Numerous actors from the Indian film industry have made a lasting impression on moviegoers. Veteran performer Sajid Khan was one of them. He gained notoriety for his portrayal of a young Sunil Dutt in the classic film Mother India. But regrettably, last week saw the actor’s passing.
On December 22, actor Sajid Khan passed away, adding another jewel to the Indian cinema industry. According to his son Sameer, the actor, who was in his early seventies, was suffering from cancer. Unfortunately, though, he lost the fight against cancer and departed for heaven. Sameer stated to PTI, “He had been battling cancer for a while. He passed away on Friday.”
Sameer went on to say that the Mother India actor turned to philanthropy and settled in Kerala with his second wife after stepping back from the spotlight and ceasing to work in the business.
He added, “My father was adopted by Rajkumar Pitamber Rana and Sunita Pitamber and fostered by filmmaker Mehboob Khan. He was not active in films for a while and was mostly involved in philanthropy. He used to come to Kerala quite often and he liked it here, remarried, and settled here.”
The late actor made his feature debut in 1955 under the direction of Mehboob Khan in the film Mother India. In addition, he is listed as having contributed to several globally famous films, including Son of India, Maya, The Unmade Films, The Singing Filipina, My Funny Girl, Savera, Mahatma and the Mad Boy, Do Number Ke Ameer, Zindagi Aur Toofan, Mandir Masjid, and Dahshat. Heat and Dust was his final motion picture, released in 1983.
The late actor’s website lists a number of well-known clients throughout his career, including Sal Mineo, R.D. Burman, Nora Aunor, Clint Walker, Jay North, Barbara Stanwyck, Merv Gryphon, Mehboob Khan, Nargis, Alan and Maurice King, Dick Clark, Sally Field, Shashi Kapoor, the Ramsey Brothers, and James Ivory.
