{{short description|Indian film actor (1940–1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Amjad Khan | image = AmjadKhan.jpg | caption = Khan in 1982 | birth_name = Amjad Zakaria Khan | birth_date = {{birth date|1940|11|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Peshawar, Northwest Frontier Province, British India | death_date = {{death date and age|1992|07|27|1944|11|12|df=y}} | death_place = Bombay, Maharashtra, India | alma_mater = St. Andrew's High School<br>R. D. National College<br>University of Bombay | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|film director}} | years_active = 1951–1992 | children = 3 (including Shadaab Khan) | father = Jayant | spouse = Shehla Khan | known_for = ''Sholay'' (1975) | notable_works = Gabbar Singh | relatives = Imtiaz Khan (brother)<br>Akhtar ul Iman (father-in-law)<br>Zafar Karachiwala (son-in-law) }}
'''Amjad Khan''' (12 November 1940 – 27 July 1992) was an Indian actor and film director.<ref name=MSN>{{cite news|title= Remember the old baddies?|url= http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/exclusives/it/it_photoviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=5815683|newspaper= MSN India|access-date=11 October 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120205165721/http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/exclusives/it/it_photoviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=5815683|archive-date= 5 February 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref> 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 film ''Sholay''<ref name=TOI>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2161793.cms |title=Gabbar Singh |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=11 October 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012200504/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2161793.cms |url-status=dead}}</ref> and of Dilawar in ''Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'' (1978).
==Early life and education== Amjad Khan was born in Peshawar, British India on 12 November 1944 into a family of Pashtuns to actor Jayant, who was originally from Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).<ref name="independent">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-amjad-khan-1542614.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512052212/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-amjad-khan-1542614.html |archive-date=2015-05-12 |url-access=limited |url-status=dead|title=Obituary: Amjad Khan|work=The Independent newspaper|date=26 August 1992|access-date=11 October 2023|quote=The son of Zakaria Khan, a Pathan from the North-West Frontier Province and popular Bollywood character actor of the Fifties and Sixties (screen name Jayant), Amjad Khan was born in Peshawar in 1940.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/jayant-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203095518/https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/jayant-1 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |title=actor Jayant profile (Amjad Khan's father)|website=Cinemaazi.com website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gatewayhouse.in/khans-hindi-film-industry/ |title=The Khans of Bombay's Hindi film industry – Gateway House |access-date=11 October 2023|archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422014410/https://www.gatewayhouse.in/khans-hindi-film-industry/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> His younger brother Imtiaz Khan was also an actor.
Amjad Khan was educated at St. Andrew's High School in Bandra. He then 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. Later, he earned his master's in philosophy (first class) from Bombay University and used to win prizes both as actor and as director at the inter-collegiate theatre festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=John |first=Ali Peter |date=31 July 2018 |title=Remembering Amjad Khan: The Man, the Artist, The Philosopher |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/remembering-amjad-khan-man-artist-philosopher/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411144134/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/remembering-amjad-khan-man-artist-philosopher/ |archive-date=11 April 2025 |website=Bollywood Hungama |quote=Amjad was a strange combination of a brilliant student who did his M.A in a difficult subject like Philosophy and got a first class from the Bombay University and who won all the major prizes as an actor and director in inter-collegiate theatre festivals.}}</ref> Apart from English and Urdu, Amjad Khan was also fluent in Persian, having done another master's in Persian literature, and he would help his wife for her exams in this subject.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farook |first=Farhana |date=8 April 2018 |title=Late Amjad Khan's wife talks about his death & more |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/late-amjad-khans-wife-talks-about-dealing-with-the-death-of-her-husband-and-his-glorious-career-27539.html |website=Filmfare |quote=[Amjad Khan's wife] “Amjad had done his Masters in Persian, which was my second language too. So he’d teach me Persian,” says she.}}</ref>
==Career== {{Main|Amjad Khan filmography and awards}}
=== Early career (1951-1975) === Khan got breakthrough as a child actor with his first film role at the age of 11 in the film ''Nazneen'' in 1951. He also played small roles in ''Ab Dilli Dur Nahin'' (1957) and ''Maya'' (1961). He assisted K. Asif during the making of the film ''Love And God'' 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 which marked his debut as an adult. ===Success with ''Sholay'' and subsequent works (1975-1992)=== In 1975, Khan received his first major breakthrough role as dacoit Gabbar Singh in the film ''Sholay''. He was first offered the role by one of its writers, Salim Khan. In preparation for the role, he read ''Abhishapth Chambal'', a book on Chambal dacoits written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri (actress Jaya Bhaduri's father). ''Sholay'' went on to become an all time blockbuster and his portrayal of Gabbar Singh received critical acclaim.<ref name="independent"/> The character remained his most popular and became a cultural icon in Hindi cinema.<ref>https://m.thewire.in/article/film/sholay-at-50-echoes-across-borders/amp</ref> Khan later appeared as the character in a television advertisement which promoted biscuits for children.<ref>https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/research/advertising/glucose-d-when-gabbars-asli-pasand-became-every-childs-favourite/89355049</ref>
After the success of ''Sholay'', Khan continued to play negative and supporting character 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 films such as ''Des Pardes'', ''Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'', ''Nastik'', ''Satte Pe Satta'', ''Chambal Ki Kasam'', ''Ganga Ki Saugandh'', ''Hum Kisise Kum Nahin'' and ''Naseeb''.<ref name=citwf>{{cite web|url=http://citwf.com/person500819.htm |url-status=dead|title=Amjad Khan filmography|website=Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website|archive-date=20 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420170550/http://citwf.com/person500819.htm|access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
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. He also appeared in the Gujarati film ''Vir Mangdavalo'' (1976) directed by legendary director Ramanand Sagar alongside notable actor Arvind Trivedi. 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 film ''The Perfect Murder'' as an underworld don. He excelled at playing comical characters in films such as ''Qurbani'' (1980), ''Love Story'' (1981) and ''Chameli Ki Shaadi'' (1986). In 1986, he appeared in the Tamil film ''Vikram'' with Kamal Hassan.
