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Actors

Feroz Khan (Actor), Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 September 1939

Age69 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceBengaluru, Karnataka, India

ProfessionActor, Director, Producer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseSundari Khan (Ex-wife)

FamilySon - Fardeen Khan; Daughter - Laila Khan; Father - Sadiq Ali Khan Tanoli; Mother - Fatima; Siblings - Sanjay Khan, Sameer Khan, Akbar Khan, Khurshid Shahnavar, Dilshad Bibi

Feroz Khan (Actor), Biography

Feroz Khan was an Indian film actor, director, and producer known for his stylish screen presence and action-oriented films. Born Zulfiqar Ali Shah Khan in

Early life and background

Feroz Khan was born Zulfiqar Ali Shah Khan on 25 September 1939 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. He came from a family with roots beyond India: his father, Sadiq Ali Khan Tanoli, hailed from Ghazni province in Afghanistan and his mother, Fatima, was Iranian. Raised in Bengaluru, he attended Bishop Cotton Boys' School and St. Germain High School. From a young age he was drawn to cinema, especially Westerns, and developed a passion for horses and action films that would shape the image he later cultivated on screen.

Career

Khan entered the film industry as an actor, making his screen debut in Didi (1959) in the role of Madhu. Over the next decades he worked predominantly in Hindi cinema, initially appearing in supporting parts in a number of films. He appeared in the English-language Tarzan Goes to India (1962) opposite Simi Garewal and played supporting roles in films such as Oonche Log (1965). Despite steady work as an actor, he turned to directing and producing, which allowed him to create films more aligned with his taste for stylized action and international influences.

As a filmmaker, Khan directed and produced Apradh (1972). He wrote, produced and directed Dharmatma (1975), notable for being the first Hindi film shot in Afghanistan and for drawing inspiration from The Godfather. His commercial blockbuster Qurbani (1980) became one of his best-known productions. Khan continued to work in front of and behind the camera into the 2000s: Janasheen (2003) was his last film as director, and he appeared as an actor in Welcome (2007) as Ranvir 'RDX' Dhanraj Xaja.

Khan collaborated with family on screen as well; he shared frames with his younger brother Sanjay Khan in films including Upaasna (1971), Mela (1971), and Nagin (1976). Over his career he won industry recognition, including a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Aadmi Aur Insaan (1971), a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), an IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role for Janasheen (2004), and a Zee Lifetime Achievement Award (2008).

Personal life and family

Khan married Sundari Khan; the marriage ended in divorce. He was the father of actor Fardeen Khan and a daughter, Laila Khan, who is an artist. He was the eldest among several siblings, which include Sanjay Khan, Sameer Khan, and Akbar Khan, and two sisters, Khurshid Shahnavar and Dilshad Bibi.

Khan maintained a taste for pursuits such as horse riding, shooting, and billiards. His on-screen persona reflected a love for Western-style cinema—cowboys, rifles, and horses—and he often incorporated that influence into the films he made and starred in. He was known to favor certain Western actors and actresses, and cars and colognes were noted among his personal style choices.

Public profile

Over time Khan became a high-profile and sometimes controversial figure. In April 2006 he drew criticism following remarks reported during a visit to Lahore; the episode led to restrictions on his entry to Pakistan. He was also open about lifestyle habits that included smoking and drinking.

Khan was tall and striking in appearance, standing about 183 cm (6 ft) with dark brown eyes. He was of the Islamic faith and identified with the Shia community.

Death and legacy

Feroz Khan died on 27 April 2009 in Bengaluru at the age of 69 after a battle with lung cancer. He is remembered for his charismatic, stylish presence on screen, his contributions as a director and producer, and for bringing a distinctly cosmopolitan and action-oriented sensibility to mainstream Hindi cinema.

Latest updates

There are no film credits for Khan after his last acting appearance in 2007 and his final directorial credit in 2003. His body of work continues to be cited for its stylistic influence and several of his films remain part of the popular memory of 1970s and 1980s Hindi cinema.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Feroz Khan (Actor),, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Welcome

Acted as Ranvir 'RDX' Dhanraj Xaja

2007
Janasheen

Directed

2003
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut film as actor: Didi (1959)
  2. Directed and produced Apradh (1972)
  3. Directed and produced Dharmatma (1975), the first Hindi film shot in Afghanistan
  4. Produced the hit Qurbani (1980)
  5. Filmfare Best Supporting Actor for Aadmi Aur Insaan (1971)
  6. Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2001)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Feroz Khan (Actor), born?

25 September 1939

What is Feroz Khan (Actor), known for?

Actor, Director, Producer

What is Feroz Khan (Actor),’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is Feroz Khan (Actor), married to?

Sundari Khan (Ex-wife)