SANJAY KHAN

SANJAY KHAN – Film Actor/Director

SANJAY KHAN was born as “ABBAS KHAN” on 3^rd January 1941 in Bangalore to an Afghan immigrant father and a mother of Iranian background. Two of his brothers, Feroz Khan and Akbar Khan, also worked as actors. He has another brother, Sameer.

Sanjay Khan made his debut in the 1964 Chetan Anand film Haqeeqat followed by the Rajshri film Dosti. In the 1960s and 1970s Khan starred in movies like Dus Lakh, Ek Phool Do Mali, Intaqam. He also acted opposite his brother Feroz in three films Upaasna (1971), Mela (1971) and Nagin (1976). He turned producer and director of three films in which he played the leading role which were Chandi Sona (1977), Abdullah (1980) and Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986).

After Kala Dhanda Goray Log he stopped acting in films and moved onto starring in and directing television series. He also directed the Mega Indian TV series, based on life of Maratha General Mahadji Shinde called, "The Great Maratha". In the late 90s he directed the TV-series Jai Hanuman (1997–2000). In the new millennium, he directed a mini series called Maha Kavya Mahabharat and a movie starring Jessica Chapnik called Maryada Purushottam (2005). He also created dramas like "Akbar the Great", "1857 Kranti" and "Maharathi Karna".

In 1990 he starred in and directed the Indian TV series The Sword of Tipu Sultan. A petitions were filed in the Supreme Court of India against the telecast of serial "The Sword of Tipu Sultan". The petitioners argued that the serial was not based on the real life and deeds of Tipu Sultan. After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court gave a judgment that the serial could be telecast but that a notice has to be displayed with each episode stating: No claim is made for the accuracy or authenticity of any episode being depicted in the serial. This serial is a fiction and has nothing to do either with the life or rule of Tipu Sultan. The serial is a dramatised presentation of Bhagwan Gidwani's novel.

A major fire accident took place on 8 February 1990 in the Premier Studios of Mysore where the serial "The Sword of Tipu Sultan" was being shot. Non-availability of firefighting equipment and ignorance of fire safety standards have been quoted as the major reasons for this fire. Loose wiring and absence of ventilators were further causes for the fire to spread. Instead of fire-proofing material, the walls had gunny bags and the temperature rose to around 120°C (248°F) because of huge lights being used for the shooting. All these factors contributed to the massive fire, and the final death toll was 62. Sanjay Khan himself suffered major burns and had to spend 13 months in hospital and undergo 72 surgeries. An ex-gratia amount of Rs. 5000 was paid to some of the victims of the fire...

He was the chairman of a hotel and spa in Bangalore called the Golden Palms. He is rumored to have sold it now.

Sanjay Khan is married to Zarine Abbas Khan, a Parsi and former Zoroastrian. He has three daughters and a son. Elder daughter Farah (married to DJ Aqeel), second daughter Simone (married to Ajay Arora) and his youngest daughter Suzanne Khan (married to actor Hrithik Roshan). Zayed Khan is his only son and Khan is the uncle to Fardeen Khan - Feroz Khan's son. 

He was also married to actress Zeenat Aman from December 30, 1978 to November 24, 1979. The marriage had an ugly break-up following Sanjay Khan's brutal public bash-up that left Zeenat blind of one eye.