Bollywood pays tribute to actor-writer Kader Khan
HIT Actor-comedian, Kader Khan, died after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Toronto in Canada, a family member said last week. He was 81.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan led the tributes to the veteran Bollywood actor-writer-comedian and Quranic scholar.
He is survived by his wife Hajra, son Sarfaraz, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. The last rites were held in a Toronto cemetery.
Kader spent nearly four months in hospital, for old-age related ailments including breathing issues and finally succumbed on December 31.
Starting with his first film as an actor in “Daag” (1973), over the next 35 years he acted in over 300 films, and also wrote the story or dialogues for more than 250 films in Hindi and Urdu, starting with “Roti” (1974).
Some of his films as a comedy actor are: “Daag”, “Adalat”, “Bairaag”, “Parvarish”, “Muqaddar Ka Sikandar”, “Shalimar”, “Mr. Natwarlal”, “Suhaag”, “Dhan Daulat”, “Qurbani”, “Jwalamukhi”, “Abdullah”,
“Naseeb”, “Ahista Ahista”, “Yaarana”, “Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai”, “Satte Pe Satta”, “Raaz”,
“Desh Premee”, “Sanam Teri Kasam”, “Mehndi Rang Layegi”, “Himmatwala”, “Coolie”, “Ghar Ek Mandir”, “John Jaani Janardhan”, “Tawaif”, “Loha”, “Jawab Hum Denge”, “Shahenshah”, “Pyar Ka Mandir”, “Khoon Bhari Maang”, “Vardi”, “Baap Numbri, Beta Dus Numbri”,
“Pyar Ka Devta”, “Saajan”, “Bol Radha Bol”, “Meherbaan”, “Aankhen”, “Eena Meena
Deeka”, “Coolie No.1”, “Saajan Chale Sasural”, “Judaai”, “Dulhe Raja”, “Aunty No.1” and “Sooryavansham”.
He penned the story-dialogues for topgrossing films like: “Jawani Diwani”, “Benaam”, “Roti”, “Parvarish”, “Suhaag”, “Mr. Natwarlal, “Yaarana”, “Desh Premee”, “Khuddar”, “Sharaabi”, “Ganga Jamna Saraswati”, “Singhasan”, “Khoon Bhari Maang” and “Aunty No. 1”. He also produced a film, “Shama” in 1981.
Kader had contributed to several Amitabhstarring films like “Amar Akbar Anthony”, “Muqaddar Ka Sikandar”, “Laawaris” and “Coolie” as a writer.
“Kader Khan passes away. Sad, depressing news. My prayers and condolences. A brilliant stage artiste, most compassionate and accomplished talent on film. A writer of eminence...in most of my very successful films. A delightful company and a mathematician,” Amitabh tweeted on Tuesday.
Actor Dharmendra expressed his grief on Twitter: “It is so sad. We have lost another loving co-star. Jannat naseeb ho Kader Bhai!”
Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, on the other hand, wondered why Kader was in Canada at the time of his death. “Kader Khan has given so much to our entertainment industry...what a sad start to 2018. There is a lesson to be learnt from Kader Khan’s death in a foreign country. We need to take better better care of our artistes so that they don’t feel neglected,” he said.
Actor Anupam Kher hailed Kader as “one of the finest actors of our country”. They worked together in films like “Chaalbaaz”, “Meherbaan” and “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”.
“It was a joy and a learning experience to be on the sets with him. His improvisational skills were phenomenal. His humour was eternal and original. He was a wonderful writer. We will miss him and his brilliance,” he tweeted.
Apart from members of the film fraternity, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled his death.