroz Khan along with Dev Anand took a charge to make fast paced Crime thrillers in 70s.Before taking the decision to become a director he had appeared in some good films but he was contributing there as one of the multiple heroes. He was very well appreciated as romantic lover and husband of Sharmila Tagore in Safar. He excelled in the role of a sensitive lover and a jealous husband and the song.He had already proved his worth as an actor much before in a good film based on a very interesting story Oonche Log should definitely be watched for three reasons, a different story, a wonderful clash between blind father (played by Ashok Kumar) and his police officer son (played by Raaj Kumar) because of the younger son (played by Feroz Khan) and good performances given by all the three actors Ashok kumar, Raaj kumar and Feroz khan. “Oonche Log” can be said as one of the top five performances of Feroz Khan as an actor.Few actors have been there in the Hindi cinema who excel very well when pitted against other actors.. Raaj Kumar, Feroz Khan and Shatrughan sinha etc can be said as the elite members of this prestigious club. They shined more in a competitive environment. Feroz Khan’s performances in Oonche Log, Safar, Admi aur Insan, Mela, Geeta Mera Naam and many “Western kind” of films and Qurbani are live examples of this hypothesis because he was appreciated in the presence of actors known for their acting skills or who were famous stars in their respective eras.Feroz Khan is known more for appearing in those western like flicks and crime thrillers but he was able to join unusual projects also. “Anjaan rahein ” Plot was based on the importance of sex education for the school students so that they do not make any mistake. Before Prem Agan and Janasheen happened to Feroz Khan, his filmmaking and films both were associated with “Paisa vasool” stylish and entertaining films. It was not the case that he knew only how to present his heroines in a sensual manner but he knew also how to present the sensuality of the men of his films As a Director he knew very well how to present his attractive actors, Feroz Khan, Vinod khanna and Sanjay dutt. The blast of male or female sensuality did not look forced , Mumtaz in Apradh and Zeenat aman in Qurbani made sensational news as they were doing it for a director who knew how to use such scenes in a convincing manner. This is a success of a director where his show becomes convincing and does not raise any if and but. He had the talent to keep a balance in such scenes. Feroz Khan had the eyes to recognize Amjad khan talent in the role of a shrewd police inspector in Qurbani. Apradh, Dharmatma and Qurbani remain three shining films of Feroz Khan as a director. As a director Feroz Khan paved a certain path in the 70s on which Directors like Mukul Anand walked in the 80s. Also, at the time when only big Banner movies manage to earn 1 crore at BO, Qurbani earned more than a crore. He played the perfect foil for Rajesh khanna in Safar, Rajendra kumar in Aarzoo, Dharamendra in Aadmi aur insaan, Sunil dutt and many-many actors .He won a Filmfare for best supporting actor in Aadmi aur Insaan and was nominated for best supporting actor for International crook. He was perhaps nominated twice for Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, one for Aadmi Aur Insaan, and another for Safar. Though Safar was an out and out Rajesh Khanna movie, he made his impact playing Sharmila Tagore’s jealous and possessive lover. Apradh, Qurbani, Dharmatma, Jaanbaz all had good music; he had a great combination with Kalyanji-Anandji. Also many of them were pretty stylish and quite Westernized.. Khotte Sikkey, Kala Sona, Chandi sona all of them quite entertaining. He was also the “Cowboy” of the film industry with films like khote sikkey etc. He pasteurized his songs very well. The song “Har kisi ko nahi milta” with Sridevi holding the mike amidst clouds with remain forever etched in my memory as they used to play it on Chitrahar every week.He bought the rights of ‘Nayakan ’ and remade it as ‘Dayavaan’ thereby enabling one of the best on-screen kisses between Vinod khanna and Madhuri dixit. Feroz Khan would always be remembered for the way he used Style in his movies & made a statement. His stylish shot taking ability needs expert discussion. Arial shots in Dharmatma, while horses are running at the land of Afghanistan were so fascinating and the light and color combination of his films were quite attractive.Fans used to whistle as in “Safar” as an introduction every week for my radio music and talk show, “The Sanjay Kumar Show”. Feroz struggled more than his brother but he proved that with hard work you can accomplish anything. Qurbani was the biggest hit of that year. Some bought the same type of Mercedes that was smashed up by Feroz in the film. His way of Speaking and Acting was definitely his own. In Safar, even though it is considered primarily a Rajesh Khanna film, that Feroz stole the scenes. His love for ‘Neela’ (Sharmila Tagore) in Safar was very deep and she did not return the feelings. It was similar to Gone with the wind .We can remember his words at the beginning of the Qurbani credits that he dedicated to Sanjay Gandhi who passed away just before the film’s release.
After Yalgaar (1992), Khan took a break from films. For six years, he did not act or produce films. In 1998, he launched his son Fardeen in Prem Agan. The film flopped and Khan went back into a shell. He made an acting comeback in Janasheen in 2003. His last film was Anis Bazmee’s super hit Welcome. Feroz khan died of cancer at his Bangalore farm house on this day 27th April 2009.
After Yalgaar (1992), Khan took a break from films. For six years, he did not act or produce films. In 1998, he launched his son Fardeen in Prem Agan. The film flopped and Khan went back into a shell. He made an acting comeback in Janasheen in 2003. His last film was Anis Bazmee’s super hit Welcome. Feroz khan died of cancer at his Bangalore farm house on this day 27th April 2009.
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