When Feroz Khan spoke about ‘strange things’ Raaj Kumar would do on film sets: ‘I told him, you do your work and I will do…’

Late actor-filmmaker Feroz Khan was known for his suave style and personality on screen and in his early years in the movies, Feroz established himself as an actor, before he turned director with Apradh. Feroz first started his career with smaller roles in the 1960s and climbed his way up to grabbing lead roles in movies. However, Feroz was somehow labeled with the reputation of “being a difficult actor to work with.” When the Qurbani actor was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2001 by Filmfare, the publication asked him about the same, and he had a different story to tell.

Feroz recalled working with Raaj Kumar in the 1965 film Oonche Log where the veteran actor tried to guide him on how to deliver his lines. The Dharmatma actor shared, “I remember on the first day of shooting of Oonche Log, Raaj Kumar advised me on how to say my dialogue.” Feroz found this a little intrusive and “politely” told the senior actor to mind his own business. He recalled, “I turned round and very politely told him, ‘Raajji, aap apna kaam kijiye,  main apna kaam karoonga. (Raajji, you do your work, and I’ll do mine.) If I need any help I’ll ask you’. There were no problems between us after that.”

Feroz then shared another “strange” thing that Raaj Kumar used to practice on set. “Believe it or not, he used to do strange things during scenes where he had his back facing the camera. He’d look sideways and say his dialogue. Imagine, he’d be giving cues to the wall instead of me. God bless his soul, he was still a very nice guy.”

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Feroz, in the same interview, insisted that he “never manipulated my roles or tried any other underhand tactics” but he added that he had been ” at the receiving end from other heroes.” He also shared, “Despite what other heroes may have done to my lines and roles in films, I never harassed any of my producers or directors. I can confidently say I’ve not been a difficult actor to work with.”

Feroz Khan passed away in 2009 due to lung cancer.