Going back in time with Feroz Khan

We pay tribute to the legendary actor, who lost his battle with cancer, by picking out his top ten performances.

The charismatic and flamboyant Feroz Khan revolutionised the Bollywood hero's image in the '60s and '70s, giving him the title of India's cowboy star. The actor, who hailed from the South Indian city of Bengaluru, was a hit in Bollywood. After playing the lead character in numerous films, Feroz Khan ventured into filmmaking, making some truly memorable thrillers. In our tribute to the actor, we list out our favourite Feroz Khan films.

1. Oonche Log (1965)

This was Feroz's breakthrough performance. He managed to strike a chord with the audience despite playing a negative role and being pitted against acting stalwarts like Ashok Kumar and Raj Kumar.

2. Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969)

Feroz arrived in the big league with this Yash Chopra film, where he played a suave businessman who clashed with his principled friend (played by Dharmendra). The film won him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

3. Safar (1970)

He excelled in the role of a resentful husband, who finds his wife (played by Sharmila Tagore) with another man (Rajesh Khanna). The film probably gave Feroz his first major solo romantic hit track Jo Tumko Ho Pasand, rendered by Mukesh.

4. Mela (1971)

Feroz starred opposite his brother Sanjay Khan in Prakash Mehra's directorial debut hit. Though he played second fiddle to Sanjay in the film, Feroz left a strong impact as the dreaded dacoit (armed robber), who is wronged by the upper-caste Thakurs.

5. Apradh (1972)

Tired of playing supporting roles, Feroz made his debut as producer-director with this racy thriller. He played a Grand Prix racer and teamed up with his favourite actress Mumtaz, in a tale about stolen diamonds. Thus began his tryst with crime capers.

6. Khote Sikkay (1974)

He returned to playing hero in this Indianised cowboy flick. Feroz played a ruthless character who went on a mission to track down the dacoit who killed his father. The film's success led to Feroz indulging in more Western cowboy-styled flicks, namely Kaala Sona and Kabeela.

7. Dharmatma (1975)

Inspired by Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, Feroz returned to direction with this underworld saga. Based on the original Hollywood classic, Feroz cast Prem Nath and himself in Marlon Brandon's and Al Pacino's roles respectively. This was the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan, which incidentally is Feroz's country of origin.

8. Qurbani (1980)

This is definitely one of the finest Bollywood thrillers ever. It thrived on fast cars, slick action sequences, beautiful locations, pulsating music and a stunning lead couple Vinod Khanna and Zeenat Aman. The film's success lead to Feroz being titled Bollywood's "showman".

9. Janbaaz (1986)

This is Feroz's last directorial venture that actually received huge recognition. Unlike his earlier Bollywood outings, Feroz cast himself on the right side of the law this time, playing a righteous cop, while Anil Kapoor played his younger lawless brother, who lived life on the edge. The film tackled the issue of drugs and highlighted the on-screen chemistry between Anil Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia.

10. Welcome (2007)

This blockbuster comedy may not be great but as Feroz's last film it showed what a towering screen presence he had despite sharing the spotlight with top actors like Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor. Cast as an hysterical underworld don, the film showcased Feroz's untapped comedic potential and his quirky sense of humour. His dialogue: "Äbhi Hum Zinda Hain (I'm still alive)" will continue to echo in the mind of audiences forever.