Ajit Khan

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Ajit, The Lion
Born January 27, 1922(1922-01-27)
Golconda
Died October 22, 1998 (aged 76)
Hyderabad
Occupation Actor

Ajit (Hindi: अजित), stage name of Hamid Ali Khan, born January 27, 1922 in Golconda, died of cardiac arrest on October 22, 1998 in Hyderabad) was an Indian naan maker and Bollywood film actor.

Ajit, popular villain of Hindi films who passed away in Hyderabad on Wednesday, was known for his stylish and peculiar dialogue delivery.

His dialogues ``Mona darling, smart boy, Lili don't be silly, went on to become a rage and they sometimes overshadowed his earlier remarkable performances.

Born Hamid Ali Khan, near the historic Golconda district, Ajit had his early education in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. Hamid was the son of the personal driver of Nizam Osmal Ali Khan. Ajit entered the film industry to become a hero and did quite a few creditable films as lead artiste in Nastik, Bade Bhaiya, Milan, Baradari, and later as a second lead in Mughal-e-Azam and Naya Daur to name a few.

Ajit, who ran away from home to Mumbai after selling his college books, started his career in the 40's. Luck did not favour him in the initial stages of his career, when Dholak in which he made his debut as a hero flopped. Ajit switched over to play villain and withfilms like Jewel Thief, Zanjeer, Yaadon Ki Baraat among others, there was no looking back for Ajit.

In the mid-seventies he had acted in over 57 films mostly as villain. His dialogue delivery remains so popular even till this date that his son Shahazad had to imitate his father to survive in film world before making a name for himself.

His colleagues in the film industry -- leading personalities who have acted with him, grown seeing him in Mumbai -- have expressed deep sorrow over the death of the legendary actor.

Writer Javed Akhtar, who scripted Zanjeer, said, ``Like Bachchan, Ajit found a new image as villain after Zanjeer. He started a new innings in his career though he was an established hero in the fifties. His villainy started a new trend. Here was a new villain who was soft-spoken yet forceful. We wanted to give a different image to villainy which matched the hero.

Another `villain' Amrish Puri said Ajit's death is a sad loss to films. ``Ajit developed his own style ofacting and delivery of dialogue. We still remember his style of acting which is guidance to the new generation of actors.

Prem Chopra, who starred with Ajit in many films like Jugnu, Chupa Rustom and Ram Balram as father and son team, said Ajit was devoted in his work. He had a subtle sense of humour. He was a cultured man. We had a common interest -- reciting Urdu shairi.

New generation villain Kiran Kumar was shocked to hear that ``his Ajit uncle had passed away. ``Our relationship was more personal than professional. I must have been hardly eight or ten years when my father used to take me to Paradise Bakery opposite which was Ajit's residence. Father would call him by his first name Hamid, and would call him down. Ajit would come down, wearing lungi and Jaali banian to chat with my father.

Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


Acting in over 200 films, he specialised in playing suave villains with memorable catch-phrases delivered in now iconic Ajit style nasal drawls such as "Mona, darling" and comic threats such as "Dump this man in liquid oxygen. The liquid won't let him survive, the oxygen won't let him die". Ajit also brought to fame the smuggler as the villain. In his movies, he is generally seen smuggling gold biscuits in or out of the country. It has also been noted that most of his gang members had Christian names like Robert, Michael, Peter etc. This also has been used for comic purposes in parodies.

It was the menacing voice he was most famous for. He is still remembered for bringing the most famous villains in the history of Indian cinema to life. His contemporaries include veteran actors like Amrish Puri, Pran, Prem Chopra and Amjad Khan.

Some of his popularity in present time is due to the innumerable jokes and parodies made on his famous lines by comedians.

Contents

[edit] Famous catch-phrases

  • Mona, darling,
  • Lilly, don't be silly,
  • Sara shehar mujhe Loyan (Lion) ke naam se janata hai,
  • "Whats your problem?"
  • " i lost my glasses"

[edit] Trivia

  • Though, generally only known for his villains, Ajit played significant positive roles including the romantic hero in famous black and white productions like Naya Daur and Mughal-E-Azam.

Ajit's nasal voice and his passion for gangster type movies in which he is famous for playing villain's role and is remembered as BOSS or BASS the smuggler and his assistant is Robert or RAABAT. And his slinky minky secretary is "mona" or mona daaling is always with him.

Many jokes have been created by people and have been associated with his name. There are a few worth mentioning here:

1. When he smuggled sona (gold) he looks at mona and smiles and then in his nasal squeeky voice he would say: "hamay sirf 3 shaoq hain, mona, sona aur mona kay sath sona."

