Amjad Khanforever loved as terrifying Gabbar Singh of ‘Sholay’, passed away in 1992, leaving several Bollywood personalities unpaid. Until the early 2000s, the underworld had a tight grip on the Hindi film industry. Gangsters regularly threatened stars, directors and producers for money and even invested in films and played a role in casting. So when Amjad’s family received a call from the underground shortly after his death, they were terrified. But the call was not what they expected. Gangsters weren’t called to threaten or ask for money; many Bollywood people reached out to the family to help them recover the money owed to the late actor.
Shadaab Khan reveals that Bollywood owed Amjad Khan 1.27 crores when he died.
In a candid interview with Vickey Lalwani, Amjad’s son Shadaab Khan revealed a shocking revelation. He shared that the film industry owed his father a whopping 1.27 million at the time of his death, and the underground call was essentially an offer to help the family recover that money. Shadaab explains that in those days, actors would receive what were known as ‘lab letters’ – official letters from producers promising to pay them for their work in a film. When Amjad Khan passed away, his family was left with a pile of letters, amounting to 1.27 million euros in unpaid dues. “The industry owed my father 1.27 million,” he said, “we never got that money. And that was back when it was a big amount.”
Shadaab Khan on why established producers never paid Amjad Khan his dues
Shadaab clarified the situation further, making it clear that her father had forgiven the debts of those who could no longer truly pay. The 1.27 million that remained unpaid were owed by filmmakers who were doing well financially and had no excuse not to pay. “It’s different when you can’t pay because you were going through a hard time, or when you didn’t have money and you agreed with my father that you couldn’t pay. There were filmmakers who told my father beforehand that they couldn’t pay, and my father forgave that debt. But that money was owed to the established producers,” he said, before adding with a hint of bitterness, “Nobody stepped forward and gave them that money they were due.”
Why Amjad Khan’s family never asked for the money back
He also explained why the family didn’t chase after money: the reason was rooted much deeper than finances. It was self-respect and principle. “My mother was very clear that Amjad Khan never asked for it and neither will I after what he’s been through. If they want to give, that’s fine, otherwise God will take care of us. And God took care of us,” she said. To put things into perspective, Shadaab noted how significant that sum was at the time. While 1.27 crores can buy a luxury car today, in those days it was enough to buy 3 to 4 apartments in Bandra’s Pali Hill, one of Mumbai’s most prestigious and expensive neighbourhoods.
Why did Amjad Khan’s family reject the offer of the underworld?
He then talked about how the underworld appeared to help the family get the money back, but his mother said no. “Some elements came forward. They were underground. They came forward and expressed their desire to withdraw this money on our behalf. My mother said no,” he said. He said the family had only received one such call, and he was the one who answered it. “It had been a few months since my father died. I took that call. He was a certain gangster from the Middle East. He said I heard that money is owed to Amjad saab. My mother said no. He said the money will be at your door in three days, but he refused. She said that my husband never took favors from underworld. I don’t want to start a trend now, so that’s the end of it,” he said. After Amjad Khan’s death, his mother, who spent most of her life as a homemaker, took a bold step and started her own business.
when Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan he talked about the underground extortion calls
Earlier, filmmakers like Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan also spoke about receiving extortion calls from the underworld. Rakesh Roshan’s ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’ was a huge hit and was shot in daylight just a week later. The film also introduced his son Hrithik Roshan in bollywood
