The Last Gunslinger
Feroz Khan was many things to many people, cowboy, rockstar, star,
actor, director, producer, friend, lover to me he was a mentor, a
father figure and a friend, the fact that I co-wrote Janasheen or that
he acted in Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena is co-incidental.
I was 6 years old when Qubani released, a word I could barely
pronounce, so that summer vacation I would run up and down singing
‘Singhdani, Singhdani, Singhdaani, allah ko pyaari hai Singhdaani’.
At 27 when I met him courtesy of Ram Gopal Varma.
I was coming back from work it was around 8 pm when I stood outside
the imposing structure of FK House in Jussawala Wadi opposite Marriott
in Juhu.
I was ushered into Feroz Khan’s den where he was dressed in a white
nightdown, having his favourite whiskey.
I had heard legends of him sitting with a gun next to him, I think
that was my second question. He laughed and then told me about the
guns he had. A few months later when I spent weeks writing away with
him at his farmhouse I held the Walther PPK he kept there.
The thing about Feroz Khan is that if he liked you, he would love you
to the core and unquestioningly, if he didn’t like you ideally you
should make sure you never met him again.
He was one man I could be totally honest with, with my feelings and
opinions, a lot of people were scared of his persona, but that was
carefully created by him to ensure one thing his privacy.
He lived a public life, he lived it as he pleased without being
jugdemental about others or caring what others thought about him, he
would be surrounded by a lot of people and and yet there was a
distance he created, where he could objectively see things as they
were.
He remembered each and every single day of his struggle, right from
the time of his pool playing days to his struggle in the early years
of his in the film business.
A very well read man, not just in liretature but also in religious
works right from the Koran to Gita, his favourite however remained
Oscar Wilde who he could quote at the drop of a hat, or pull out a
sher and charm a beautiful woman, it came efortlessly to him.
The Bad and The Beautiful an old classic was a favourite film of his,
one of his dreams was to make a film on film.
His biggest turn on, wasn’t the obvious but it was music, he would
transform into a child when he would create songs or hear them
endlessly dancing away, enjoying every lyric and note.
I think he never got bored in his entire life because he never did
anything he didn’t enjoy.
He lived a full life, celebrating each and every occasion as if it
were the greatest moment of his life, I don’t think he had many
regrets in life, and he achieved it because he was brave, brave enough
to face life on his own terms and face the backlash too.
Fardeen and Laila were born into a life of luxury but he instilled in
them values where they never took it for granted, anyone who knows the
family will vouch for the fact that his kids aren’t just sauve but
extremely genuine people. A large part of that is to Feroz Khan’s
credit.
When he consented to act in my debut film it was a great moment but
also a scary one because I had no clue how would he be as an actor on
the set.
His call time was 9.30, I thought he might come in sometime and was on
the set when my assistant came rushing saying Khansaab’s car entered
the Grand Hyatt location on the dot, literally! The next time we all
actually stood at the gate to see how could he come exactly at 9:30,
and well, at 9:29.10 his car appeared at the beginning of the lane and
he entered again precisely at 9:30!
He was a joy to direct. One week before shooting he had flown me down
to his farmhouse and gone over the scenes, he cracked up when I told
him that the line ‘maut kabhi rishwaat nahin leti kyonki kafan mein
jeb nahin hoti hain’ was something I saw written behind a
autorickshaw. One of the additions he did was use a line from Aadmi
aur Insaan ‘boli lag rahi hai imaan bik rahe hain’, incidentally he
got his first Filmfare for that film.
One of the memorable memories of mine involved him calling me when I
was getting up to do my phera’s, he couldn’t make it, and only Fardeen
was gonna come, when I saw his number flash I took the call and he
chatted with me laughing at the moment I had actually recieved the
phone cal, while agahst relatives looked on.
There are countless of memories and I am blessed to have them.
To have known a man who was all heart is one of the greatest gifts
life has given me.
By the way, he never kept a gun next to him. But forget I said that,
let it be part of the many legends that surround him.
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Thanks Suparn. A wonderful tribute to one of my favorite actors. RIP Feroz Khan.
Suparn this is one of the best tributes possible to one of the most suave & stylish personalites that Indian cinema has seen so far.Physically he may be no more, but the legend lives on in our memories !!!
just like you Suparn. Straight from the heart. Dia Mirza
well written suparn….. we hv sum great memories of him…. we,ll miss him…………………………………………………… . koena mitra
I think he never got bored in his entire life because he never did anything he didn’t enjoy….brilliant words to describe a life-lover like Feroz..Feroz mara nahin karte….
Very nicely written. Qurbaani is most definitely a cult film.
Wonderful, wonderful tribute! My most vivid memory of FK the actor is his opening scene with Amrish Puri in Qurbani – lagi aath aath aane ki – followed by the immortal, aath aane shart ke, baaki, marammat ke!! I trip on it every single time…FK was a class-act. May his soul RIP.
Feroze Khan for me was not a great actor/director, but was someone who made some very stylish movies during his time. Alvida, Feroze Khan
on a side not, I read the same article on rediff. I guess PFC has different set of rules for different people.
Great Article Suparn. Feroz Khan was fantastic personality and truly epitomised the grandeur and glamour of tht Film Industry. Love him or hate him but you simply could not ignore. How can anyone forget “Qurbani” ? He will always be remembered with fond memories.
Very nice tribute to one of the most stylish actors Bollywood has seen Suparn!
Thanks!
this almost beats raja sen’s tribute to FK Sr.
on rediff. Thanks Suparn!
Great tribute. Indeed he has been the man who lived every moment. Jannat mein bhi vo apne sakshiyat ki khusboo jarur bikherenge.
Great tribute. Loved his persona… Would have loved to hear more such gems/legends…
Good post..He will be sorely missed
R.I.P. to the original style icon and a man we should all look up to for have the courage to live his life on his terms.
aur koi andaaz ka Baadshah nahi hoga
roz roz nahi hoga…
aur koi Feroze nahi hoga…
He was the original and last of the Cowboys!
Thanks for sharing Suparn.
Thanks for sharing.
hi suparn,
feroz saab was style and elan personified.indeed u were lucky to have worked with the great man.may his soul rest in peace and god gives strength to fardeen and laila to bear this. how has your film acid factory shaped up.do write up your experiences of the film and share some stills with us. when is the film releasing? it sure has a great ensemble cast and making it must have been a fantastic journey.do share something of that on pfc.
// Fardeen and Laila were born into a life of luxury but he instilled in them values where they never took it for granted, anyone who knows the
family will vouch for the fact that his kids aren’t just sauve but extremely genuine people. A large part of that is to Feroz Khan’s credit. //
I dont mean to be offensive but are we talkinag abt Fardeen Khan, who was arrested for possession and usage of Cocaine ?
Suparn sir is it possible to meet you regarding a script based on suspense-horror theme…