Kader Khan

Early life and education

Kader Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 22 October 1937 into a Sunni Muslim family. Khan was an ethnic Pashtun of the Kakar tribe. His father was Maulvi Abdul Rahman Khan from Kandahar, Afghanistan while his mother was Iqbal Begum from Pishin in the Baluchistan Province of British India (now in Balochistan, Pakistan). Khan's father was a scholar of Islam, a postgraduate in Arabic and Urdu, who opened an Islamic institute in the Netherlands to teach Islam to the local Dutch, and he often tasked Khan to translate books into Arabic. Khan had three brothers, Shams ur Rehman, Fazal Rehman and Habib ur Rehman. His cousin Akbar Khan Kakar hosted a popular show on Radio Pakistan's Quetta branch.

Khan was raised in the Kamathipura neighbourhood of Mumbai after his family moved there from Kabul. Khan had described the locality as being known for drug-peddlers, bootleggers and prostitution. He enrolled in a local municipal school and later in the Ismail Yusuf College after which he graduated in engineering, specialising in civil engineering. Between 1970 and 1975, he taught at M. H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering in Byculla as a professor of civil engineering. Subjects he taught included applied mathematics and mechanics. As a teacher, he was known for making these subjects more accessible to the weaker students.

Mainly inspired by Russian literature and culture, with figures such as Stanislavsky, Chekhov and Dostoevsky, Khan used to write plays for colleges, also acting in them, while he was still a teacher. While performing in a play named Taash Ke Patey, he was noted by comedian Agha who then suggested actor Dilip Kumar to see the play. Dilip Kumar was impressed and signed him up for his next films, Sagina and Bairaag. During an interview with Rediff, Khan recalled this as the incident that started his film career. He used to write plays for theatres and was subsequently offered to write the script of Jawani Diwani, which started his career as a scriptwriter and for which Khan received 1500 rupees.

Career

Actor

Khan acted in over 300 films in Hindi and Urdu and wrote dialogue for over 250 Indian films, from the 1970s up to the turn of the 21st century. At the insistence of Rajesh Khanna, Manmohan Desai paid him the high amount of one lakh twenty-one thousand () for writing dialogue for the film Roti (1974), which was produced by Khanna himself.

He was most popularly recognised for working with actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Feroz Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Anil Kapoor, Govinda and in films directed by T. Rama Rao, K. Raghavendra Rao, K. Bapaiah, Narayana Rao Dasari, David Dhawan. He has worked side by side with other comedians like Asrani, Shakti Kapoor and Johnny Lever. He has co-starred with Amrish Puri, Prem Chopra, Amjad Khan and Anupam Kher in many films. He has played a large variety of parts in different genres of films like comedy, action, romance, family, social and political.

Khan made his debut with Daag, starring Rajesh Khanna in the main lead role, wherein Khan played the supporting role of an advocate. He subsequently starred as supporting artist with roles in Dil Diwana, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Mr. Natwarlal. But he got more visibility with the roles in successful films with Rajesh Khanna in the lead, like Mahachor, Chailla Babu, Fiffty Fiffty, Maqsad, Naya Kadam and Nasihat. The period from 1982 to 2005 is considered to be the peak period of his career as he established his versatility in acting. -- He appeared as a villain in films like Parvarish, Dhan Dhaulat, Lootmaar, Qurbani, Bulundi, Meri Awaaz Suno, Sanam Teri Kasam, Naseeb and Naukar Biwi Ka between 1976 and 1982. However, it was only in 1982, that he gained popularity as a villain with the success of films with the lead hero being either Jeetendra or Rajesh Khanna and produced by Southern Indian production houses with the director being either Narayana Rao Dasari, K. Bapayya, K. Raghavendra Rao or T. Rama Rao - like Farz Aur Kanoon, Jeeo Aur Jeene Do, Samraat, Justice Chaudhury, Mawaali, Maqsad, Naya Kadam, Qaidi, Ramkali, Hoshiyar and Swarg Se Sunder. --

He also started getting lengthy roles as a supporting actor after 1984, with films like Masterji, Dharm Adhikari, Nasihat, Dosti Dushmani, Ghar Sansar, Loha, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, Insaf Ki Pukar, Khudgarz, Sherni, Khoon Bhari Maang, Sone Pe Suhaaga and Vardi. From 1988, there were films written with him in main lead, like Karz Chukana Hai, Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii, Biwi Ho To Aisi, Ghar Ho To Aisa, Hum Hain Kamaal Ke and Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri.

