Feroz khan: India's Clint Eastwood

      before in a good film based on a very interesting story
Style icon of Bollywood Feroz Khan was born to anOonche Log should definitely be watched for three
Afghan father, Sadiq  Ali Khan and an Iranian mother,reasons, a different story, a wonderful clash between
Fatima at Bangalore on September 25, 1939.Feroz didblind father (played by Ashok Kumar) and his police
his schooling in the city. He later moved to Mumbai toofficer son (played by Raaj Kumar) because of the
make a career in the Hindi film industry. He got a bigyounger son (played by Feroz Khan) and good
break in the film, Didi (1960), and went on to act inperformances given by all the three actors Ashok
many films like Aarzoo, Aadmi Aur  Insaan and Safar.kumar, Raaj kumar and Feroz khan. "Oonche Log" can
The actor found him self restricted to doing smallbe said as one of the top five performances of Feroz
budget action films, and could not join the big league.Khan as an actor
Fed up, Feroz started  his own production house andFew actors have been there in the Hindi cinema who
made Apradh (1972)As a young man he moved toexcel very well when pitted against other actors.. Raaj
Mumbai, hoping to break into the film business, winningKumar, Feroz Khan and Shatrughan sinha etc can be
his first part in Didi (1960). The role was, like many ofsaid as the elite members of this prestigious club. They
his parts over the next few years (often in low-budgetshined more in a competitive environment. Feroz
thrillers), unremarkable. His breakthrough came in 1965,Khan's performances in Oonche Log, Safar, Admi aur
when he appeared in a pair of releases that showedInsan, Mela, Geeta Mera Naam and many "Western
his versatility. In Oonche Log, he played a tear awaykind" of films and Qurbani are live examples of this
that refuses to marry his girlfriend after she fallshypothesis because he was appreciated in the
pregnant; Arzoo, however, is a sickly-sweet romancepresence of actors known for their acting skills or who
in which he performed opposite some of India's biggestwere famous stars in their respective eras. FK is
stars of the day, propelling him towards the roster ofknown more for appearing in those western like flicks
Bollywood's A-list. With his swagger and tough-guyand crime thrillers but he was able to join unusual
styling he was compared to American leading men likeprojects
Clint Eastwood or Steve McQueenBefore Prem agan and Janasheen happened to Feroz
He based one typically all-action picture, DharmatmaKhan, his filmmaking and films both were associated
(1975), on Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar-winning film,with "Paisa vasool" stylish and entertaining films. It was
The Godfather, and starred in another as a suavenot the case that he knew only how to present his
racing driver who wins the world championship. Laterheroines in a sensual manner but he knew also how to
he appeared in a series of cowboy filmspresent the sensuality of the men of his films.
In the late 1960s he thrived as a supporting actor,As a Director he knew very well how to present his
winning the first of many prizes for Aadmi aur Insaanattractive actors, Feroz Khan, Vinod khanna and
(1969), as one of a pair of close friends who fall outSanjay dutt. The blast of male or female sensuality did
over a girl. Deprived of leading roles, though, Khannot look forced , Mumtaz in Apradh and Zeenat aman
decided to set up his own production company. His in Qurbani made sensational news as they were
debut as producer, and leading man, was Apradhdoing it for a director who knew how to use such
(1972), whose plot intertwines the glamorous worlds ofscenes in a convincing manner.  Feroz Khan had the
Formula One and jewel theft. He won his first Filmfareeyes to recognize Amjad khan talent in the role of a
for Best Actor in supporting role for   Aadmi Aurshrewd police inspector in Qurbani .Apradh,
Insaan (1969). By then, Sanjay had managed to get aDharmatma and Qurbani remain three shining films of
break in Bollywood as well. Both the brothers workedFeroz Khan as a director.  As a director Feroz Khan
together in the successful film Mela (1971)paved a certain path in the 70s on which Directors like
He married to Sundari  in 1965 and they becameMukul Anand walked in the 80's. He played the perfect
proud parents of Laila and Fardeen. Despite objectionsfoil for Rajesh khanna in Safar, Rajendra kumar in
raised by an Islamic Moulvi, Feroz and Sanjay got theirAarzoo, Dharamendra   in Aadmi aur insaan, Sunil
children married to non-Islamic families. Laila wasdutt  and many-many actors .He won a Filmfare  for
married to Rajpal, while Fardeen married Natashabest supporting actor in "Aadmi aur insaan" and was
Madhwani, the daughter of Mayur and Mumtaznominated for best supporting actor for International
He lived a public life, he lived it as he pleased withoutcrook.
being judgmental about others or caring what othersApradh, Qurbani, Dharmatma, Jaanbaz all had good
thought about him, he would be surrounded by a lot ofmusic, he had a great combination with
people and and yet there was a distance he created,Kalyanji-Anandji. Also many of them were pretty
where he could objectively see things as they were.stylish and quite Westernized...Also liked most of his
He remembered each and every single day of hiscurry Westerns, Khote Sikkey, Kala Sona, Chandi sona
struggle, right from the time of his pool playing days to all of them quite entertaining
his struggle in the early years of his in the film business.He was also the "Cowboy" of the film industry with
A very well read man, his favorite however remainedfilms like Khota Sikkey etc. He pasteurized his songs
Oscar Wildvery well. The song "Har kisi ko nahi milta" with Sridevi
His biggest turn on, wasn't the obvious but it washolding the mike amidst clouds with remain forever
music, he would transform into a child when he wouldetched in my memory as they used to play it on
create songs or hear them endlessly dancing away,Chitrahar every week
enjoying every lyric and note. He lived a full life,He bought the rights of ‘Nayakan ' and remade it
celebrating each and every occasion as if it were theas ‘Dayavaan' thereby enabling one of the best
greatest moment of his life, he had many regrets in life,on-screen kisses between Vinod khanna  and
and he achieved it because he was braveMadhuri dixit.
