| Amjad Khan | |
| Birth Name: | Amjad Zakaria Khan |
| Birth Date: | 12 November 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Bombay, Bombay Province, British India |
| Death Place: | Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
| Alma Mater: | St. Andrew's High School R. D. National College |
| Years Active: | 1951–1992 |
| Children: | 3 (including Shadaab Khan) |
| Father: | Jayant |
| Spouse: | Shaila Khan |
| Known For: | Sholay (1975) |
| Notable Works: | Gabbar Singh |
| Relatives: | Imtiaz Khan (brother) |
Amjad Khan was an Indian renowned actor and film director.[1]
He worked in over 132 films in a career spanning nearly twenty years. He was the son of the actor Jayant. He gained popularity for villainous roles in mostly Hindi films, the most famous among his enacted roles being Gabbar Singh in the 1975 classic Sholay[2] and of Dilawar in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978).
Amjad Khan was born in Bombay, Bombay State, British India on 12 November 1940 into a Sunni Muslim family of Pashtun descent to actor Jayant; who was originally from Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
His younger brother Imtiaz Khan was also an actor. Amjad Khan was educated at St. Andrew's High School in Bandra.
He attended R. D. National College where he held the position of general secretary. During his college and school days, he worked as a theater artist and performed in his college with his brother.
Before Amjad Khan came to films, he was a theatre actor. His first role was as a child actor at the age of 11 in the film Nazneen in 1951. His next role was at the age of 17 in the film Ab Dilli Dur Nahin (1957).[9] He assisted K. Asif in the film Love And God in the late 1960s and had a brief appearance in the film. The film was left incomplete after Asif's death in 1971, and it was finally released in 1986. In 1973, he appeared in Hindustan Ki Kasam in a small role.
In 1975, he was offered the role of dacoit Gabbar Singh for the film Sholay by Salim Khan, who was one of its writers. In preparation for the role, Amjad read Abhishapth Chambal, a book on Chambal dacoits written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri (actress Jaya Bhaduri's father). Amjad shot to stardom with the movie. His mannerisms and dialogues have become an integral part of the Bollywood lexicon and spawned numerous parodies and spoofs [Specially "Soja Nahi to Gabbar Aajayega"]. Sholay went on to become a blockbuster.[3] Although it boasted an ensemble cast of superstars including Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar, who was nominated that year for the Filmfare award for Best Actor category, Amjad stole the show with his unorthodox and eerie dialogue delivery. Even to this day people fondly remember his dialogues and mannerisms. He later appeared in advertisements as Gabbar Singh endorsing Britannia Glucose Biscuits (popularly known as Gabbar Ki Asli Pasand), the first incidence of a villain being used to sell a popular product.[10]
After the success of Sholay, Khan continued to play negative roles in many subsequent Hindi films in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s – superseding, in terms of popularity and demand, the earlier Indian actor, Ajit. He often acted as villain opposite Amitabh Bachchan as the hero. His role in Inkaar was also presented in terrifying manner. He made his presence felt in Des Pardes, Nastik, Satte Pe Satta, Chambal Ki Kasam, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin and Naseeb.[11]
Khan was also acclaimed for playing many unconventional roles. In the critically acclaimed film Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977) (based on the novel of the same title), by Munshi Premchand and directed by Satyajit Ray, Khan played the helpless and deluded monarch Wajid Ali Shah, whose kingdom, Avadh, is being targeted by British colonialists from the British East India Company. It is the only movie in which he dubbed a song. In 1979, he portrayed Emperor Akbar in the film Meera. He played many positive roles such as in Yaarana (1981) and Laawaris (1981) as Amitabh's friend and father respectively, Rocky (1981) and Commander (1981). In the art film Utsav (1984), he portrayed Vatsayana, the author of the Kama Sutra. In 1988, he appeared in the Merchant Ivory English language film The Perfect Murder as an underworld don. He excelled at playing comical characters in films such as Qurbani (1980), Love Story and Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986). In 1991, he reprised his role as Gabbar Singh in Ramgarh Ke Sholay, a parody of the legendary film which included look-alikes of Dev Anand and Amitabh Bachchan.
He ventured into directing for a brief period in the 1980s, directing and starring in Chor Police (1983) and Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1985), both of the films did not do well at the box office.[9] [3]
Amjad was the president of the Actors Guild Association.[9] He was respected in the film industry, and would intervene and negotiate disputes between actors and directors/producers. One such dispute occurred when Meenakshi Seshadri was forced to drop out of Damini (1993) by Raj Kumar Santoshi because she rejected his proposal. Amjad Khan sorted out the matter and made Raj Santoshi take back his harsh decision.