His first attempt at comedy was with Himmatwala and Aaj Ka Daur. He started doing main comedy roles from 1989 onwards, with films like Kishen Kanhaiya, Hum, Ghar Parivar, Bol Radha Bol and continued through the nineties with comedy roles in Aankhen, Taqdeerwala, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Dulhe Raja, Coolie No. 1, Saajan Chale Sasural, Sooryavansham, Judaai, Aunty No. 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Raja Babu, Khuddar, Chhote Sarkar, Gharwali Baharwali, Hero Hindustani, Sirf Tum and Anari No. 1. Even in early 2000s, he attempted versatile roles with films like Akhiyon Se Goli Maare, Chalo Ishq Ladaaye, Suno Sasurjee, Yeh Hai Jalwa and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. His work as a comedian was notable in Himmatwala, Aankhen and Coolie No. 1.

He starred in his comedy television series titled Hasna Mat (literally: Don't laugh), which aired on Star Plus in 2001. He made a comeback on Indian television with a comedy series Hi! Padosi... Kaun Hai Doshi? on Sahara One.

Khan later appeared in Lucky: No Time for Love (2006) and Family: Ties of Blood (2006). His last screen appearance was in Masti Nahi Sasti (2017).

Screenwriter

This was Rajesh Khanna who gave him the break as dialogue writer in his film Roti and thereafter he wrote dialogues for films with Rajesh Khanna in the lead like Maha Chor, Chhailla Babu, Dharam Kanta, Fiffty Fiffty, Naya Kadam, Masterji, and Nasihat, all of which were hit films at the box office. Other successful films for which he has written or assisted in dialogues include films starring Jeetendra like Himmatwala, Jaani Dost, Sarfarosh, Justice Chaudhury, Farz Aur Kanoon, Jeeo Aur Jeene Do, Tohfa, Qaidi and Haisiyat.

As a screenwriter, Kader Khan has worked with Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra for their films starring Amitabh Bachchan. Besides Amitabh, he was the only one to work in the rival camps of Mehra and Desai. His films with Desai include Dharam Veer, Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati, Coolie, Desh Premee, Suhaag, Parvarish and Amar Akbar Anthony and films with Prakash Mehra include Jwalamukhi, Sharaabi, Lawaaris and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.

Some of Amitabh Bachchan's films with popular dialogues and scripts were written by Khan. Some notable examples of these movies are Mr. Natwarlal, Khoon Pasina, Do Aur Do Paanch, Satte Pe Satta, Inquilab, Giraftaar, Hum and Agneepath. For the film Agneepath for Bachchan, had received the National Film Awards.

Khan was in demand by South Indian film production houses such as Padmalaya. Major filmmakers of southern cinema such as Narayana Rao Dasari, K. Bapayya, K. Raghavendra Rao, T. Rama Rao, Dasari Narayan Rao, D. Rama Naidu consulted Khan for doing the script and dialogue of the Hindi remakes of their southern language films. Some of these films included Himmatwala (1983), Justice Chaudhury (1983), Haisiyat (1984) and Singhasan (1986). As reported in The Hindu, "He didn't just translate the original films into Hindi but transposed them into a new North setting, culture, context and language."

He was the preferred dialogue writer for the Hindi films directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, Narayana Dasari Rao, K. Bapaiah and for films produced by D. Rama Naidu and K. C. Bokadia. He also wrote dialogues in other successful films in the late '80s to the late '90s like Meri Aawaz Suno, Angaar, Jail Yatra, Satte Pe Satta, Katilon Ke Kaatil, Waqt Ki Awaz, Coolie No. 1, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Kanoon Apna Apna, Karma, Sultanat, Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri, Humshakal, Saajan Chale Sasural, Hero Hindustani, Aunty No. 1, and Rajaji. He also wrote dialogues for films of Rakesh Roshan like Khoon Bhari Maang, Kala Bazaar and Khudgarz.

