Feroz Khan in the swinging seventies, with his flashy clothes and fast cars, cowboy boots , sunglasses, and side burns, could have given Elvis Presley a complex.Such was the Pathan actor’s flamboyance. He charmed generations of women from the 1960s to, well, almost the late 2000s, starting with films like the intense Aparadh and ending two years ago with the hilarious Welcome. Film makers reported that Feroz was always keen to continue playing the devil-may-care attitude which he portrayed in Dharmatma, Quarbani and later in Jaanbaaz and Yalgaar.
His leading ladies, top Bollywood actress in their time, naturally succumbed to the Killer Khan’s charm. They all said he made them look so beautiful and sensuous on screen, and they they felt heart broken after hearing the shocking news of his death.
To say a few words each of the actresss’ way- Zeenat Aman- His death is deeply saddening. I was his leading lady and that was our primary relationship. He always kept in touch and was an exceptional man! He was so much ahead of his time, not just ion terms of style, but also technically. I can never forget that he made me look so good in Quarbani, people talk about it even now, and I will always cherish his memories.
Hema Malini- He was not just an actor, director, but a wonderful man, a fine man and a great style icon of his time. I was already seeing Dharamji, but I must say that he had all the qualities of a girl to get attracted to him! He had a flirtatious quality, but that was limited to the sets only. He may not be alive today, but he will remain for ever in our hearts.
Sridevi- My heart is with Fardheen and his family. I did Jaanbaaz, one of my earliest films with Ferozji. Initially I was very apprehensive because he looked very western, and I was not very well versed with the language or that culture. But he suprirsed me by talking throughout in Tamil. I will always remember him as a warm, down-to-earth man, who made me look extremely beautiful.
Neeetu Singh- I woke up with the sad news and was deeply disturbed, for it is indeed a great loss to the industry. I did work with Feroz in one of my earlier movies-Chunauti, which did not do well, yet we shared a very good rapport.
Madhuri Dixit- We have lost a great personality and a very good human being. He directed me in Dayavaan, and a very wonderful director, a man ahead of his times. Ferozji was a big-hearted Pathan and I’ll miss him dearly.