Remembering ‘Gabbar Singh’, Amjad Khan on his Birth Anniversary

Remembering Amjad Khan on his Birth Anniversary

Amjad Khan was an Indian actor and director. In his career spanning just 17 years, he did almost 200 movies and also tried his hand at direction. He enjoyed popularity for villainous roles in Hindi films, the most famous being the iconic Gabbar Singh in the 1975 classic Sholay and of Dilawar in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. Before Amjad Khan came to films, he was a theatre actor. In 1975, he was offered the role of dacoit Gabbar Singh for the film Sholay by Salim Khan, who was one of its writers. After the success of Sholay, Khan continued to play negative roles in many subsequent Hindi films in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. He acted in some of the biggest hits of the 70s and the 80s establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with.

He often acted as villain opposite Amitabh Bachchan as the hero. Amitabh-Amjad were a terrific duo in so many movies together, including Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Satte pe Satta, Mr. Natwarlal, Nastik, Laawaris, Barsaat ki ek raat, Desh Premee, Kaalia, Ram Balram, Kasme Vaade, Khoon Pasina, Parvarish, Desh Premee and many more. Khan was also acclaimed for playing many unconventional roles. He played many positive roles in films such as Commander, Yaarana and Laawaris as Amitabh’s friend and father respectively. Amjad won Filmfare Best Supporting Actor for the movie ‘Yaarana’, where Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad were friends. He also ventured into directing for a brief period in the 1980s, directing and starring in Chor Police (1983), which did not do well, and Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1985) which was a blockbuster at the box office.