Personal life

Khan lived in Mumbai, until moving to Toronto for health reasons. He had three sons: actor Sarfaraz Khan, director Shahnawaz Khan, and Abdul Quddus, who lived in Canada and died in 2021. It was reported that Khan took the citizenship of Canada. In 2014, Khan visited Mecca to perform Hajj.

Death

Khan had supranuclear palsy, a degenerative disease. He was hospitalised on 28 December 2018 complaining of "breathlessness" in Canada, where he stayed with his youngest son and daughter-in-law while seeking treatment. His funeral was held at ISNA mosque in Mississauga, and he is buried in Brampton's Meadowvale Cemetery.

Awards and nominations

• 2013: Sahitya Shiromani Award for his work and contributions to the Hindi Film industry and Cinema.
• Khan was recognised twice by the AFMI (American Federation of Muslims from India) for his achievements and service to the Muslim community in India.
• On 26 January 2019 Government of India announced to posthumously award Kader Khan Padma Shri.

Filmography

Main article: Kader Khan filmography

References

References

1. (February 2007). "An interview with Kader Khan in Pune".
2. (7 May 2012). "Kader Khan Full Interview 2012 with Pashto - Shamshad Tv". Shamshad TV.
3. Tribune.com.pk. (1 January 2019). "Kader Khan: The Kakar from Balochistan who ruled Bollywood".
4. Mahmood, Rafay. (1 January 2019). "Kader Khan: The Kakar from Balochistan who ruled Bollywood".
5. (12 May 2012). "A man of many words". Deccan Herald.
6. Farook, Farhana. (2 January 2019). "Exclusive: Excerpts from Filmfare's last interview with late Kader Khan". Filmfare.
7. Ghosh, Avijit. (2 January 2019). "Writer-actor Kader Khan passes away at 81". The Times of India.
8. "Kader Khan - Movies List".
9. (1 January 2019). "Veteran actor Kader Khan passes away at 81". Nation Next.
10. "The Kader Khan interview you must read". Rediff.
11. (1 January 2019). "Veteran actor-writer Kader Khan passes away at 81". The Hindu.
12. (1 January 2019). "Film Veteran Kader Khan, Who Engineered Some of the Biggest Hits Of the 80s And 90s". NDTV.
13. "Govinda: Kader Khan was a father figure to me". Rediff.
14. (3 April 2016). "Kader Khan alive, death rumours a hoax". The Indian Express.
15. "Kader Khan chooses television over films".
16. "Lucky: No Time for Love (2005) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director".
17. (1 January 2019). "Kader Khan (1937-2019): A pictorial tribute to the actor-screenwriter". The Indian Express.
18. (31 December 2019). "On Kader Khan's death anniversary, 10 facts about the actor". Hindustan Times.
19. (3 August 2012). ""Amitabh has always been a well-wisher of mine" - Kader Khan: Part 2".
20. (1 April 2021). "Late Actor Kader Khan's Son Abdul Quddus Dies In Canada". NDTV.
21. Indu Mirani. (26 February 2012). "Kader Khan turns educationist". [[Times of India]].
22. Wahab, Siraj. (30 September 2014). "Kader Khan in Makkah for Haj". Arab News.
23. (28 February 2017). "Knee surgery gone wrong: Veteran actor Kader Khan rushed to Canada for treatment".
24. "Bollywood veteran actor Kader Khan hospitalized, put on BiPAP ventilator". Dunyanews.
25. (1 January 2019). "Actor Kader Khan passes away".
26. (1 January 2019). "Veteran actor Kader Khan passes away at 81, confirms family".
27. (1 January 2019). "Veteran actor-writer Kader Khan passes away at 81".
28. "Actor-Writer Kader Khan Buried in a Canadian Cemetery". [[The Quint]].
29. (3 January 2019). "Kader Khan buried in Canadian cemetery".
30. "Kader Khan awarded the 'Sahitya Shiromani Award'".
31. (6 November 2017). "Has veteran actor Kader Khan lost his memory?". ARY News.
32. (3 August 2012). ""Amitabh has always been a well-wisher of mine" - Kader Khan: Part 2". Bollywood Hungama.
33. (26 January 2019). "Posthumous Padma Shri for Kader Khan, Manoj Bajpayee and Prabhudheva among awardees". India Today.
34. (31 May 2018). "Kader Khan's Inspiring Rise From Rags To Riches Story - Must Read". dailyhunt.