In 1972, he married Shaila Khan and in the following year, she gave birth to their first child, Shadaab Khan. He also had a daughter, Ahlam Khan, and another son, Seemaab Khan. Ahlam married popular theatre actor Zafar Karachiwala in 2011.[7] [12] [13]
On 15 October 1976,[14] [15] Amjad Khan met with a serious accident on the Mumbai-Goa highway which left him with broken ribs and a punctured lung. He was going to participate in the shooting of the film The Great Gambler, starring Amitabh Bachchan.[16]
On 27 July 1992, he died of a heart attack. He was 51.[14] [9] [7]
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | BFJA Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Hindi) | Sholay | ||
| 1976 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Sholay | ||
| 1980 | Dada | [17] | |||
| 1981 | Qurbani | ||||
| 1982 | Yaarana | ||||
| Love Story | |||||
| 1986 | Best Performance in a Comic Role | Utsav | |||
| Maa Kasam |
| Year | Tile | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Nazneen | Child artist | Debut film, Uncredited |
| 1955 | Char Paise | Ashok | |
| 1957 | Ab Dilli Dur Nahin | Lachhu (child artist) | as Amjad |
| 1961 | Maya | Ranvir's Employee | Uncredited |
| 1973 | Hindustan Ki Kasam | ||
| 1975 | Sholay | Gabbar Singh | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1976 | Charas | Robert | |
| Ginny Aur Johnny | |||
| Vir Mangdavalo | Gujarati film | ||
| 1977 | Shatranj Ke Khiladi | Wajid Ali Shah | |
| Hum Kisise Kum Naheen | Saudagar Singh | ||
| Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein | Nattu | ||
| Parvarish | Mangal Singh | ||
| Zamaanat | Rana | ||
| Ram Bharose | Bhanupratap | ||
| Kasam Khoon Ki | Bhajirao | ||
| Phir Janam Lenge Hum/Janam Janam Na Saathi | |||
| Inkaar | Raj Singh 'Kidnapper' | ||
| Chakkar Pe Chakkar | Avdhut | ||
| Aakhri Goli | |||
| Aafat | Shera | ||
| 1978 | Khunnus | ||
| Ganga Ki Saugand | Thakur Jashwant Singh | ||
| Bandie | Kanchan V. Singh | ||
| Besharam | Digvijay Singh / Dharamdas | ||
| Kasme Vaade | Juda, the Hunchback | Guest appearance | |
| Des Pardes | Bhoot Singh / Avtar Singh | ||
| Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan | Kalandhar | ||
| Apna Khoon | Khan | ||
| Muqaddar Ka Sikandar | Dilawar | ||
| Bhookh | Thakur Harnam Singh | ||
| Ram Kasam | Chhote Thakur | ||
| Muqaddar | Sampat Seth | ||
| Khoon Ki Pukaar | Zalim Singh / Sardar | ||
| Heeralal Pannalal | Panther | ||
| Chowki No.11 | |||
| Bhagyalaxmi | |||
| Sawan Ke Geet | |||
| 1979 | Sarkari Mehmaan | Gul Khan | |
| Hamare Tumhare | Mr. Chaudhary | ||
| Meera | Badshah Akbar | ||
| Mr. Natwarlal | Vikram Singh | ||
| Ahsaas | Pradeep Rai Choudhry | ||
| Suhaag | Vikram Kapoor | ||
| Lok Parlok | Ram Shastri / Boston Strangler / Raman Raghav / Ram Ghulam | ||
| Hum Tere Aashiq Hain | Thakur Shamsher Singh | ||
| Do Shikaari | Zorro | ||
| Zulm Ki Pukar | |||
| Raakhi Ki Saugandh | Jagganath 'Jagga' / Yahwar Pahwar Khan | ||
| Lakhan | Laakhan | ||
| Jaandaar | Dharamdas | ||
| Deen Aur Imaan | |||
| Dada | Fazlu | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Chambal Ki Raani | |||
| Atmaram | Sher Singh | ||
| 1980 | Dadon Ka Dada | ||
| Lootmaar | Vikram | ||
