'Producers owed father Rs. 1.25cr, never returned': Amjad Khan's son
What's the story
Late actor Amjad Khan immortalized the role of notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh in Hindi cinema. With a career spanning two decades, Khan was a generous person. However, his legacy was not respected by his colleagues in the industry, according to his oldest son, actor and writer Shadaab Khan. As per Shadaab, producers owed Khan Rs. 1.25cr but never returned it after his sudden demise.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Rising to the highest ladders of fame with Sholay, Khan went on to star in many notable films like Shatranj Ke Khilari, Satte Pe Satta, Yaarana, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Parvarish, and Chakkar Pe Chakkar. However, the talent was taken away too soon when he died of a heart attack in 1992 at age 52, leaving his wife and three kids—Shadaab, Ahlam, and Seemab.
Source
Khan 'let go of lot of money' hearing 'sob stories'
Speaking to The Times of India, Shadaab revealed how his father was an extremely trusting person. "My father had a habit of helping people and letting go of a lot of money. Producers came home and told him sob stories, promising him the keys [to] their homes," he said. Khan would lend them the money even though he saw through them, he added.
Predicament
'Nobody came forward to pay up'
"When he passed away," the Scam 1992 actor recalled, "producers owed him Rs. 1.25 crore. But nobody from that lot came forward to pay up." He added, "A few people had taken loans from him, and a handful of those returned it. But imagine how much money we lost that was ours!" However, an unlikely link had offered help at that time.
Offer
Gangster from Middle East wanted to give amount
Four months after the Bollywood star passed away in July 1992, his wife, Shehla Khan received a call from a gangster from the Middle East, Shadaab revealed. "He said...he would give her that amount in three days because her husband was a good man," Shadaab recalled, adding his mother had "flatly refused" the offer "saying that her husband never took favors from the underworld."
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His mother helped family regain its footing
With many colleagues turning their backs on them, the Khans regained their footing solely because of their mother, said Shadaab. "If she hadn't been strong at that time, we would have been on the streets. She got into the construction business," he said.