Farah Khan
Farah Khan Kunder (born 9 January 1965)[1] is an Indian film director, writer, film producer, actress, dancer and choreographer who works predominantly in Hindi films. Khan has choreographed dance routines for more than a hundred songs in over 80 films, winning six Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography and the National Film Award for Best Choreography. In addition, she has worked on Tamil films and also in international projects, such as Marigold: An Adventure in India, Monsoon Wedding, Bombay Dreams and the Chinese films Perhaps Love and Kung Fu Yoga, earning Tony Award and Golden Horse Award nominations. As a film director, she received Filmfare Award for Best Director nominations for her debut Main Hoon Na (2004) and her second one Om Shanti Om (2007) and then went on to direct Tees Maar Khan (2010) and Happy New Year (2014).
Farah Khan Kunder | |
|---|---|
 Khan in 2016 | |
| Born | 9 January 1965 (age 58) |
| Alma mater | St. Xavier's College, Bombay |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
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Early life and personal life
Farah Khan was born on 9 January 1965. Her father, Kamran Khan, is a stuntman-turned-filmmaker. Her mother, Menaka Irani, is the sister of former child actors Honey Irani and Daisy Irani.[2] Farah is thus a first cousin of film personalities Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar (children of Honey Irani). She has one brother, Sajid Khan, who is a comedian, actor and film director.
Farah Khan married Shirish Kunder, the editor of her film Main Hoon Na,[3] on 9 December 2004. They have since worked together on each other's films, such as Jaan-E-Mann, Om Shanti Om, and Tees Maar Khan. Khan gave birth to triplets — one son and two daughters — in 2008 through in vitro fertilisation.[4]
Career
Khan was studying sociology in St. Xavier's College, Bombay when the music video of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was released. She was so inspired, that although she hadn't danced before that, it soon became her vocation. She learned to dance basically on her own, and set up a dance group.[5] When the choreographer Saroj Khan walked out of the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Khan took over. This was followed by many more songs. She met actor Shahrukh Khan on the sets of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and the two have since become good friends and started working together.
Khan's work in Monsoon Wedding, Bombay Dreams and Vanity Fair was nominated for a 2004 Tony Award as Best Choreographer, along with collaborator Anthony van Laast, for Bombay Dreams. She has won the Filmfare Best Choreography Award six times. Khan then went on to direct her first film Main Hoon Na starring Shahrukh Khan which was produced by Red Chillies Entertainment. Khan became the second female director to be nominated for Filmfare Best Director Award. As a director, her second movie Om Shanti Om Starring Shah Rukh Khan and debutant Deepika Padukone became the highest grossing Hindi film of all time at its time of release.[6] Tees Maar Khan was her next directorial release. In 2012, she made her film acting debut in a leading role in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, directed by Bela Bhansali Sehgal.
Khan initially announced her plans to direct Happy New Year in 2005,[7] multiple delays and cast changes occurred over a number of years.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The project was again reported as being in the works as of 2012.[18] The film was finally released in 2014.[19]
Khan trained Colombian pop star Shakira for a Bollywood version of her song Hips Don't Lie for the MTV Video Music Awards on 31 August 2006.[20] Khan has also choreographed Kylie Minogue for the song "Chiggy Wiggy" in the 2009 movie Blue.
She hosted the celebrity chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein and was a judge on the reality television series Indian Idol – first and second season, Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Dance India Dance Li'l Masters. She also judged dance reality show Just Dance alongside Hrithik Roshan and Vaibhavi Merchant on Star Plus.
Khan and her husband have started a production company called "Three's Company" named in honor of their triplets.[21] In 2012, she choreographed "Ishq Wala Love" and "Radha" for Student Of The Year. In 2013, she choreographed "Jumping Jhapak".
