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Feroz Khan - The Cowboy of the East
Bubbly
Feroz Khan is no more. He breathed his last on April 27 2009 Monday at the age of 69. He had been ailing for some time after being diagnosed for cancer. It is tragic that April has claimed two legendary figures of Bollywood – Shakti Samanta on April 4 and now the dashing Khan.
Born in Bangalore (Sept 25, 1939) to SAK Tanoli (Afghani) and Fatima (Irani), he had Sajay, Sameer and Akbar for his brothers and one sister Dilshad Begum.
Post education, he came to Bombay and landed a role in Didi (1960). His first big hit was Oonche Log (1965). It led to his gradual rise in filmdom and road to success. He gave a multitude of hits – Dharmatma (1975), Nagin (1976), Qurbani (1980), Jaanbaaz (1986) and Dayavaan (1988).
He then took a break from acting and concentrated on being a producer, director, and editor. Subsequently, he lauched the carrer of his only son Fardeen Khan. Fardeen is now married to yesteryear actress Mumtaz’s daughter Natasha Madhwani.
The dashing and swashbuckling Khan was known for his partying and wild ways. He led a merry life. The tall fair and handsome Khan was a delight for his fans in his hay days. Along with Vinod Khanna, Danny Danzongpa and Dharmendra he was one one of the leading men.
Girls used to swoon, merely hearing his name. With long flying wavy hair, he was truly the one from the Wild Wild East. An image he followed in movie after movie of a riding cowboy, it left an everlasting imprint. With all the paraphernalia, he was here to stay.
A man in control of his destiny, he led life on his own terms. When Fardeen was arrested in drug case, Feroz used his powerful contacts to get him off the hook. With an Arab lobby backing his film projects, he made movies on larger than life subjects. And he didn’t disappoint on this score.
With eye-candy cinematography, lovely leading ladies, foot-tapping songs, his movies were an all-in-one delight. He launched the career of Nazia Hasan with “Aap Jaisa Koi”. Of course, he gave a boost to Zeenat Aman’s career too.
Married to Sundari in 1965, it ended in divorce in 1985. He is survived by his two children – son Fardeen and daughter Laila.
His last film was Welcome (2007), a blockbuster hit. A remake of Qurbani had been on the anvil called Kkurbani. Alas, death in the form of cancer marched forward and took his qurbani.
Khan was of course the mighty Khan. He was Feroz Khan. Such men are not born everyday. But whenever they are born, they excite others’ lives. You will be missed, cowboy.
Feroz Khan - The Cowboy of the East
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Amitabh Mitra
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April 27, 2009
03:09 PM
He would be remembered, the last time he said on the stage was that he believed in an academic career and then acting. He made sure that his son Fardeen had the right qualifications before he allowed him into an acting career.
kerty
April 28, 2009
02:56 AM
"Along with Vinod Khanna, Danny Danzongpa and Dharmendra he was one one of the leading men."
Are you sure you are talking about Feroz Khan? This guy was so wooden faced he could barely scrape character roles with other heroes, why he had to become his own director/producer to create leading roles for himself. Other than Dharmatma and Kurbani, none of his movies made any marks. To compare him with Vinod Khanna or Dharmendra or any other leading heroes of that era would be a travesty. Sure, the guy just died and we are supposed to say nice things about him, but we don't have to lie or heap false flattery. He is from Bolywood's golden era when it really produced dazzling array of stars. He is one of them. RIP.
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