Sajid Khan

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Sajid Khan
Bombay, Maharashtra
, India
Died22 December 2023(2023-12-22) (aged 71)
Other namesSajid Mehboob
Years active1957–2001

Sajid Khan (28 December 1951 – 22 December 2023) was an Indian actor and singer. Born into poverty in the

television adaptation, as well as the Philippines and United Kingdom. He was a teen idol
in North America and the Philippines from the late 1960s to early 1970s.

Early life and debut

Sajid was a poor child from the

Academy Award-nominated Hindi film Mother India (1957). Sajid was unknown at the time.[1] His salary in the film was 750 (equivalent to 75,000 or US$940 in 2023).[3] He was later adopted by Mehboob Khan and his wife Sardar Akhtar, who named him Sajid Khan.[4]

Career

After his debut in Mother India in 1957, he played the title role in his adopted father's next and last film Son of India in 1962. According to Rauf Ahmed, though the film was not a success at the box-office, Sajid's performance was praised by the critics.[5] After his father's death in 1964, Sajid moved to the United States where he did his further education.

Khan went on to achieve fame in the United States with a co-starring role alongside

of the same name airing on NBC from September 1967 to February 1968 and lasting 18 episodes. The show led to Sajid becoming a "teen idol" for a short time, appearing on the cover of popular magazines.[7]
He also had a short-lived singing career, releasing a self titled album.

In 1968, he guest-starred in an episode of the television series

It's Happening
as a guest judge.

In the late 1960s, the actress Rekha was struggling to gain a foothold in films. She was a south Indian who spoke Hindi badly but whose English was good. At this time, several English language films and television serials with an Indian theme were being made, like Jungle Book and Maya. So, she thought of looking for roles as an Indian woman in foreign language films. She approached Khan, who was himself acting in Maya, and he tried to help her get some a bit role in the film, but failed. Shortly afterwards, Rekha made her Hindi language debut with Sawan Bhadon (1970), which was a hit, and her career in Hindi films was assured.

Khan also found success in the

Merchant Ivory film Heat and Dust
in 1983, where he played the role of "dacoit chief," seen fleetingly in only one scene with no spoken dialogue whatsoever.

Personal life

Khan was married to a woman whose name is not known, and they became the parents of two sons, Stephanos, who lives in the UK, and Sameer. Khan and his wife divorced in 1990.

By the early 1970s, Khan's career was more or less over. It is reported that, around this time, Khan opened a retail store with a small workshop in the back which made costume jewellery. 'Artistic' was the name of the retail store, located in India.

Khan died on 22 December 2023, at the age of 71 after suffering a long battle with cancer.[9]

Filmography

Khan as "Raji" in Maya, circa 1967.

Films

Television

  • 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)[10]

Discography

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
"Getting to Know You" (Colgems 1026)

(b/w "Ha Ram (Of Love And Peace)")

1968
8
Sajid (1969)
"Dream" (Colgems 1034)

(b/w "Someday")

1969
19

Albums

Sajid (1969) (Colgems COS-114)

  1. A Song Inside (2:29)
  2. Everything is You (2:29)
  3. Moon River (3:15)
  4. I Love How You Love Me (2:45)
  5. This Guy's in Love With You (3:25)
  6. Dream (2:50)
  7. Smile (2:46)
  8. A Closed Heart Gathers No Love (2:43)
  9. Someday (2:43)
  10. Ha Ram (Of Love And Peace) (2:55)
  11. Getting to Know You (2:54)

References

External links