It was 1980 when Feroz Khan’s Qurbani hit the screens, and it changed the game forever. The film not only transformed Bollywood’s landscape but also altered the lives of many associated with it. Among them was Shakti Kapoor, who until then had mostly been cast in forgettable, minor roles. Struggling to find meaningful work, he was barely making ends meet in a city like Bombay. At that time, he was staying with Vinod Khanna, who generously offered him shelter. Recently, in a conversation with AlphaNeon Studioz, Shakti opened up about how he landed his breakthrough role and how Vinod supported him during a period when he had almost nothing.
“Qurbani was the film that made me who I am today. That film completely changed my life,” he said, adding, “I was staying at Vinod Khanna’s place and didn’t even have enough money to pay the rent as a paying guest. When Vinod Khanna found out how much I was struggling, he offered us a house in Juhu that was empty so I could stay there.”
Shakti Kapoor also recalled how he had done a photoshoot for a calendar around the same time, from which he managed to buy a second-hand Fiat for Rs 11,000. He explained that it was because of this very car that he eventually landed Qurbani. While driving down the road, his car was hit by another vehicle, driven none other than Feroz Khan himself.
Also Read | Raat Akeli Hai The Bansal Murders is an anatomy of a country rather than just a crime
“I was driving on Linking Road when a Mercedes came from behind and hit my car, stopping just ahead after braking. I was furious, I didn’t even have money for food, let alone to fix this car. So I got out and started shouting at the driver. Turned out the man stepping out of the car was six-foot-two inches tall and it was Feroz Khan,” Shakti recalled. Seeing Feroz, Shakti’s anger immediately faded, and he began pleading for a role in the director’s next film. “I was like, ‘Sir, sir, please! My name is Shakti Kapoor. I’m from Film Institute. You’ve given everyone a chance, you even gave Danny a chance, please give me one too.’” He vividly remembered Feroz’s response: “Hey, look what you’ve done to my car.”
Though Feroz Khan walked away, it was this very incident that left a lasting impression. Shakti Kapoor said that he stuck in Feroz’s memory as an actor, so much so that Feroz eventually offered him the role of the antagonist in Qurbani.
Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: