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“Wherever we stand, the line starts from there…”
This dialogue was filmed on Amitabh Bachchan, but Kader Khan was behind many such memorable dialogues in Hindi cinema. The personal life of Kader Khan, who sometimes made us laugh, sometimes cry and sometimes scared us by becoming a villain with his acting and dialogues on screen, was full of struggles.
The family of Kabul-born Kader Khan came to India fearing something untoward. The poverty in the narrow streets of Kamathipura, Bombay was such that in his childhood he had to sit outside the mosque and beg. But at the age when children play, Kader Khan was giving voice to his talent. A theater worker noticed Kadar while standing in the graveyard reciting film dialogues and it was from here that the path to reach the theater opened for him. Later, this skill made him one of the most popular dialogue writers and actors of Hindi cinema.
Today, on Kader Khan’s birth anniversary, read selected stories from the life of the artist who rose from struggles to fame, who spread smiles on millions of faces on screen, but faced many difficulties in his own life –
Story- 1
3 brothers died, family came to India from Afghanistan on mother’s insistence
22 October 1937,
Kader Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Father was a Maulvi. Kader Khan had 3 elder brothers. When the eldest brother turned 8 years old, he died. The same thing happened with the second and third. In such a situation, when Kader started growing older, his mother got scared. She clearly told her husband – This place is not good for my children, let’s go somewhere far away.
Understanding their concern, the father kept the necessary items in a military vehicle and came to Bombay with the family. These were the days of hardship, so the family took shelter in Kamathipura colony of Bombay. This was considered the most infamous area of Bombay. Theft, theft and murder were common everyday. This area was also infamous for prostitution.
Story-2
Abandoned by his father amid poverty, Kader Khan used to beg in mosques
With the changing dates the deposits started getting exhausted. Fights between father and mother also increased in poverty and when Kader turned 2 years old, his father left him and stayed in Bombay and became the Imam of a mosque.
When the news of his father’s departure reached his maternal home in Balochistan, his maternal grandparents came to Bombay with an order. Clearly, a single young woman with a child would not live alone in this notorious neighborhood. If you want to stay here, you will have to marry again. In a hurry, the mother was forcefully married for the second time. The stepfather also had no source of income.
Troubled by hunger, the mother made ends meet by begging from the people around her. When Kader regained consciousness, his mother told that his father is the Imam of the mosque of Tentenpura in Dongri. Whenever there was no food at home, Kader would walk several kilometers to his father and ask him for Rs 2. The answer from my father was – I also don’t have any money. In such a situation, Kader would beg outside the mosque.
He would survive on whatever alms or food he got during the day. Some days we would get food, and some days we would spend the night with an empty stomach. After a few months, the stepfather also left him.
Story-3
When I went out to work, my mother said – I will fight the trouble, you study.
In her poverty, her mother got her enrolled in school, but then the condition of the house started worsening. One day the boys living in the neighborhood said- ‘What’s there in studies, run a factory, work as a laborer, you will get 2-5 rupees.’
Kader came home that day, threw his bag and started leaving for the factory, when his mother’s hand stopped his shoulder. When I turned, my mother immediately said- ‘I know where you are going. You are going to earn 4-5 rupees with these. Son, this 4-5 rupees will not bring happiness or bread to the house. If you really have empathy, you can bring happiness. You study, don’t do anything, I am here, I will fight the troubles.
On the advice of his mother, Kader Khan concentrated heavily on studies. These childhood stories were narrated by Kader Khan in an interview given to Leharen Retro.
Story- 4
Used to go to the graveyard and speak dialogues, only then got the offer for the first play.
Kader Khan enjoyed imitating people since childhood. But he used to do this work alone. Whenever his mother would send him to the mosque to offer Namaz, he would avoid the crowd of the colony, go to the graveyard and stand among the graves, loudly imitating people’s voices and speaking film dialogues.
One day at the age of 8, he was reciting the dialogue of the film Tez-Tez, when Ashraf Khan, standing behind the wall of the cemetery, heard his voice, who was associated with theater and used to play. The heaviness of the voice took them closer. It did not take long for him to appreciate Kadar’s talent and he immediately asked – Will you work in the drama? Kader also immediately agreed and thus he was introduced on the stage. He started getting a few rupees, the financial condition of the house also started improving, but Kader gave full attention to his studies and after passing matriculation from Municipal School, he continued his studies through Civil Engineering. He also continued to be a part of the play.
After completing his studies, he started teaching at M.H.Sabu Siddique College of Engineering, Bykala. In college, he was known for teaching in a unique and easy style.
On the other hand, along with acting in plays, he was also in the news for writing plays and doing the work of direction.
Story-5
Filmmaker gave opportunity to write dialogues while playing, film was written in 3 hours
Kader was becoming famous with his plays. He would get Rs 300-350 per month. Then a play competition was announced. Kader clearly said that he will not participate. He was told that the winner would get Rs 1500. Kader filled the form even though he did not want to. He wrote the play, Local Train. Acted and directed myself.
On the day of the final competition, director Narendra Bedi and actress Kamini Kaushal came to the judge’s chair. As soon as Kader played, the theater was filled with applause. Kamini Kaushal and Narendra Bedi immediately went backstage to meet Kader and said- ‘Why don’t you come to the movies? You have skills, people like you are needed.
Kadar replied- ‘I am not interested in acting in films at the moment.’
Meanwhile, director Narendra Bedi said- ‘I am making a film with Jaya Bhaduri, Randhir Kapoor, Jawaani Deewani. I want you to write his dialogues.
