Amjad Khan (12 November 1940 – 27 July 1992) was an acclaimed Indian
actor and director He worked in over 130 films in his film career
spanning nearly twenty years. He enjoyed iconic popularity for his
villain roles in Hindi language films — he is most famous for playing
the role of the dacoit Gabbar Singh in Sholay (1975).
Amjad Khan
was born in Hyderabad in 1940 to legendary actor Jayant. He was the
brother of fellow actor Imtiaz Khan.Around 1972, he married Sheila
Khan, and the following year, she gave birth to their first child,
Shadaab Khan, who acted in a few films only. He also had a daughter
Ahlam Khan and son Seemaab Khan.
Before Amjad came to films he
was a theatre actor. His first film was as a child artist at the age of
17 in the film "Ab Dilli Dur Nahin" (1957),a narrative of the
socio-political post- Independence India of great substance.A journey
that began from here reached its zenith in Sholay in (1976).Though Khan
was to be launched as a hero in his home production, 'Patthar Ke
Sanam', in 1965, the film did not proceed beyond its inception. He had
assisted K. Asif in the film "Love and God" in the late 1960s and had
also made a brief appearance in the film which would have been his
official adult film debut. But the film was left incomplete after K.
Asif's death in 1971 and it ended up releasing in 1986.
His first major break was "Hindustan Ki Kasam" (1973). The film was made
on the theme of Indo-Pak war of 1971.
But
the role that immmortalised him forever was that of Gabbar Singh of
"Sholay".Sholay happened in 1975 and
catapulted him to the status of a star.In 1975 he was offered the role
of a dacoit Gabbar Singh for the film "Sholay" by Salim who was one of
the film's writers. For his 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 portrayal of Gabbar Singh is considered by many to be the
first depiction of pure evil on the screen in Indian Cinema; a totally
evil character who doesn't make excuses for its evil.
"Arre O' Samba, Kitne Aadmi The"— thus goes the most popular line of
Bollywood ever mouthed. Generations of children that have grown ever
since "Sholay" (1976) was made, have imbibed this and other dialogues of
the GP Sippy classic as staple learning. A large chunk of credit for
popularisation of "Sholay" goes to Amjad Khan Alias Gabbar Singh. So
powerful was the screen impact of Amjad that the character of Gabbar
Singh has become synonymous with vice—the epitome of a genre of evil
characterised by rustic looks, hoarse voice, and cold-blooded demeanour.
The
movie "Sholay" is one of the all time blockbuster movies in India and
one of the highest earners, and although the movie had a cast of
superstars including Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra the most memorable
character was considered to be that of Gabbar Singh. Amjad Khan later
appeared in advertisements as Gabbar Singh endorsing Brittania
biscuits, and it was the first incidence of a villain being used to
sell a popular product.
After the success of "Sholay" Amjad Khan
continued to play villain 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 — portraying more sophisticated
and urbane criminal bosses, mastermind of bank robberies, murders and
conspiracies to seize power.
Due to the Sholay impact; he got the opportunity
to act opposite Amitabh Bachchan in many movies in the heydays of the
latter."Parvarish", "Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin", "Aakhri Goli", are some of his movies
of 1977. Similarly, in 1978 came such big successes as "Phool Khile Hain
Gulshan Gulshan", "Muqadar Ka Sikander", "Kasme Vaade", "Heeralal Pannalal","Khoon Ki Pukaar", etc.
In 1979, Amjad Khan played, Vikram, a notorious smuggler that
drives Amitabh Bachchan (Natwarlal) to unscrupulous ways. "Hum Tere
Aashique Hain","Chambal Ki Kasam", "Suhaag","Bombay 405 Miles","Kaatil", "Kalia"," Teesri Aankh", the list is
very long. To sum it up there was hardly a block-buster in the late
seventies and early eighties that didn't have Amjad Khan as the chief
negative protagonist. He often acted as villain opposite Amitabh Bachchan as the hero.
Khan
was also acclaimed for playing many other unconventional roles. In the
critically acclaimed film "Shatranj Ke Khiladi" (1977), 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.
He played positive role
opposite Amitabh Bachchan in "Yaarana" (1981) where he played
Bachchan's character's best friend and also in "Laawaris" where he
played Bachhan's father. In the art film "Utsav" (1984), he portrayed
Vatsayana, the author of the Kama Sutra.
In 1988 he appeared
in the Merchant-Ivory English film "The Perfect Murder" as an
underworld don. He also played comic characters in films such as
"Qurbani"(1980) and "Chameli Ki Shaadi" (1986). In 1991, he again
played Gabbar Singh in "Ramgarh Ke Sholay", a parody of the legendary
film which also included a look-alike of Amitabh Bachchan and Dev Anand.
He
also ventured into directing for a brief period in the 1980s directing
and also starring in "Chor Police"(1983) and "Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi"
(1985) but both films failed to do well at the box office.
Khan
was also the recipient of the prestigious National Awards on numerous
occasions, including for portraying Wajid Ali Shah.Besides other
recognitions, Amjad Khan was conferred the Filmfare Award on numerous
occasions for the best villain.
In 1976, he had met with a
near fatal accident on the Bombay-Goa road, when he drove his car to a
tree while trying to avoid a boulder. The drugs administered to him for
treatment caused a serious weight problem for the rest of his life. As
a result of his increasing weight he died in 1992 after suffering from
a heart failure at the age of 51.
Several of the films like "In
Custody" (1993) and "Do Fantoosh" (1994) that he had completed when he
was alive were released after his death - right until 1996.