Kader Khan - कादर खान
Kader Khan (1937–2018) was an acclaimed Indian actor, screenwriter, dialogue writer and comedian, best known for his work in Hindi cinema. With a career spanning more than four decades, he became one of Bollywood’s most recognizable character actors and writers.
Early life of Kader Khan
| Born: | 22 October 1937 |
| Birthplace: | Kabul, Afghanistan, then part of the Kingdom of Afghanistan |
| Family: | His family had roots in Afghanistan and India. |
| Grew Up | He grew up in Mumbai, where he studied and eventually developed an interest in theatre and acting. |
| Study | Before entering films, he worked as a civil engineer and professor. He taught civil engineering at M. H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering in Mumbai. |
Kader Khan Entry into Bollywood
Kader Khan's transition into cinema came through his work as a theatre artist and writer.
Actor Dilip Kumar reportedly saw one of his stage performances and was impressed by his talent. Khan subsequently got opportunities to write for Hindi films.
His early major writing credit was for Dahaad (1974), and he went on to write dialogues and screenplays for some of the biggest Hindi films of the 1970s–1990s.
Kader Khan’s Legendary Dialogue Writing
Kader Khan was particularly celebrated for his dialogue writing. He worked extensively with stars including:
- Amitabh Bachchan
- Govinda
- Jeetendra
- Dharmendra
- Anil Kapoor
- Rajesh Khanna
He was associated with several iconic films, including:
❀ Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal, Suhaag, Naseeb, Coolie, Himmatwala, Tohfa, Aaj Ka Arjun and many others.
❀ His dialogues often combined humour, emotion, social commentary and dramatic punch.
Kader Khan as an Actor and comedian
❀ Although he had established himself as a writer, Kader Khan became enormously popular as an actor.
❀ He played a remarkable range of characters—villains, fathers, policemen, teachers, businessmen and comic characters.
❀ His comic timing became especially famous in films with Govinda.
Some memorable films from this phase include:
- Aankhen
- Coolie No. 1
- Saajan Chale Sasural
- Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
- Hero No. 1
- Judwaa
- Dulhe Raja
- Haseena Maan Jayegi
- Anari No. 1
His collaborations with Govinda and David Dhawan produced some of the most popular Hindi comedies of the 1990s.
Kader Khan’s Awards and recognition
Kader Khan received major recognition for his contribution to Hindi cinema, including the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for Meri Awaaz Suno (1981). He was also nominated for Filmfare awards in acting and writing categories during his career.
Kader Khan’s Personal Life
Kader Khan married Azra Khan. They had three sons, including Sarfaraz Khan, who also worked as an actor. In his later years, Kader Khan largely withdrew from active filmmaking and lived with his family abroad.
Kader Khan’s Death
Kader Khan died on 31 December 2018 in Toronto, Canada, aged 81, after suffering from prolonged health problems. His death marked the end of an extraordinary career in which he contributed to Hindi cinema in three major roles—writer, dialogue writer and actor.
