You did any number of films before and after Andaz Apna Apna, yet you are identified only with your character Bhalla in AAA. Did your mimicry of your father’s style in that film impede your career?
The answer to your question is, no, it did not impede my life. It was just a character that I was playing, and I did a lot of other films as myself, in my own voice, and it was great fun. But yes, this film became a kind of introductory film for me — a launch pad. Although I had done Som Mangal Shani, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Purani Haveli, and others, I had also done Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon before that. But Andaz Apna Apna became very close to my heart and turned into a cult classic.
Shehzad Khan on Andaz Apna Apna: “Mimicking my father was a launchpad, not a limitation”
What was your reaction when you were first offered this role?
I was very excited to work with Raj Santoshi Sahab and producer Vinay Sinhaji. I had done my first film with Vinayji, Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon — it was a video film. He had promised me a good role in his feature film, and he kept his word. That’s why I was very excited to work in Andaz Apna Apna as Vinod Bhalla.
Your father Ajit Khan worked in some of the most successful films, from Mughal-e-Azam to Zanjeer. Was he a big influence on you?
My father was a very big influence on me. I think he was one of the finest actors, and I always idolized him. My relationship with my father was exactly like the one between Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor in Animal.
Was it tough living in the shadow of such a formidable father?
Since I am his son, I have always been known as Ajit Sahab’s son, and yes, I have lived in his shadow. But I have done a lot of films in my own voice and in my own style. Since I look like him — and though he is physically no longer present — people see him through me. I think in this industry, no father-son resemblance is as close as mine and my father’s. I am very thankful and grateful to God for that.
Is it true he was upset when you mimicked him in Andaz Apna Apna?
My father’s friends told him that your son has done a film where he copied your voice. That’s how he saw Andaz Apna Apna — he watched a couple of my scenes. He told me that I shouldn’t have done it. But at the same time, he saw how passionate I was about my work. He knew how much I had struggled to reach where I was — and still am — struggling. He himself had struggled a lot in life, so he understood. After that, he never said anything about it.
More Pages: Andaz Apna Apna Box Office Collection
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