a long time ago Farah Khan Having become one of Bollywood’s most celebrated choreographers and filmmakers, his family’s story was one of unparalleled loss, not once, but twice. Farah grew up in poverty after her father, filmmaker Kamran Khan, lost everything in a gamble in the 1971 film ‘Aisa Bhi Hota Hai’. But a little-known part of his family history goes back even further to a grandfather who once owned a major part of Mumbai’s western suburbs.
Farah Khan talks about her family
Farah Khan recently revealed this in a candid interview with the composer Ismail Darbar that his grandfather, Aman Gul Pathan, was the original owner of the entire Khar-Danda locality in Khar West, Mumbai. “You don’t know that the entire Khar-Danda property belonged to my grandfather Aman Gul Pathan,” he told Darbar’s son Zaid Darbar, adding that very few people know about this part of his history.
How the land of Farah Khan Khar-Danda was lost
According to Khan, his grandfather gave his entire estate to a mosque. After his departure, the land gradually became overrun, and the family was left with no legal title or claim to the property. In a lighter moment during the interview, Khan said: “He died and everything is gone. Is there a government policy to claim it back?”, prompting laughter, highlighting the magnitude of what the family has lost over generations.
Ismail Darbar’s connection with Amal Gul’s Pathan Chawl
The revelation happened organically during Farah’s visit to composer Ismail Darbar, with whom she shares a warm bond despite frequent meetings. Darbar, reflecting on his humble beginnings, made a direct connection to Farah’s family heritage.Darbar said, “I understand his gestures very well. I used to live in Amal Gul’s Pathan Chawl.”The composer credited Farah’s grandparents, whom he once met in person, for shaping her personality, calling her one of the nicest people he knows. Farah Khan was shocked to learn that Darbar grew up in a hat named after her grandfather.
How Farah Khan’s father lost everything overnight
Even before the Khar-Danda land was lost to donation and raids, the family suffered another devastating financial disaster in Farah’s life. All his father, Kamran Khan, produced was ‘Aisa Bhi Hota Hai’ (1971), a color film he hoped would be his big break. The film was a flop, and within one weekend of its release, the family was deeply in debt, losing their house and all their savings.“We became sick. I am not a grandchild. My father died a poor man. When he died, he had 30 rupees in his pocket,” said Farah Khan.Speaking earlier to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, Farah Khan described growing up with fear, with the anxiety of the evenings leading to the fear of what her father’s battle with alcohol might bring to the night ahead. What began as an ambitious story quickly became, in his words, a “rags to riches” story.Despite being born in Bollywood, daughter of Meneka Irani, sister of actors Daisy Irani and Honey Irani, Farah Khan has always made it clear that she did not benefit from family ties. His parents’ financial collapse meant he entered the industry entirely on his own terms. He started as a backup dancer, worked as an assistant, then had a distinguished career as a choreographer before making his directorial debut. His journey is a textbook example of rebuilding from scratch.Today, he is known for directing blockbusters and for his stern and irreverent presence on screen and online. He continues to connect with viewers through his popular YouTube vlogs along with Chef Dilip.
