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Legendary late actor Kader Khan, known for his sharp wit, emotional depth and memorable performances, once shared how his long friendship with Amitabh Bachchan changed over time. The veteran star, who moved from Afghanistan to India as a child, became one of Hindi cinema’s most respected writers and actors. His rise began when legendary actor Dilip Kumar noticed his talent during a stage performance. Impressed,
Dilip
Kumar cast him in two films, setting the stage for Kader’s incredible journey in Bollywood.
Kader Khan and Amitabh’s long-time collaboration
Kader Khan made his Hindi film debut in 1970 and quickly built a strong professional bond with Amitabh Bachchan, who was just on the verge of superstardom. Their collaboration lasted nearly two decades, during which Kader contributed not just as an actor but also as a writer for many of Big B’s hit films. The duo worked together on several iconic projects such as ‘Benaam’ (1974), ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ (1977), ‘Parvarish’ (1977), ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ (1978), ‘Naseeb’ (1981) and ‘Hum’ (1991).
Kader Khan praised Amitabh Bachchan’s talent and voice
In an old interview with journalist Prashant Angre on Samay TV’s show Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, Kader Khan reflected on their friendship with warmth and honesty. While praising Amitabh’s immense talent, he said, “Amitabh Bachchan copied everything from Dilip Kumar, but he also had a great height and a powerful voice. It was his voice that elevated him—but he belongs to the school of Dilip Kumar.”
Kader Khan shared how things began to change with Big B
However, Khan also spoke about the turning point in their bond. He recalled, “After
Indira Gandhi
’s death, her son
Rajiv Gandhi
invited Amitabh to join politics. He accepted, contested elections, and became a Member of Parliament.
That created a lot of buzz. However, when he returned to the film industry with the ‘MP’ tag, his behaviour had changed.”
Kader Khan recalled the incident that hurt him deeply
Opening up about a particular moment that marked the shift, Khan shared, “One day, a producer asked me, ‘Did you meet sir?’ I was confused and asked, ‘Who sir?’ He replied, shocked, ‘Your friend, Amitabh Bachchan.’ I said, ‘Why would I call him sir? I have always addressed him as Amit.’ The producer was visibly stunned and gestured to me, ‘Please, don’t ever call him by name—call him sir.’”
Why did Kader Khan and Amitabh Bachchan’s friendship drift apart?
The actor and writer went on to reveal how that moment changed things between them. He explained, “After that incident, our paths diverged. He became ‘Sir ji’, and I remained ‘Kader ji’. My heart couldn’t allow me to suddenly start calling a friend ‘sir’. That man simply began avoiding me because I wouldn’t use that title. It hurt me deeply because I had even left other film projects just because he wanted me to work on his.
His changed behaviour didn’t sit well with me, and our bond ended there.”Even today, his work with Amitabh Bachchan in films like ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ and ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ continues to be celebrated as a golden chapter of Bollywood’s history. Kader Khan passed away on 31 December 2018 in Canada at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, wisdom and timeless storytelling.
English (US) ·