Sajid Khan (Actor) Age, Death, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sajid Khan

• Sajid Khan was an Indian actor and singer. He was the adopted son of Bollywood filmmaker Mehboob Khan, the founder of Mehboob Studios. Sajid became a teen idol in North America and the Philippines during the late 1960s to early 1970s.

• Sajid, originally a poor child from the slums of Bombay (now Mumbai) in India, was discovered by Bollywood filmmaker Mehboob Khan. Reportedly, Mehboob Khan needed a mischievous child actor for the role of Chhote Birju in his film “Mother India” (1957). Despite efforts by his assistant Chimankant Gandhi, they could not find a suitable child. Douglas, the fight master, suggested Sajid for the role. Chimankant went to Sajid’s house in Mastan Talav, a Muslim-populated area near Chor Bazaar, where the young and fearless Sajid impressed him with his presence of mind. Mehboob Khan, initially not sure, was won over by Sajid’s naughty style and storytelling and ultimately selected him for the role of Chhote Birju. ^[3]Jansatta
  

  A childhood picture of Sajid Khan

• He began acting as a child and portrayed the younger version of Sunil Dutt‘s character Birju in Mehboob Khan’s Academy Award-nominated Hindi film “Mother India” (1957). Sajid was unknown then and earned a salary of Rs. 750 (equivalent to Rs. 75,000 or US$940 in 2023). Later, he was fostered by Mehboob Khan and his wife Sardar Akhtar, who named him Sajid Khan.
  

  Sajid Khan (left) in a still from the film Mother India

• After making his debut in Indian film with his foster father’s Academy Award-nominated film “Mother India” in 1957, he appeared in its sequel “Son of India” in 1962, which was his father’s last film. Despite the film’s lack of success at the box office, critics praised Sajid’s performance, as noted by Rauf Ahmed, a veteran film journalist. In 1964, following his father’s death, Sajid relocated to the United States and continued his higher education.
  

  The poster of the fil ‘Son of India’

• Khan was married to a woman whose name is unknown, and they had a son named Sameer. They got divorced in 1990.

• In 1966, Khan and Jay North appeared in the film “Maya” and gained popularity in the United States. The film’s success resulted in a TV series with the same name, which aired on NBC from September 1967 to February 1968, spanning 18 episodes.
  

  Sajid Khan as ‘Raji’ in Maya, circa (1967)

  

  The success story of ‘Maya’ published in a newspaper

  

  Sajid Khan with Jay North and Cowsills

• “Maya” turned Sajid into a “teen idol” for a brief period, and he was featured on the covers and pages of renowned magazines from the United States, France, Japan, Mexico, Germany, and Thailand.
  

  Sajid Khan on the cover of a Mexican magazine

• In 1968, he made a guest appearance in an episode of the television series “The Big Valley” and appeared as a guest judge on the music show “It’s Happening.”
  

  Sajid Khan in a still from a television serial

• Apart from being an actor, he was also a singer. He briefly pursued a singing career and released a self-titled album in 1969. The album included songs such as A Song Inside, Everything is You, Moon River, I Love How You Love Me, This Guy’s in Love With You, Dream, Smile, A Closed Heart Gathers No Love, Someday, Ha Ram (Of Love And Peace), and Getting to Know You.
  

  Sajid Khan on the cover of his music album

• His songs “Getting to Know You” ranked 8 and “Dream” ranked 19 at US Bub. (Billboard) in 1969.
  

  Sajid Khan while singing during a live show

• Sajid became popular for his singing in Japan, where they released his American records. He also recorded a single entirely in Japanese for RCA Records. The single was called “Sinpi No Hosei” and “Teniha Gitter Wo,” which translates to “Mysterious Star” and “A Guitar In One’s Hands.”
  

  Sajid Khan on the cover of his Japanese music album ‘Dream Someday’

• Reportedly, actress Rekha was facing challenges in the Indian film industry in the late 1960s, as she was a South Indian with limited Hindi proficiency but good English skills. She then saw opportunities in English language films and TV shows with Indian themes like “Jungle Book” and “Maya.” She approached Sajid Khan, who was working on “Maya” and asked for roles in foreign language films. Despite his attempts, he could not secure a small role for her. However, Rekha soon made her Hindi debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970, which became a hit and secured her career in Hindi films.

• During the early 1970s, Khan became successful in the Philippines after appearing as the male lead in romantic comedy films alongside popular Philippine actresses Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. He appeared in films such as The Singing Filipina, My Funny Girl, and The Prince and I with the Philippines actress Nora Aunor.
  

  Sajid Khan with Nora Aunor

• Reportedly, in the early 1970s, Khan’s career had declined. It is said that during this period, he opened a retail store in India called ‘Artistic.’ The store had a small workshop in the back where costume jewellery was made.
  

  Sajid Khan in his early 1970s

• Despite attempts to re-enter Hindi films, none of his Hindi movies from 1972 to 1983 were financially successful. During this period, he appeared in many films such as Mahatma and the Mad Boy (1974), Zindagi Aur Toofan (1975), Mandir Masjid (1977), and Dahshat (1981). His career’s peak was between 1966 and 1974. He attained more success in English films.
  

  Sajid Khan on the poster of the film Zindagi Aur Toofan (1975)

• In 1983, his final film appearance was the Merchant Ivory film “Heat and Dust,” where he played the role of a “dacoit chief” in a brief, silent scene.
  

  The poster of the film ‘Heat and Dust’ (1983)

• In 2000, he appeared in the television series “1857 Kranti.”

• Soon after Sajid Khan’s death, his only son, Sameer, shared in a media conversation that his father had settled in Kerala with his second wife. Sameer added that his father was remarried and settled in Kerala. Sameer said,
  

  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.”

  

  Sajid Khan in his old days

• Sajid Khan was buried at the Kayamkulam Town Juma Masjid in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. ^[4]Jagran