Amjad Khan was 33 years old when he was offered the role of Gabbar in Sholay. He signed Sholay on 20th Sep, 1973, the day his first child was born.
His father Jayant (Zakaria Khan) was also an actor. Amjad Khan played some minor roles with his father in films like Nazneen (1951 - child actor at the age of eleven) and Maya (1961). Amjad was to be launched as a hero in 1965 with a home production Patthar Ke Sanam but the film was shelved.
His father passed away from cancer just a few months before the release of Sholay.
The very next year after Sholay, Amjad Khan met with a near-fatal car accident with travelling to Goa to shoot for The Great Gambler. The steering wheel collided with his chest and he was unconscious with a punctured lung. His ribs were broken and he had long term health issues including weight gain.
Amjad Khan was very passionate for literature and philosophy. He had a Master's degree in Philosophy.
He was always calm and composed on the sets and never lost his temper.
He was very affectionate towards animals and had two pet dogs.
Amjad Khan directed Chor Police (1983) and Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1985) but both films bombed at the box-office.
He was supposed to direct a film Lambai Chaudai starring Amitabh Bachchan and himself but the project was shelved as Amitabh entered politics.
He suffered a massive heart-attack and passed away in 1992 at the age of 51.
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