Sajid Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sajid Khan
|
|
|---|---|
Sajid Khan in television series "Maya" (1967)
|
|
| Born | 28 December 1951 Bombay, Bombay State, India
|
| Died | 22 December 2023 (aged 71) |
| Other names | Sajid Mehboob |
| Years active | 1957–2001 |
Sajid Khan (born December 28, 1951 – died December 22, 2023) was an Indian actor and singer. He grew up in a poor area of Bombay, India. He was later adopted by famous Bollywood filmmaker Mehboob Khan, who started Mehboob Studios.
Sajid acted in a few Indian films. His first movie was his adoptive father's film Mother India (1957), which was nominated for an Academy Award. He also appeared in its sequel, Son of India (1962). Later, he became more famous outside India. He worked in movies and TV shows in places like North America, including Maya (1966) and its TV show. He also worked in the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Sajid was a "teen idol" (a very popular young star) in North America and the Philippines from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.
Early Life and First Movie
Sajid was a poor child living in the slums of Bombay (now Mumbai). This was in India's Bombay State (now Maharashtra). Filmmaker Mehboob Khan discovered him.
Sajid started acting as a child. He played the younger version of the character Birju in Mehboob Khan's Hindi film Mother India (1957). This movie was nominated for an Academy Award. Sajid was not famous at that time. He earned 750 Indian Rupees for his role. Later, Mehboob Khan and his wife Sardar Akhtar adopted him and named him Sajid Khan.
Acting Career
After his first movie, Mother India in 1957, Sajid played the main character in his adoptive father's next film, Son of India in 1962. Even though this movie was not a big hit, critics praised Sajid's acting. After his father passed away in 1964, Sajid's adoptive mother, Sardar Akhtar, sent him to the United States.
Khan became well-known in the United States. He co-starred with Jay North in the 1966 film Maya. This movie was so successful that it led to a TV show with the same name. The show aired on NBC from September 1967 to February 1968 and had 18 episodes. Because of the show, Sajid became a "teen idol" for a short time. He appeared on the covers of popular magazines around the world. He also tried to be a singer for a while, but it was not very successful. In 1968, he was a guest star in an episode of the TV show The Big Valley. He also appeared as a guest judge on the music show It's Happening.
In the late 1960s, actress Rekha was trying to start her film career. She spoke good English but not much Hindi. At that time, many English movies and TV shows about India were being made. Examples include Jungle Book and Maya. So, Rekha wanted to find roles in foreign films. She asked Khan for help, as he was acting in Maya. He tried to help her get a small role in the movie, but it didn't work out. Soon after, Rekha started her successful career in Hindi films.
Khan also became popular in the Philippines in the early 1970s. He played the main male role in several romantic comedy movies. He acted alongside famous Philippine actresses Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. He tried to return to Hindi films, but his Hindi movies from 1972 to 1983 did not do well. His most successful period was from 1966 to 1974, mainly in English films. His last movie role was in the film Heat and Dust in 1983. He had a very small part in that movie.
Personal Life
Khan was married and had a son named Sameer. He and his wife divorced in 1990.
Around the early 1970s, Khan's acting career slowed down. It is said that he opened a store in India called 'Artistic'. This store sold costume jewelry and had a small workshop in the back.
Sajid Khan passed away on December 22, 2023, at the age of 71.
Filmography
Movies
- Mother India (1957) .... Young Birju (child actor)
- Son of India (1962)
- Maya (1966) ... Raji
- The Prince and I (1971-Philippines)
- My Funny Girl (1971-Philippines)
- The Singing Filipina (1971-Philippines)
- Savera (1972)
- Mahatma and the Mad Boy (1974)
- Zindagi Aur Toofan (1975)
- Mandir Masjid (1977)
- Dahshat (1981)
- Heat and Dust (1983)
- Pilak (2001)
Television Shows
- Maya (1967–1968, 18 episodes) .... Raji
- It's Happening – (1968, 2 episodes) .... Himself
- The Big Valley – (1969, 1 episode, "The Royal Road") .... Prince Ranjit Singh / Jahan
- 1857 Kranti (TV series) (2000)