He never got bored in his entire life because he neverFeroz Khan would always be remembered for the
did anything he didn't enjoy….brilliant words to describeway he used Style in his movies & made a
a life-lover like Feroz..Feroz mara nahin karte…statement. His stylish shot taking ability needs expert
Feroz Khan was fantastic personality and trulydiscussion. Arial shots in Dharmatma, while horses are
epitomized the grandeur and glamour of that Filmrunning at the land of Afghanistan were so fascinating
Industry. Love him or hate him but you simply could notand the light and color combination of his films were
ignore. How can anyone forget "Qurbani"? The originalquite attractive.
style icon and a man we should all look up to for haveFans used to whistle as in "Safar" as an introduction
the courage to live his life on his terms. feroz saabevery week for my radio music and talk show, "The
was style and elan personified.Sanjay Kumar Show". Feroz struggled more than his
Feroz khan started his career in B Grade movies andbrother but he proved that with hard work you can
quickly progressed to the top playing in such moviesaccomplish anything. Qurbani was the biggest hit of
like Safar and Aadmi aur Insaan for which he won…that year. Some bought the same type of Mercedes
the best supporting actor Filmfare. It was in Apradhthat was smashed up by Feroz in the film. His way of
that he debuted as a director, followed by the highlySpeaking and Acting was definitely his own. In Safar,
stylish, Godfather influenced, Dharmatma, where heeven though it is considered primarily a Rajesh Khanna
showed his visual genius – the buzkashi scene isfilm, that Feroz stole the scenes. His love for ‘Neela'
one of the best ever to be captured on camera in(Sharmila Tagore) in Safar was very deep and she did
Indian cinema (done decades later in Mukul Anand'snot return the feelings. It was similar to Gone with the
Khuda gawah). As if in Dharmatma, Feroz found hiswind .We can remember his words at the beginning of
touch, he followed it up with the biggest hit of histhe Qurbani credits that he dedicated to Sanjay
career… Qurbani. It was virtually impossible to get aGandhi who passed away just before the film's
ticket to Qurbani in the first few weeks of its releaserelease.
In Qurbani, Feroz Khan can also be credited withIn the 1980s he acted less, and directed more, but his
bringing Disco to Hindi cinema and making it popular.productions were flops as often as hits, and by 1992
With an amazing eye for visuals and cinematographyhe had decided to take a break from the industry.
and music, he was instrumental in bringing in manyAfter Yalgaar (1992), Khan took a break from films.
talented artists to cinema including the late NaziaFor six years, he did not act or produce films. In 1998,
Hassan and Biddu .But for the avid movie watcher,he launched his son Fardeen in Prem Agan The film
who's followed the 70s and 80s Hindi cinema, Ferozflopped and Khan went back into a shell. He made an
Khan  holds a special place in their hearts for theacting comeback in Janasheen  in 2003. His last film
crazy Cowboy rides he provided in such movies aswas Anis Bazmee's  super hit Welcome
Khottey sikkey, Geeta mera Naam, Kala sona,His comeback was hit by the news that he had
Shankar sambhu and so many more.cancer, and his final screen appearance was in the
Feroz Khan had a Charming  personality and a goodcomedy crime caper Welcome (2008), in which he
voice but in spite of having a dashing personalityplays a mafia boss in Dubai.
required to play the leading man's roles, HindiThe original Style Icon and a man we should all look up
filmmakers did not offer him big films as a solo heroto for have the courage to live his life on his terms.
and he decided to pave the way himself and becameJahan rasta nahin koi wahan mein banaunga,meri
the director and the producer with a crime thrillerzindagi se milein jinhe huaslon ki talash ho
Apradh. Feroz Khan along with Dev Anand took aFeroz khan died of cancer at his Bangalore farm
charge to make fast paced Crime thrillers in 70shouse on this day 27th April 2009.
Before taking the decision to become a director heThis stylish actor and filmmaker will be remembered at
had appeared in some good films but he wastimes and perhaps worth of his directed films will be
contributing there as one of the multiple heroes. Heassessed properly now when he is away from any
was very well appreciated as romantic lover andkind of criticism and praise .The most suave &
husband of Sharmila Tagore in Safar. He excelled instylish personalites that Indian cinema has seen so far.
the role of a sensitive lover and a jealous husband andPhysically he may be no more, but the legend lives on
the sonin our memories!!!
He had already proved his worth as an actor much