In 1991, he reprised his role as Gabbar Singh in ''Ramgarh Ke Sholay'', a parody of the legendary film which also included look-alikes of Dev Anand and Amitabh Bachchan.
He continued working until his death in July 1992 and several of his completed films were released posthumously such as ''Rudaali'' (1993), ''Do Fantoosh'' (1994) and ''Aatank'' (1996).
=== Directorial work === He ventured into directing in the 1980s, writing, directing and starring in Adhura Aadmi (1982) (however it was never released)[https://myswar.co/album/adhura-aadmi-1982] then he directed ''Chor Police'' (1983) and ''Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi'' (1985), both of the films did not do well at the box office.<ref name="independent"/> His first directorial venture Adhura Aadmi remained incomplete.
=== Other work === Amjad was the president of the Actors Guild Association.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amjad Khan - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0451166/bio/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life and death ==
=== Relationships and family === In 1972, he married Shaila Khan, the daughter of Urdu poet and screenwriter Akhtar ul Iman,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 February 2014 |title='Writing is in my blood' |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/deccan-chronicle/20140212/282595965806530?srsltid=AfmBOoppu8KXSY7nz8x7RRlnRISmpKUoOqMvgFoEnozllQxA5salZ9Gi |website=The Deccan Chronicle |quote=My maternal grandfather, Akhtar ul Iman, was a very famous writer who penned films like Ittefaq and. Waqt.}}</ref> and in the following year, she gave birth to their first child, Shadaab Khan, who would later join the entertainment industry. He also had a daughter, Ahlam Khan, an actress and screenwriter,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Ahlam Khan, the beautiful daughter of 'Gabbar' Amjad Khan |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/photo-gallery-meet-ahlam-khan-karachiwala-the-beautiful-daughter-of-gabbar-sholay-actor-amjad-khan-2891929/bollywood/photo-gallery-meet-ahlam-khan-karachiwala-the-beautiful-daughter-of-gabbar-sholay-actor-amjad-khan-2891929/one-of-the-most-glamorous-theatre-artists-2891930 |website=DNA India}}</ref> and another son, Seemab Khan, who is a club cricketer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizvi |first=Taus |date=11 August 2019 |title=Weight of selection: Amjad Khan's son Seemab Khan to Rahkeem Cornwall |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/cricket/report-weight-of-selection-amjad-khan-s-son-seemab-khan-to-rahkeem-cornwall-2780772 |website=DNA India}}</ref> Ahlam married popular theatre actor Zafar Karachiwala in 2011.<ref name=DailyIndia>{{Cite web|url=https://dailyindia.net/when-amjad-khan-had-broken-the-promise-made-to-allah-he-used-to-say-that-i-got-his-punishment/24467/|title=When Amjad Khan had 'broken' the promise made to Allah, he used to say that I got his punishment|date=12 November 2021|access-date=11 October 2023|archive-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228181950/https://dailyindia.net/when-amjad-khan-had-broken-the-promise-made-to-allah-he-used-to-say-that-i-got-his-punishment/24467/|website=DailyIndia.net website|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-23/news-interviews/30189894_1_mustan-abbas-theatre | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054212/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-23/news-interviews/30189894_1_mustan-abbas-theatre | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 September 2013 | work=The Times of India | title=Zafar Karachiwala, Ahlam Khan got married | date=23 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thedailyeye.info/post.php?id=d0aedf394512ad3b&title=Born-to-act%3A-Ahlam-Khan-Karachiwala|title=Born to act: Ahlam Khan Karachiwala|access-date=28 December 2021|archive-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228171916/https://thedailyeye.info/post.php?id=d0aedf394512ad3b&title=Born-to-act:-Ahlam-Khan-Karachiwala|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Literature and philosophy === Amjad Khan was fond of literature and philosophy, having studied the subject, often quoting English poets such as Keats, Byron, Wordsworth, Shelley as well ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Farook |first=Farhana |date=27 July 2021 |title=Sports-freak & filmy legend Amjad 'Gabbar' Khan's weight gain triggered his downfall |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/tragic-tale-amjad-khan-sports-freak-weight-gain-downfall-075846215.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALmvZv9GwB7SW1AmpLxb5GgSSMVwhUAiOKVwSYm1y9AREbu8H8ua7b6YqgcsyrZic3Nk2xdh5c2izIxuUBlhpRDNHtP36X0pFpJY_-tv3142qRkb2kdtDm6QClBpaDQzt3iLTz99y2rosJeOhAWF_w8VDPKMKPCOhGoYvLKUyo27 |website=Yahoo News}}</ref>
