Patcy N in Mumbai
Kader Khan gave some interesting insights to his life in the film industry, where he even claimed that he had asked his then close friend Amitabh Bachchan not to venture into the world of politics.
In the second part of the two-part special series on the veteran actor, Patcy N spoke to Khan's sons Sarfaraaz and Shahnawaz, who told us what their father was all about.
As an aside, Shahnawaz, who has assisted director Satish Kaushik on Milenge Milenge, and Vaada, and Raj Kanwar on Humko Tum Se Pyaar Hai, will be making his acting debut soon in Sharaabi Nawaab.
Read on:
Sarfaraaz: We didn't go on the sets much (as children) -- just once in a while. My dad did not want us to give up our studies and get into films, so we were asked to finish our education. We were not even allowed to read film magazines.
I always wanted to act. As a kid, when I watched television, I would want to do what they were doing. Later on, I saw that dad also comes on television (when his films were played on TV).
My father would shoot five days a week, or go for month-long schedules, and mom would take care of us.
Yet, I can't say our father was missing in our growing years, as he was always there when we needed him. Even if he spent just five minutes with us, that would be quality time.
'In school, we never told people we were Kader Khan's sons'
In school, we never told anyone we were Kader Khan's sons. We did not want to be treated differently or be known as star kids because that's what our father taught us.
I went twice to Ooty when he was shooting there and my vacations were going on. I have been on the sets of Bol Radha Bol and Dhanwan.
NTR sir (Andhra Pradesh chief minister N T Rama Rao) once came on the sets of Bol Radha Bol wearing an orange kurta and lungi to meet my dad. My father and he shared a nice relationship.
My father likes playing cricket a lot so whenever he is free from his shooting, he would say, let's play cricket.
I did not tell my father that I wanted to act until I completed my education. Only after I finished a hotel management course from the UK, I told my father I want to act.
He asked me if I knew how much money is required to make a film. I said in crores.
He said, 'Do you want me to make films for you?' I said no.
'If I, being your father, would think twice about investing money in you, why would anyone else do so? Are you Amitabh Bachchan? Go and get that answer and then come back to me,' he said.
'I can't see my father crying and fighting in films'
My first film was Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai (2002). I was in Mauritius for a vacation and the producer and director of the film were there for the recce. Amjad Khan's son Shadab was supposed to play a character in the film, but he met with an accident so I got the role because of Sohail bhai (Khan).
After watching that film, Salman bhai (Khan) called me for Tere Naam.
I didn't get any film work because of my father. He doesn't call up people. I had to struggle.
He didn't go to a theatre to see my film; he saw it when it came on television. But then he never saw his own films in theatres. Tere Naam was playing on television one day and my mom told him, so he watched it. I was watching from behind. He was very happy seeing me act, especially in the scene where Salman bhai and I fight.
I was 10 when I did my first play with my dad. I was a few minutes late for the show and he slapped me for coming late. So I know I can't take things lightly with him.
I love his Aaj Ka Daur. I can't see him crying and fighting in the film -- he is my hero -- so I prefer his comic films like Dullhe Raja and Coolie No 1. I like all his scripts.
'There was no filmi atmosphere in our house'
Shahnawaz: We never knew our father was such a huge legend when we were growing up. In fact, we thought the person on the big screen is a different person and the person in our house is a different person!
There was no filmi atmosphere in our house. We never knew which film abba was shooting for. At home, he was very serious. He would talk to us about our studies. Since he was a very good teacher, he would take up our studies. We studied even in the vacations.
I am a big fan of Govinda so I requested my dad to take me to meet Govinda. He took me on the sets of Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni.
Once Sarfaraaz and I went on the sets of Humshakal because Shammi Kapoorsaab wanted to meet us.
I studied direction, editing and graphic designing in Toronto and now I want to act because many people have told me I am a good actor. I have done plays with my father and soon will do films too.
'When dad got angry, I would think that now he will become like Lalchand!'
I was scared of him when I was a child. I saw his film Vardi, where he played the double role of Lalchand and Balkishan. His villainous character was called Lalchand and he was so bad that I was afraid of him even at home. When dad got angry, I would think that now he will become like Lalchand!
I had no clarity of speech -- I spoke so fast that I would eat up words. So when I told dad I want to be an actor, he took me to Pune on one of his tours. In that time, I became closer to my father. He taught me so many things, we had lots of fun.
I love all my father's films, but if I have to name one, it would be Angaar. As a writer, Lawaaris, Satte Pe Satta, Agneepath, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Vidhata, Karma.
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