| Qurbani | Inspector Amjad Khan | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Chambal Ki Kasam | Sultan Singh/Sultana | ||
| Lahu Pukarega | Mahar | ||
| Ek Do Teen Chaar | |||
| Ram Balram | Suleiman Seth | ||
| Jwalamukhi | Daku Sher Singh | ||
| Yari Dushmani | Birju | ||
| Pyaara Dushman | Shivnath 'Shiva' 'Shivprasad' | ||
| Khoon Kharaba | Rana | ||
| Khanjar | Prince / Swamiji | ||
| Kala Pani | Shera | ||
| Bombay 405 Miles | Veer Singh | ||
| Bambai Ka Maharaja | Rajendra Singh / Suraj | ||
| 1981 | Paanch Qaidi | Raja | |
| Kanhaiyaa | Madhav Singh | ||
| Waqt Ki Deewar | Thakur Ranvir Dayal Singh | ||
| Barsaat Ki Ek Raat | Kaliram H. Sahu | ||
| Love Story | Havaldar Sher Singh | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Chehre Pe Chehra | Kanhus, Martha's brother | ||
| Ladies Tailor | Nawab Amjad Khan | ||
| Naseeb | Damu (Damodar) | ||
| Rocky | Robert D'Souza | ||
| Laawaris | Ranvir Singh | ||
| Hum Se Badkar Kaun | Chandan / Bholaram | ||
| Jail Yatra | Kuldeep | ||
| Commander | Commander Singh | ||
| Yaarana | Bishan | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Shama | Dargah devotee | ||
| Gehra Zakhm | Shibu 'Shabbir' | ||
| Khoon Ka Rishta | Kailash Sinha | ||
| Kaalia | Shahani Seth / Jaswant | ||
| Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai | Sharif Khan / Sharafat Ali / Karamat Ali / Salamat Ali / Wajahat Ali | ||
| Professor Pyarelal | Ronnie / Ranjit Singh / Gomes | ||
| Plot No. 5 | Inspector Khan | ||
| Maan Gaye Ustaad | Munna / Shera | ||
| Ladaaku | |||
| Katilon Ke Kaatil | Black Cobra | ||
| Josh | |||
| Gajara Maru | Special appearance | ||
| Anusandhan | |||
| Dhuaan | Sunil's boss | ||
| 1982 | Pyaara Dost | Ajab Khan'Umar Khan' | |
| Eent Ka Jawab Patthar | Sub Inspector Maan Singh | ||
| Satte Pe Satta | Ranjit Singh | ||
| Adhura Aadmi | |||
| Dial 100 | Sher Khan | ||
| Teesri Aankh | Jabbar Singh | ||
| Desh Premee | Thakur Pratap Singh | ||
| Insaan | Sher Singh 'Sheru' | ||
| Dharam Kanta | Chandan Singh / Jwala Singh | ||
| Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon | Mohammed 'Sultan Bhai' / Sultan Singh Rathod | ||
| Samraat | Ranbir | ||
| Taqdeer Ka Badshah | Bhola / Nath | ||
| Khush Naseeb | Tiger - Gopi Prasad | ||
| Daulat | Joseph D'Souza / Tripathi | ||
| Baghavat | Maharaj Durjan Singh / Maharaj Vikram Singh | ||
| 1983 | Humse Na Jeeta Koi | Bheema Singh | |
| Nastik | Tiger | ||
| Himmatwala | Sher Singh Bandookwala | ||
| Ganga Meri Maa | Mohan | ||
| Mahaan | Vikram Singh | ||
| Jaani Dost | Hari / Nooruddin / Harry | ||
| Achha Bura | Mohammad Sher Khan / Kamalrup Chaurasiya 'Shera' | ||
| Bade Dil Wala | Bhagwat Singh (B.K.) / Dr. Joshi | ||
| Kalka | Oogra Narayan Singh | ||
| Hum Se Hai Zamana | Iqbal / Thakur's son | ||
| Chor Police | Barkhi Khan | ||
| 1984 | Senurwa Bhail Mohaal | ||
| Main Qatil Hoon | |||
| Sardaar | Sardaar | ||
| Bindiya Chamkegi | Inspector Vijay Kumar | ||
| Maati Maangey Khoon | Thakur Balram Singh | ||
| Maqsad | Birju | ||
| Utsav | Vatsyayan | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Comedian | |
| Pet Pyaar Aur Paap | |||
| Tere Mere Beech Mein | Mamdiya | ||
| Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! | Kundan Kapadia | ||
