Filmmaker Anees Bazmee recalls Feroz Khan, the legend

By
RUBY ZAIDI

Filmmaker Anees Bazmee directorial Welcome hit the big screen 15 years ago but even then Welcome featuring biggies like Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif is still fresh in our mind. Welcome was a big hit.
In an interview, filmmaker Anees Bazmee recalls #ferozekhan , the legendary style icon. Anees Bazmee unvieled – ” I am a die-hard fan of #ferozkhan sahab and it was my dream to work with the great Director, Producer, actor Feroz Khan, but honestly I wasn’t courageous enough to offer him a routined Bollywood kind of a film…and I was in search of a script and a tailored character for him. When the script of Welcome was ready I thought to cast him as RDX in the multi-starrer movie, I boosted my courage and tried my luck but Feroz Khan sahab straight away declined my offer, I tried again and again but from him was a big NO, not one or two, but over a dozen times, but I was determined to somehow convince him, I even tried to convince him through Fardeen Khan as we did No Entry together but Fardeen Khan said although he shall remind him about the offer but he can’t try to convince as his father is what that we all know.”
Anees Bazmee continued- “But I was not ready to loose him in the movie, I tried my level best to convince Feroz Khan. I thought if there is anyone who could play the big boss to Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, it was Feroz Khan saheb. However, he didn’t want to do the film. I reckon he was not in great health then. One fine day he responded my phone call positively, and he called me at Lotia Palace (Khan’s Bunglow, beside Juhu Beach) In our meeting he said that he liked Fardeen’s work in No Entry, but again he didn’t agree to do the film. I was adamant that he do the film. I went to his house not less than 15 times, and every time he politely refused.”
Anees Bazmee furthur said, ” I still had faith that Khan sahab would ultimately accept the project and finally he did.”
Bollywood Reporter/ www.bollywoodreporters.com asked, ” There were news that Feroz Khan wasn’t happy after watching the movie as his role wasn’t in the shape as it was narrated to him ?”
Anees Bazmee said, ” Feroz Khan Sahab was not in good health at that time and even refused to fly for the Dubai Schedule, however at the eleventh hour he agreed to participate in that shoot and the final output was very good. Audiences, critics, Feroz khan Lovers and all of us liked, loved and appreciated him as RDX.”

Feroz Khan lost the battle against the deadly Cancer and he said Goodbye for his final destination.
When the sequel of the movie Welcome was planned Veteran actor Nana Patekar said, ” There is no one who can replace the late legendary Feroz Khan, the greatest style icon.”