In 2015, Khan replaced Salman Khan and hosted the reality show Bigg Boss Halla Bol, the spin-off of Bigg Boss season 8.[22]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Actress | Director | Producer | Script Writer | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Yes | Woman on the Neelam show/ College student who makes fun of Anjali | |||
| 2003 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Yes | One of the customers that come to the restaurant after its renovation | |||
| 2004 | Main Hoon Na | Yes | Yes | Yes | Herself (special appearance in song "Yeh Fizaein" during the end credits) Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Director | |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | Yes | Yes | Yes | The one whom Om Prakash asks if she's the director of the movie / Herself (special appearance during the end credits) Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Director | |
| 2010 | Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai | Yes | Herself | |||
| 2010 | Tees Maar Khan | Yes | Yes | |||
| 2010 | Khichdi: The Movie | Yes | Herself (cameo) | |||
| 2012 | Joker | Yes | Yes | Herself (special appearance) | ||
| 2012 | Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi | Yes | Shirin Fugawala | |||
| 2012 | Student of the Year | Yes | Cameo in "Disco Song" as a judge | |||
| 2014 | Happy New Year | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cameo in the end credits | |
| 2016 | Devi | Yes | Herself (guest appearance); multilingual film | |||
| 2019 | Student of the Year 2 | Yes | Cameo in "The Jawaani Song" as a judge | |||
| 2020 | Mrs. Serial Killer | Yes | ||||
| 2023 | Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan | Yes | Cameo |
Choreography
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2006, 2016–2017 | Indian Idol | Judge | Season 1, 2 and 7 |
| 2006 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa | Judge | Season 1 |
| 2008 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star | Judge | |
| 2008, 2015 | Nach Baliye | Judge | Season 4 and 7 |
| 2009–2014 | Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega | Judge | |
| 2010 | Dance India Dance Li'l Masters 1 | Judge | |
| 2011 | Just Dance | Judge | |
| 2012 | Dance Ke Superkids | Judge | |
| 2012 | India's Got Talent | Judge | Season 4 |
| 2013 | Nach Baliye Shriman v/s Shrimati | Judge | |
| 2013 | Dance India Dance Supermoms | Judge | |
| 2015 | Bigg Boss Halla Bol | Co-host | |
| 2015 | Farah Ki Dawat | Host | |
| 2020 | Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India | Interim Host | [24] |
| 2021 | Zee Comedy Show | Judge | [25] |
| 2022 | The Khatra Show | Host | [26] |
See also
Further reading
- Kabir, Nasreen Munni (2009). Farah Khan. Zubaan.
References
- Thomas, Anjali (7 October 2007). "Farah Khan latest chant is 'Mom Shanti MOM' - Lifestyle - DNA". dnaindia.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.
- "Sajid Khan | Directors | Koimoi". koimoi.com. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- Kulkarni, Ronjita (12 August 2004). "Meet the man Farah Khan will marry". Rediff.com. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- "'Glad I became mom through IVF at 43': Farah Khan pens heartfelt open letter". DNA India. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- "Tête à tête". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- Fenton, Ben (26 June 2008). "Om Shanti Om rakes in $45m worldwide". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- "Farah Khan makes Deepika happy". Sify Movies. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "'Happy New Year' went on floors in 2014 Khan". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Farah Khan gives Fictitious dance group a break in Happy New Year". Business of Cinema. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Shah Rukh dampens Farah's 'Happy New Year' plans!". Zee News. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan come together for 'Happy New Year'". The Indian Express. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "SRK wants to work with Priyanka in Farah Khan's film Happy New Year". India Today. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Shah Rukh Khan busy for Farah Khan till 2013". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Anushka is not pairing with Shahrukh for Farah". India Glitz. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Shah Rukh Khan miffed with 'Happy New Year' report!". Zee News. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- "Katrina, Sonakshi or newcomer for Happy New Year?". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- "Farah Khan lays out parameters for 'Happy New Year' heroine". The Indian Express. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- "John joins Shah Rukh for Farah's next film". The Times of India. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
- "'Happy New Year' went on floors in 2014 Khan". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- Jha, Subhash K. (1 September 2006). "Farah Khan bonds big time with Shakira". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- Mariam Thomas, Sonia (26 October 2015). "Women Of Worth 2015 Grit And Glory". www.outlookbusiness.com.
- "Bigg Boss 8: Farah Khan talks about Salman Khan and Halla Bol | The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- "Farah Khan to choreograph song in Jackie Chan's 'Kung Fu Yoga'". The Times of India. 28 January 2017.
- "In Rohit Shetty's absence, Farah Khan to introduce Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India". The Indian Express. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- "Zee Comedy Show set to tickle the funny bone, to launch this weekend - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- "Farah Khan joins Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa for new season of the Khatra Khatra Show". 3 March 2022.