| Kaamyaab | |||
| Dhokebaaz | Tiger | ||
| 1985 | Pataal Bhairavi | Vishvanath Chanchal | |
| Ek Se Bhale Do | Balram / Bhima | ||
| Ameer Aadmi Gharib Aadmi | Akram | ||
| Mohabbat | Gamma Pehalwan | ||
| Ek Daku Shaher Mein | Surjan Singh | ||
| Ee Lokam Ivide Kure Manushyar | Abbas | Malayalam film | |
| Chaar Maharathi | Shakti Singh | ||
| Maa Kasam | Chakradhari | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role | |
| Mera Saathi | Ram Kumar's play character | ||
| Kala Suraj | Majidbhai | ||
| 1986 | Vidhaan | ||
| Chameli Ki Shaadi | Advocate Harish | ||
| Singhasan | Kupateshwar | Simhasanam in Telugu | |
| Simhasanam | Telugu film | ||
| Pahunche Huwe Log | Minister Satyaprakash | ||
| Andheri Raat Mein Diya Tere Haath Mein | Sultan | ||
| Love and God | Kais' family servant | ||
| Vikram | Sultan of Salamia | Tamil film | |
| Peechha Karo | Brigadier | ||
| Zindagani | Bhola | ||
| Nasihat | Bajrangi | ||
| Om | |||
| Mohabbat Ki Kasam | Baseera Singh | ||
| Mangal Dada | Pratap | ||
| Jeeva | Sardar | ||
| Bhai Ka Dushman Bhai | |||
| 1987 | Mr. X | Commentary | |
| Godna | |||
| Insaniyat Ke Dushman | Pratap Singh | ||
| Maashuka | |||
| Ahsaan | |||
| Sitapur Ki Geeta | Thakur Pratap Singh | ||
| Kaun Kitney Pani Mein | |||
| Jaago Hua Savera | |||
| 1988 | Ghunghat | ||
| Kabrastan | Nepolean D'Costa | ||
| The Perfect Murder | Lala Heera Lal | ||
| Kanwarlal | John Jani Janardhan | ||
| Maalamaal | Suleiman Dada | ||
| Paigham | |||
| Qatil | Badshah Akram Khan | ||
| Paanch Fauladi | Dilawar Khan | ||
| Inteqam | Murali | ||
| Do Waqt Ki Roti | Tantia Bheel / Purshottam | ||
| Dharam Shatru | |||
| 1989 | Sau Saal Baad | ||
| Meri Zabaan | Inspector Malpani / Arjun Vaswani | ||
| Bees Saal Baad | Bhavani Baba | ||
| Santosh | Qaidi No. 333 | ||
| Dost | Sher Singh | ||
| Naqab | Nawab Dada Sarkar | ||
| Khuli Khidki | Dr. A.K. Jayant | ||
| 1990 | Maa Kasam Badla Loonga | ||
| Maha-Sangram | Bada Ghoda | ||
| Lekin... | Shafi Ahmed Sidiqqui | ||
| Pati Patni Aur Tawaif | Sulaiman Dildar | ||
| Danga Fasaad | |||
| Shararat | |||
| Ghar Ka Ujala | |||
| Sahasa Putrudu | Telugu film | ||
| Bannada Gejje | Kannada film | ||
| Prema Yuddham | Telugu film | ||
| 1991 | Prem Jung | ||
| Mohabbat Pehli Nazar Mein | |||
| Brahmarshi Viswamitra | Telugu film | ||
| Jawahar | |||
| Pucca Badmaash | |||
| Ramgarh Ke Sholay | Gabbar Singh | ||
| Izzat | Commissioner Shamesher Singh | ||
| Love | Guruji | ||
| Yaara Dildara | Inspector De De | ||
| 1992 | Dil Hi To Hai | Maharaj Vikram Singh | |
| Aasmaan Se Gira | Alien ruler | ||
| Waqt Ka Badshah | Boss | ||
| Virodhi | Judge | ||
| Saali Adhi Ghar Waali | Ustaad Ji | Guest appearance | |
| Ele, My Friend | Omar | ||
| 1993 | Chingari Aur Sholay | ||
| Bechain | |||
| Rudaali | Thakur Ram Avtar, Lakhsman's father | ||
| Police Wala | Judge, Sonam's father | ||
| Jaan Per Khel Kar | |||
| 1994 | Saboot Mangta Hain Kanoon | Ramnath | |
| Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya | |||
| In Custody | Babu's Musician | English Film | |
| Do Fantoosh | Bajrang | ||
| 1995 | Anokhi Chaal | ||
| 1996 | Sautela Bhai | Thakur Narayandas | |
| Hukumnama | |||
| Aatank | Alphonso | ||
| Kalinga | final role |