Amjad Khan
Who was Amjad Khan?
What are some notable films Amjad Khan appeared in?
What awards did Amjad Khan win during his career?
An ominous clacking of spurs and the clang of a belt buckle shatter a chilling lull. A thunderous voice echoes through a bare stony landscape, followed by maniacal laughter. In one of the most iconic scenes in Bollywood history, from the classic Sholay (1975; âEmbersâ), Indian actor Amjad Khan created an archetypal antagonist, Gabbar Singh. Khan gripped audiences with fear through Singhâs menacing, unhinged persona and redefined the parameters of the Bollywood villain, cementing his place in the annals of Indian cinema with what remains his most celebrated performance in a career that spanned two decades and more than 130 films.
Early years
- Birth date: November 12, 1940
- Birthplace: Hyderabad, India
- Death date: July 27, 1992
- Place of death: Bombay (now Mumbai), India
- Occupation: Actor
- Notable films: Sholay (1975; âEmbersâ), Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977; The Chess Players), Qurbani (1980; âSacrificeâ), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978; âConqueror of Destinyâ), and Satte Pe Satta (1982; âSeven on Sevenâ).
Khan was born on November 12, 1940, in Hyderabad in British-ruled India. The son of veteran actor Zakaria Khan (who went by the pseudonym Jayant in the film industry) and Quamran Sultan, Amjad Khan was introduced to the performing arts early in life, which possibly kindled his interest in theater and cinema. In fact, his first appearance in a movie was when he was a schoolboy, in the film Nazneen (1951), which featured Jayant. A few other minor appearances followed in films including Ab Dilli Dur Nahin (1957; âNow Delhi Is Not Farâ) and Maya (1961).
Khan was educated at St. Andrewâs High School in Bombay (now Mumbai) and later at R.D. National College, where he dabbled in college politics, being elected the head of the student body. He explored theater for a while, nurturing his passion for acting and honing his skills. He appeared in a supporting role in Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973; âOath of Indiaâ). However, the film and his presence made little impact.
Rise to stardom: Gabbar Singh
Khanâs breakout moment came with Sholayâs Gabbar Singh, a role he landed after the well-established actors Danny Denzongpa and Shatrughan Sinha turned it down. Although Gabbar, the ruthless leader of a gang of bandits, appears on screen almost an hour into the movie, his presence is felt from the first few scenes. The first words the audience hears from him, âKitney aadmi they?â (âHow many men were there?â), have been etched into cinematic history, as have other memorable lines, including:
âYeh haath humko de de, Thakur.â (âGive me these arms, Thakur.â)
âJo darr gaya, samjho mar gaya.â (âIf you are scared, consider yourself dead.â)
âBetey so ja. So ja nahi toh Gabbar Singh aa jayega.â (âSleep, son. Sleep, or else Gabbar Singh will come.â)
Gabbar didnât stop at the moviesâhe popped up in an advertisement, too. He and his bandit cronies were featured in a 1976 commercial for a brand of Britannia biscuits, with the tagline âGabbar ki asli pasandâ (âGabbarâs real choiceâ). Amjad Khan played Gabbar Singh again in the 1991 film Ramgarh Ke Sholay (âRamgarhâs Embersâ), a parody of the original Sholay.
Delivered with a sinister simplicity, these lines have become cultural touchstones in India and are quoted to this day. To prepare for his role in Sholay, Khan had read about notorious dacoits (armed thieves, usually part of a group) from the Chambal region. Ironically, Khan made an unpromising beginning on the set of the movie. He struggled to perform and was unable to deliver a complete take in the early days of filming, prompting the writers of Sholay, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar (known as Salim-Javed), to advise director Ramesh Sippy to drop him. He had also been cast on Salim-Javedâs recommendation. Sippy, however, chose to stick with him, and that conviction paid off.
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Versatile actor
Although he became typecast as a villain after Sholay, Amjad Khan played a variety of roles over the years, demonstrating his ability to showcase a range of characters with ease.
Acclaimed portrayals
Within two years of Sholayâs release, Khan appeared in the period drama Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977; The Chess Players), directed by acclaimed filmmaker Satyajit Ray. In the story, set in colonial India, Khan played Wajid Ali Shah, the last nawab (ruler) of the princely state of Awadh, delivering a poignant depiction of a dignified, melancholic, and tragic figure at the threshold of losing his kingdom to the British. It is said that during the filming of a particular scene, the 200-odd people present were moved to tears by Khanâs emotional performance. In Utsav (1984; âCelebrationâ), Khan played the celibate sage Vatsyayana, who is historically known as the author of the Kamasutra. In the film the character is shown gathering material for what would become his treatise on pleasure, a role Khan infused with sly humor and a clever satire of scholarly obsession. Khan also made a lasting impression as a businessman with criminal links in the English-language production The Perfect Murder (1988) and as a dying zamindar (landlord) in Rudaali (1993).
The good guy
Amjad Khan was adept at playing positive, endearing, and comic roles. In the action-comedy Qurbani (1980; âSacrificeâ) he brought a humorous touch to the role of a flamboyant, gum-chewing police officer. In the first few minutes of his appearance, he does not utter a word, but his gestures and expressions are effortlessly amusing, immediately establishing an entertaining presence. Khan was paired with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan in Yaarana (1981; âFriendshipâ). In it Khan portrays Bishan, a warm, supportive, and endearing friend to Bachchanâs character, Kishan. After being confined to a mental health facility, Bishan is eventually rescued by Kishan. In Love Story, another 1981 film, Khanâs performance as an amiable police officer infused the film with light humor, his comedic timing lending charm to the romantic narrative. The actor delivered a nuanced portrayal of an empathetic, intelligent, and witty lawyer who assists a pair of star-crossed lovers in Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986; âChameliâs Weddingâ).
The bad guy
Although he depicted a wide array of characters, Khanâs imposing screen presence made him a favorite for negative roles. Beyond Gabbar Singh, his standout villain roles include a dreaded gangster in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978; âConqueror of Destinyâ), a criminal mastermind in Mr. Natwarlal (1979), and a murderous guardian of an heiress in Satte Pe Satta (1982; âSeven on Sevenâ). In several of these movies, including Mr. Natwarlal, Satte Pe Satta, and Kaalia (1981), he played the archenemy of Amitabh Bachchanâs characters. Unlike the one-dimensional villains of earlier Bollywood films, Khanâs portrayals were often layered. His characters were dangerous but also often witty, egotistic, and vulnerable.
Direction, awards, and death
Amjad Khan also ventured into directing. Following an unreleased project, he made his directorial debut with Chor Police (1983; âThief Policeâ), a story about triple murders and certain social issues. Ameer Aadmi Ghareeb Aadmi (1985; âRich Man Poor Manâ) highlights economic inequality and the struggles of the masses.
The actor won three Filmfare Awards. Two were for best supporting actor for his roles in Dada (1980; âElder Brotherâ) and Yaarana, in 1980 and 1982, respectively. The third, in 1986, was for best performance in a comic role in Maa Kasam (1986; âSwear on My Motherâ). Khan had been seriously injured in a car accident in 1976 while traveling to a film shoot, which led to long-term health complications. These issues contributed to his death from a heart attack on July 27, 1992, in Bombay.