‘Stylish’ and ‘Western’ are apt words to describe this debonair dude whose personality was so mesmerizing that it compelled girls to scream ….
– Aap Jaisa Koi Mere Zindagi Mein Aaye Toh Baat Ban Jaaye!!!
Any guesses who is this Bollywood actor, producer and director? Well you have guessed him right. He is Feroz Khan, who would have turned 74 today but alas he bid adieu few years back. Glamsham.Com pays him homage and enlightens readers how he became Bollywood’s most sought after ‘Anti-Hero’ in the early 70’s.
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Dilip Kumar portrayed the first anti-hero in ANDAZ (1949) but was not typecast as he continued playing the lead roles. Similarly Raaj Kumar played anti-hero in WAQT (1965) and moved on with his regular lead roles but Feroz Khan after his award winning performance in B. R. Chopra’s AADMI AUR INSAAN opposite Dharmendra and Saira Banu, played the anti-hero in the movie with such finesse that he went on to fetch his First Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in the movie. The film was such a huge hit that it established Feroz Khan the most sought after anti-hero of the early 70s. Remember his hit movies like SAFAR, opposite Rajesh Khanna, GEETA MERA NAAM opposite Sunil Dutt, MELA opposite Sanjay Khan, etc.
However, few may know that B. R. Chopra had initially approached actor Raaj Kumar for this crucial role as B.R. Chopra had a fine tuning with Raaj Kumar. The duo had done many movies together like WAQT, HUMRAAZ, etc. But to B. R. Chopra’s surprise Raaj Kumar turned down the role. Do you know the reason?
Well it’s believed the movie had a scene where Dharmendra, the hero of the movie had to slap Raaj Kumar. But Raaj Kumar declined the role arguing, ”Chopra Sahab, Dharmendra toh kal ka chokra hai , how can he slap me, No … I cannot take this.” Saying this he walked out of the movie opening doors for Feroz Khan, who was still struggling then as hero in B grade action thrillers.
