One of the most versatile and multi-talented actors of all time, Kader Khan was a legend who worked as an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer who changed the way of film writing and doing comedy with his writing as well as his immense acting talent.
Early Life
Kader Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, on October 22, 1937, into an ethnic Pashtun family of the Kakar tribe. Khan growup in the Kamathipura neighbourhood of Mumbai after his family moved there from Kabul. He was a Civil Engineering graduate from Ismail Yusuf College and later taught at M. H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering.
Acting Career
Active in theatre since college, Kader Khan was not just an actor but also a playwright. His talent caught the attention of comedian Agha during a play called “Taash Ke Patey.” Agha, in turn, recommended Kader Khan to the legendary Dilip Kumar. After watching his performance, Dilip Kumar was so impressed that he offered him roles in his upcoming films, “Sagina” and “Bairaag.” But before the release of these movies, Kader Khan made his debut in the 1973 film “Daag,” alongside Rajesh Khanna, portraying the character of a prosecuting attorney. He goes on to do over 300 films as an actor and over 250 films as a writer.
Writing Career
His career as a Hindi film writer began when Narinder Bedi saw the theatre play Khan had written and asked him to co-write the script for “Jawani Diwani (1972)” with Inder Raj Anand, for which Khan received 1500 rupees.
It was Rajesh Khanna who gave him the break as a dialogue writer in his film Roti (1974) 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.”
He worked extensively with directors like T. Rama Rao, K. Raghavendra Rao, K. Bapaiah, Narayana Rao Dasari, and David Dhawan, and especially with Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra, who are responsible for the meteoric rise of Amitabh Bachchan. His films with Desai include “Dharam Veer,” “Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati,” “Coolie,” “Desh Premee,” “Suhaag,” “Parvarish,” and “Amar Akbar Anthony,” while films with Prakash Mehra include “Jwalamukhi, “Sharaabi,” “Lawaaris,” and “Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.”
Kader Khan and Amitabh Bachchan
Kader Khan used to be a very good friend of Amitabh Bachchan. Two shared a great bond with each other. Khan wrote many of the iconic films of Amitabh, including Mr. Natwarlal, Khoon Pasina, Do Aur Do Paanch, Namak Halaal, Satte Pe Satta, Inquilab, Giraftaar, Hum, and Agneepath. In the late 80s, differences crept up between them and their friendship ended.
Years later, in 2012, he revealed the reason behind it and said, “I used to always call him Amit. Once a producer from the south came and asked, Have you met Sir Ji. I asked, ‘Which sir ji?’ He said, pointing at Amit Ji, ‘that tall man.’ Amit Ji was coming. I said, ‘He’s Amit. When did he become Sir Ji?’ (He said, ‘We call him Sir Ji.’ Since then everyone started addressing him as Sir Ji. How can anyone call their friend or their brother by any other name? It is impossible. I couldn’t do it and since then our equation was never the same. I was not in Khuda Gawah, was writing Ganga Jamunaa Saraswati but left it midway. There were several other films that I had begun work on but quit.” (As reported in a reputed news paper, we don’t know the Amitabh’s side of the story)
Kader Khan – The King Of Comedy
His started his hands at comedy from Himmatwala and Aaj Ka Daur and goes on to do 100s of comedies in the 80s and 90s. His pairings with Shakti Kapoor, Aruna Irani, Asrani, and Govinda are legendary. Some of his iconic comedies include “Kishen Kanhaiya,” “Hum,” “Ghar Parivar,” “Bol Radha Bol,” “Aankhen,” “Taqdeerwala,” “Raja Babu,” Khuddar,” “Main Khiladi Tu Anari,” “Coolie No. 1,” “Saajan Chale Sasural,” “Sooryavansham,” “Judaai,” “Aunty No. 1,” “Bade Miyan, “Chote Miyan,” “Chhote Sarkar, “Gharwali Baharwali,” “Hero Hindustani,” “Sirf Tum,” “Anari No. 1,” “Dulhe Raja,” “Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge,” “Kunwara,” “Badhaai Ho Badhaai,” “Akhiyon Se Goli Maare,” “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi,” “Lucky,” and mnany more.
Starting in 1988, a series of films featured him in the lead role, including titles like “Karz Chukana Hai,” “Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii,” “Ghar Ho To Aisa,” “Hum Hain Kamaal Ke,” and “Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri.”
Later Career
Khan’s contributions to cinema were recognised with multiple accolades. He got the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for ‘Meri Awaaz Suno’ (1981), ‘Angaar’ (1992), and the Best Comedian for ‘Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri’ (1990). His legacy was further cemented posthumously with the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2019.
Off-screen, Kader Khan was known for his love for writing and reading, which perhaps fuelled his creative endeavors in the film industry. His favourite authors included literary giants like Maxim Gorky, Anton Chekhov, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, reflecting his taste for profound and thought-provoking works.
Personal Life
Kader Khan was married to Hajra Khan and was a father to three sons, Abdul Quddus, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shahnawaz Khan, the latter two following in his footsteps in the film industry. His death on December 31, 2018, in Toronto, Canada, marked the end of an era for Indian cinema, but his work continues to inspire and entertain generations.
Kader Khan’s life story is a testament to the power of dreams and the impact one individual can have on an entire industry. His legacy lives on, not just in the films he was a part of but also in the countless lives he touched with his extraordinary talent and humaneness.
Kader Khan on IMDB
