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The 50s character actor Jayant's second son, Amjad was notorious from an early age. Once, he had broken a fellow-student's head and while training for the NCC, had threatened an officer with a gun. However, acting fascinated him and he was to be launched as a hero with a home production, 'Patthar Ke Sanam' in 1965. But unfortunately for him, the project didn't take off. After a few inconsequential roles, he hit the big time only after he was signed on for Ramesh Sippy's 'Sholay' in 1973. This film changed the course of his career and he came to be known as one of the most powerful
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villains of the Hindi film industry.
But the films that followed, like 'Muqaddar Ka Sikander', 'Suhaag' and 'Mr. Natwarlal' did not match up to the expectations of the audience. Only an occasional film like 'Inkaar' in 1977 proved worthwhile.
A major car accident ,enroute to the location of 'Wattan' almost killed the villian, but with the help of his friend Amitabh Bachchan and with his own will power Amjad recovered miraculously. However, after that, his career didn't take off despite the title role in 'Dada' in 1979 and two prominent comic roles in Feroz Khan's 'Qurbani' in 1980 and Rajendra Kumar's 'Love Story' in 1981.
Things got worse when he developed a serious weight problem because of the excessive drug intake in the course of the treatment of his broken ribs, after the accident. film offers dried up and to top it all, even his two directorial ventures 'Chor Police' and 'Ameer Aadmi', failed at the box-office. `Chor Police` ran in censor trouble, and when cleared, was neither appreciated by the masses nor liked by the classes. Undetered, Khan planned a comedy. The title was 'Lambaai Chauraai', and while he would provide the chaurai (girth) he wanted good friend Amitabh Bachchan to provide the lambaai (height).
Bachchan did not accept the film, as during this period he had got involved in politics.
Amjad was a parody of himself when he signed a parody of 'Sholay', `Ramgarh Ke Sholay`. In 1993, when at 49 he succumbed to a severe heart attack he had touched a low point in his career.
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