The actor made his debut with the 1951 film Nazneen as a child actor.
It is no denying the fact that Amjad Khan was one of the most celebrated antagonists in Bollywood. The actor was versatile in genres ranging from comedy to action drama. He was a celebrated actor, lauded for his acting talent by audiences on screen. During his working years, the actor was part of many cult classics, and on his birth anniversary, we list down a number of his most iconic roles.
Sholay is one of the most celebrated films of Bollywood since its release in 1975, and its main antagonist, Gabbar, played by Amjad Khan, is one of the most feared characters since then. His deep, dark voice, rugged look, and impeccable dialogue delivery made him a box-office hit and left fans asking for more. His famous dailaoue, "Jab door raat baccha nahi sota, toh maa bolti hai so ja nahi toh Gabbar Singh aa jayega," is still fresh in the audience’s memory.
Amjad featured in an intimate portrayal of Wajid Ali Shah in Satyajit Ray's first Hindi directorial, Shatranj Ke Khilari, and is considered to be one of his iconic roles. It featured an ensemble cast of Saeed Jaffrey, Sanjeev Kumar, and Shabana Azmi.
Apart from Gabbar, there is one more most-feared goon in Bollywood, and that is Dilawar, played by Amjad Khan in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. The 197 film, which stars Rekha, Rakhee, and Vinod Khanna, has achieved cult status in the last year.
Ditching his villainous portrayal, Amjad featured in Yaarana alongside Amitabh Bachchan as the main protagonist of the film, showcasing their friendship and chemistry. The film was a box office hit and has achieved cult status over the years. The film was well received by the audience and critics, and it also featured Neetu Singh and Tanuja Samarth in lead roles.