Many different versions of the Indian epic Mahabharat have been made into films and TV series and are well-loved by the public. However, none of these come close to achieving the legendary status of B.R.Chopra’s Mahabharat series telecasted in 1988. The show broke all the records of viewership. Meanwhile, the actors and actresses who played the various characters of the epic were seen as divine by the public. People joined their hands in prayer and sat in front of the TV when the actors played Shri Krishna, Arjun, Draupadi, and many more came on the screen.
The show and its characters received so much love and recognition that one of the actors adopted the name of the character he portrayed. The actor who changed his name was Feroz Khan, who had played the role of ‘Arjun’ in the series. But after playing this iconic character, where has the actor disappeared now?
Feroz Khan was chosen out of 20,000 actors to play the role of ‘Arjun’
Producer B.R. Chopra, while making the show Mahabharat was meticulous in his process and hand-picked all the actors himself. For the role of ‘Arjun’, a lengthy audition process took place with 20,000 actors. Actor, Pankaj Dheer was almost finalised for the role but since he refused to shave off his moustache, he was given the role of ‘Karna’ instead. Reportedly, Bollywood star Jackie Shroff was also considered for the role. But in a twist of fate, Feroz Khan scored the role.
Feroz Khan auditioned for the role of ‘Arjun’, but he did not receive a call back even after a week. So, the actor gathered his courage and went to B.R. Chopra’s office directly. There he was officially cast as the warrior prince, ‘Arjun’ of Mahabharat. Anyone who has ever watched the show will agree that Feroz Khan did absolute justice to the role and brought the character to life with his exceptional portrayal.
Feroz Khan changed his name to Arjun after receiving the public’s love for the character
Many of the actors came to be known by their characters’ names, rather than their real names, after Mahabharat became a massive hit. Nitish Bhardwaj was called ‘Shri Krishna‘, Roopa Ganguly as ‘Draupadi’, and many more were called by their character’s name by the public. Similarly, Feroz Khan was also known as ‘Arjun’. But taking this mix of identities a step further, the actor changed his name to Arjun.
Feroz Khan had acted in a few Bollywood movies, before being cast in Mahabharat. He also wanted to make a name for himself in the film industry after the show was over. However, there was another Feroz Khan in the industry, who was a famous actor-director from the 70s. So, both B.R.Chopra and Rahi Masoom Raza, the director and writer of the show, suggested that Feroz change his name to Arjun professionally.
Feroz Khan found success with Mahabharat and went on to work on many huge projects
After finding immense love and success from Mahabharat, Feroz Khan starred in many Bollywood movies and other shows on DD National. He worked with producer, B.R. Chopra again on spin-offs of Mahabharat, such as Mahabharat Katha and Vishnu Puran. However, after portraying the character of ‘Arjun’, the all-rounder hero of the epic, Feroz Khan starred mostly in negative roles in Bollywood films. From Karan Arjun to Jodi No.1, the actor was a familiar face in many popular movies of the 90s and played villain characters.
Feroz Khan quietly stepped away from the film industry and started doing other gigs
Feroz Khan was doing numerous movies and shows each year, but gradually, he started to take on fewer and fewer projects. After a gap of many years, he starred in a web series called I Don’t Watch TV, made by Nakuul Mehta. The show was released in 2016, and it was the last time that Feroz Khan was seen on TV screens. The actor has stepped away from the limelight and now focuses on cultural events and stage shows.
Feroz Khan does live singing and stage shows now
Feroz Khan might be absent from the film industry, but he has not let go of his connection with the public. The actor now performs on stage shows and sings live at concerts. He performs cover songs of the legendary Bollywood singer Mohammad Rafi. Moreover, even though he was born and brought up Muslim, Feroz Khan’s portrayal of ‘Arjun’ also made him appreciate the culture of Hinduism. Hence, the actor also takes part in cultural events and sings religious bhajans.
Feroz Khan’s son, Jibraan Khan, followed in his father’s footsteps and chose acting as a career
Feroz Khan has stepped away from the limelight. Meanwhile, his son, Jibraan Khan, is stepping into the Bollywood life. As a child actor, he starred in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and a few other films. He was also the assistant director of the movie, Bramhastra: Part One. Jibraan made his Bollywood debut as a main lead in the film, Ishq Vishk Rebound, released in 2024.
Feroz Khan to star opposite Ajay Devgn in upcoming film
In 2023, Feroz Khan had revealed in an interview with Free Press Journal that he will be working alongside Ajay Devgn in an upcoming Rohit Shetty project. Both these actors had worked with each other in a film called, Jigar, which became popular because of the fight scene between the two lead actors in the climax. Nearly 3 decades later, Feroz Khan and Ajay Devgn will be sharing the screen again for a project whose name has not been announced yet.
What are your thoughts on ‘Arjun’ Feroz Khan stepping away from Bollywood? Let us know.
Also Read: SRK’s Son In ‘K3G’ Jibraan Khan Is Son Of Mahabharat’s ‘Arjun’, Here’s How He Looks At The Age Of 30