2. Other than Mona and Robert, his other associates are Peter, Michael and Tony. He calls them Peetur, Mykal and Taony. Once he sends them on a mission on different modes of transport and says like this:

Peetur tum eskootur (scooter) Mykal tum sikul (cycle) Taony tum Paony (pony)

3. Robert comes running to Ajit and says, BAASS, big problem, your Mona is secretly getting married to Tony! Ajit pauses for a second and says, hmmmmmm tou unki laife may bahot MONA-TONY hogi. Means, there will be a lot of MONOTANY in their life.

4. Ajit calls Robert. RAABUTT, yes Bass! Uss kamray may ek laash hai, aur yae sui (needle) lo aur laash ki side per rekh do. OK Baas, but bass, why? Idiot, jab polees aye gee tou samjhay gee sui - side thee.

Means, take this needle and keep it on the side of the dead body and when the police will come they will think its a suicide case. Bold text

[edit] Filmography

Acting Filmography


Criminal (1995)
Gangster (1994) Chandulal Seth
Betaaj Badshah (1994) Khan Chacha
Aatish (1994) Uncle (underworld don)
Shaktiman (1993)
Aadmi (1993)
Jigar (1992) Baba Thakur (Karate instructor)
Raaj Tilak (1984) Bhavani Singh
Raja Aur Rana (1984) Teja (aka Heeralal)
Daulat Ke Dushman (1983)
Razia Sultan (1983) Amil Balban
Chorni (1982) Shambhu Dada
Mangal Pandey (1982)
Khoon Aur Paani (1981)
Aakhri Mujra (1981)
Jyoti (1981) Amirchand
Khuda Kasam (1981) Raiszada Hukamchand
Choron Ki Baraat (1980)
Ram Balram (1980) Jaggu/Chowdhary Jagatpal
Mr. Natwarlal (1979) Insp. Giridhari Lal
Aahuti (1978)
Azaad (1978) Seema's uncle
Des Pardes (1978) Gurnam
Heeralal Pannalal (1978) Kalicharan
Karmayogi (1978) Keshavlal
Ram Kasam (1978)
Aakhri Goli (1977)
Ankh Ka Tara (1977) Ramlal
Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (1977) Criminal
Jaaneman (1976)
Charas (1976)
Kalicharan (197) Lion/Din Dayal
Sangram (1976) Durjen
Do Jhoot (1975)
Pratigya (1975) Bharat Daku
Warrant (1975) Master
Badla (1974) Pratap/Randhir
Khhotte Sikkay (1974) Jhanga
Paap Aur Punya (1974)
Patthar Aur Payal (1974) Ajit Singh
Bandhe Haath (1973) Insp. Kumar/Pakkad Singh
Chhupa Rustam (1973)
Dharma (1973) IG Ajit Singh
Jugnu (1973)
Kahani Kismat Ki (1973)
Samjhauta (1973)
Shareef Badmash (1973) Ranjit
Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) Shakhaal
Zanjeer (1973) (1973) .... Dharam Dayal Teja
Dil Ka Raja (1972)
Sultana Daku (1972)
Andaz (1971) Rajoo's dad


Lal Patthar (1971)
Paraya Dhan (1971) Dacoit. Hiralal
Patanga (1971)
Heer Raanjha (1970) Heer's husband
Dharti (1970) Diwan
Jeevan Mrityu (1970) Harish (Harishchandra)
Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) Kundanlal/Sher Singh
Prince (1969) Shamsher's Mamaji
Raja Aur Runk (1968) Hariya
Baghdad Ki Raatein (1967)
Suraj (1966)
Himalay Ki Godh Mein (1965)
Main Hoon Aladdin (1965) Aladdin
Namaste Ji (1965)
Kabli Khan (1963) Kabli Khan
Shikari (1963)
Burmah Road (1962)
Tower House (1962) Suresh Kumar
Opera House (1961)
Mughal-E-Azam (1960) Durjan Singh
Baraat (1960)
Char Dil Char Raahein (1959) Dilawar
Guest House (1959) Amar
Mehndi (1958)
Bada Bhai (1957)
Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan (1957)
Naya Daur (1957) Krishna
26 January (1956)
Aan Baan (1956)
Durgesh Nandini (1956)
Halaku (1956) Parvez
Insaaf (1956)
Aaj Ki Baat (1955)
Baradari (1955) Ajit Singh
Marine Drive (1955) Ajit
Naqab (1955)
Shahzada (1955)
Teerandaz (1955)
Maan (1954)
Nastik (1954) Anil Kapoor/Babaji
Samrat (1954)
Anand Math (1952)
Moti Mahal (film) (1952)
Tarang (1952)
Vasna (1952)
Daman (1951)
Saiyan (1951) Vijay
Sarkar (1951)
Beqasoor (1950) Brij
Jeevan Saathi (1949)
Patanga (1949)

[edit] External links