Kader Khan replied- ‘I don’t know how to write dialogues for films.’
On this Narendra Bedi said- ‘We know you will write. We have seen the dramas written by you.
The next day, Kader Khan was called to the office and handed over a script and asked to write its dialogues and bring it.
There was no place to concentrate, so Kader Khan took the local train and sat at Marine Drive. Took out a diary pen and started writing. Children were playing football nearby, the ball was hitting him again and again, but Kader maintained his composure.
After 3 hours he again reached Narendra Bedi’s office. He got irritated after seeing Kadar so soon and thought – I had sent this boy to write, he has come back with a question again.
He asked in a stern tone- ‘What now?’
Kader Khan replied- ‘You asked me to write dialogues…’
Narendra Bedi said- ‘So?’
Kader said on this- ‘I wrote the entire dialogue.’
Narendra Bedi was astounded that how could this boy do the work that used to take months in 3 hours, he must have written something silly. He picked up the diary and started reading. When the last dialogue ended, Narendra Bedi got up from the chair and hugged Kader Khan. Before this perhaps no one had written the dialogues of a 3-hour film in 3 hours. He got Rs 1500 for this work. Later he got offers to write dialogues for many films.
Story- 6
Thanks to the play, Dilip Kumar got a chance to act in films.
One day Kader Khan played cards. Famous comedian-actor Agha was also sitting in the audience gallery. When he returned after watching the acting, he told Dilip Kumar – You must watch that boy’s play.
The next day, Kader Khan was teaching in the college, when a peon came running into the class. He said- ‘Sir, let’s go quickly, a call has come for you.
When he reached the office, he saw the entire staff standing and whispering.
Kader Khan picked up the receiver and said- ‘Hello…, who is speaking?’
Got the answer- ‘I am Joseph.’
Kadar again asked- ‘Who Joseph?’
This time the answer was received- ‘The film industry knows me by the name Dilip Kumar.’
Kader Khan lost the receiver from his hand. Superstar Dilip Kumar was on the other side of the call.
As soon as he put the receiver to his ear again, Dilip Kumar said- ‘I have heard a lot of praise for your play. I want to see your play.
Kader Khan immediately put forward 2 conditions. The first condition is to arrive before the play starts and the second condition is to watch the play completely. Dilip Kumar agreed. He arrived on time the next day. When the play ended, his eyes were red. When the applause stopped, Dilip Kumar said to Kader Khan – I can’t do anything right now, but I want you to work in my next two films, Sagina and Bairaag. Kader Khan immediately agreed.
A film scene of Kader Khan with Dilip Kumar.
At the same time, Kader Khan accepted offers for some more films. His first film as an actor was Rajesh Khanna starrer Daag (1973), in which he played the role of a lawyer.
Kader Khan’s popularity increased with time. He acted in 300 films and also wrote dialogues for more than 250 films.
Rajesh Khanna and Manmohan Desai paid him a fee of Rs 121,000 for writing the film Roti (1974), which was a record at that time. He wrote dialogues for many films like Dharam Veer, Ganga Jamuna Saraswati, Coolie, Desh Premi, Suhaag, Parvarish, Amar Akbar Anthony, Sharabi, Laawaris, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Satte Pe Satta, Coolie No. 1, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Saajan Chale Sasural, Aunty No. 1.
Kader Khan did many films with Govinda including Coolie No. 1, Saajan Chale Sasural.
Story- 7
Sir ji said no, then friendship with Amitabh Bachchan broke.
Kader Khan and Amitabh Bachchan worked in many films like Coolie, Suhaag. Kader Khan wrote the dialogues of Amitabh’s hit films like Mr. Natwarlal, Satte Pe Satta, Hum, Agneepath. While working together, their friendship deepened. One day when Kader Khan came to know that Amitabh Bachchan was going to enter politics, he warned him not to do so. Politics changes even the best. Amitabh ignored him. One day Kader Khan jokingly said, if you go into politics, I will contest elections against you and will tell everyone not to vote for you.
The matter was settled and Amitabh Bachchan became an MP. After a few days, Kader Khan and Amitabh Bachchan attended a program. Then a producer from the South came to Kader Khan and said- ‘Have you met sir?’
Kader Khan asked- ‘Who sir?’
The producer pointed towards Amitabh Bachchan and said, ‘That tall person is looking at me. Our Sir ji.
Kader Khan said- ‘He is Amit for me. We are friends.
The producer interrupted and said, ‘We all call him Sir ji. You also call him Sir ji from now on.
Kader Khan stood quietly. Everyone there was calling Amitabh Bachchan Sir Ji. When this news reached Amitabh Bachchan that Kader Khan refused to call him Sir, distance came between the two. Kader Khan said in an interview that Amitabh Bachchan also wanted him to call him Sir.
Also read these facts related to Kader Khan-
- Kader Khan has received the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for the films Meri Awaaz Suno (1982) and Angaar (1993).
- Kader Khan did 300 films, but the only acting award he got was for Best Comedian for the film Baap Nambari Beta Dus Nambari. The dialogues of this film were written by Kader Khan himself.
- Kader Khan died in Canada in 2018 at the age of 81. He was living in Canada for many years. He also took Canadian citizenship.
- Kader Khan was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri in 2019.
- Kader Khan was married to Azra Khan, with whom he had three sons, Sarfaraz Khan (actor), Shahnawaz Khan (director) and Abdul Quddus. His son Abdul Quddus died in Canada in 2021.
Picture of Kader Khan taken in his last days.
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