Feroz Khan indeed made a mark with his larger-than-life characters and charismatic presence in Indian cinema. Along with his acting prowess, he earned accolades as a director. One of the most interesting episodes in his career was in 1980 when he planned to direct a film with Amitabh Bachchan, who was already a megastar by then.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the role eventually went to Vinod Khanna, another iconic figure in Bollywood. This decision proved significant, as it became one of the memorable chapters in both Feroz Khan’s and Vinod Khanna’s careers, cementing their legacies in the industry.
At the height of his fame, Vinod Khanna shocked the industry by stepping away from acting to pursue spirituality under the guidance of spiritual guru Osho. This decision left many in disbelief, as he was at the peak of his career. However, Vinod Khanna’s eventual comeback was nothing short of remarkable, and it re-established him as a major force in Indian cinema. One such pivotal moment in his career came when he was offered a role originally intended for Amitabh Bachchan. The film was the blockbuster hit Qurbani, which minted money at the box office back in 1980.
When Feroz Khan narrated the script to Amitabh Bachchan, the reigning superstar of the time, he loved it and was eager to do the film. However, his dates for the next 6 months were fully booked and thus he requested Feroz Khan to start the shooting after 6 months. But Feroz Khan had already prepared his schedule and was unable to wait for another 6 months. Therefore Amitabh Bachchan could not be included in the film. While Feroz Khan was looking for an actor with an ‘angry young man’ persona akin to Bachchan, he found his answer in an angry outburst by Vinod Khanna at a party. He immediately cast Vinod Khanna in the role.
Directed by and starring Feroz Khan, Qurbani also starred Zeenat Aman, Amjad Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Aruna Irani, Amrish Puri, and Kader Khan in lead roles. The film also launched the career of Shakti Kapoor, who had been a struggling actor up until that point.
Qurbani was a massive box office success, made on a budget of Rs 2.5 crore and earning over Rs 25 crore, a huge figure for that time. Its combination of stylish action, memorable music, and a star-studded cast made it an iconic film in Bollywood. Due to its tremendous success, Qurbani was remade in Tamil as Viduthalai in 1986 by producer K Balaji.
In the Tamil version, superstar Rajinikanth played the role originally portrayed by Feroz Khan, while Dr Vishnuvardhan stepped into the shoes of Vinod Khanna’s character. Despite having two major stars and the appeal of the original story, Viduthalai couldn’t replicate the box office magic of Qurbani.
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