=== Accident === On 15 October 1976,<ref name="Tragic Nostalgia">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Taste-of-own-medicine/articleshow/13797171.cms |title=Tragic Nostalgia |newspaper=The Times of India |date=4 June 2012 |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914102914/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Taste-of-own-medicine/articleshow/13797171.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/i-was-confident-my-marriage-would-never-break-9984-3.html |title="I was confident my marriage would never break" |newspaper=Filmfare |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-date=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326050405/http://www.filmfare.com/features/i-was-confident-my-marriage-would-never-break-9984-3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Amjad Khan met with a serious accident on the Mumbai-Goa highway which left him with broken ribs and a punctured lung. He was on his way to the filming of ''The Great Gambler'', starring Amitabh Bachchan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/amitabh-goa-connect/ |title=Amitabh and the Goa Connect |newspaper=The Navhind Times |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009151620/http://www.navhindtimes.in/amitabh-goa-connect/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Last years === Amjad Khan was passionate about badminton and bull-work but, following another accident, he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy in 1984. This led to a course of steroid treatment which, combined with his poor eating habits, caused excessive weight gain that negatively affected both his health and his career.<ref name=":0" /> On 27 July 1992, he died of a heart attack. He was 51.<ref name="Tragic Nostalgia" /><ref name="DailyIndia" /> His death was attributed to a myocardial infarction.<ref name=":0" />
==Artistry and legacy== Khan is known for his powerful screen presence and voice. His famous character Gabbar Singh remains one of the most mimicked and admired characters in Indian pop culture.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-and-current-affairs/story/amjad-khan-284842-2015-07-27?utm_source=chatgpt.com|title=Some facts you should not miss about the Sholay actor|newspaper=India Today|date=|access-date=15 June 2025}}</ref>{{AI-retrieved source|date=March 2026|checked=no}} Khan demonstrated himself from the poetic nobility of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in Satyajit Ray’s ''Shatranj Ke Khilari'' (1977), to humorous characters in films like ''Qurbani'' and ''Utsav''. Despite struggling with health complications after a severe accident in 1976, he continued to deliver impactful performances throughout the 1980s. He transitioned into comedic and character roles, earning admiration for his ability to reinvent himself.<ref name=ser>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-amjad-khan-1542614.html?|title=Obituary: Amjad Khan|first1=Kuldip|last1=Singh|date=25 August 1992}}</ref> Khan's performance in ''Sholay'' was list in "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema" by ''Forbes''.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite journal |last=Prasad |first=Shishir |author2=Ramnath, N.S |author3=Mitter, Sohini |date=27 April 2013 |title=25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema |journal=Forbes India |publisher=Network 18 |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/100-years-of-indian-cinema/25-greatest-acting-performances-of-indian-cinema/35125/0 |access-date=19 April 2015 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112014841/http://forbesindia.com/article/100-years-of-indian-cinema/25-greatest-acting-performances-of-indian-cinema/35125/0 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Khan was also known for his generosity, wit and leadership. He served as president of the Cine Artistes Association, where he advocated for actor welfare. His peers frequently recalled his sense of humor and strong moral principles.<ref name=ser/>
In 2022, Khan was placed in ''Outlook India''{{'}}s "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=75 Bollywood Actors Who Conquered Hearts Of The Millions |work=Outlook India |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=16 August 2022 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/75-actors-who-conquered-hearts-of-the-millions-since-1947-news-215861/amp |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816142138/https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/75-actors-who-conquered-hearts-of-the-millions-since-1947-news-215861/amp |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Bollywood|India}} * {{IMDb name|id=0451166|name=Amjad Khan}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130514142836/http://thedu.in/biography/amjad-khan Amjad Khan biography] (archived 14 May 2013)
{{FilmfareBestSupportingActorAward}} {{FilmfareAwardBestComedian}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Amjad}} Category:1940 births Category:1992 deaths Category:Indian male film actors Category:Film directors from Mumbai Category:Pashtun male actors Category:Indian people of Pashtun descent Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:Filmfare Awards winners