The year 2019 began on a sad note for many Hindi film fans with news of veteran actor and dialogue writer Kader Khan’s death at 81. Actor Govinda today paid tribute to his long-time co-star, calling him his ‘ustad’ (teacher) and father figure.
In an official statement, Govinda said, “Janaab Kader Khan saheb is no longer with us. He was not just my ustaad, but a father figure in my life. There was such magic in his hands that any artist he would work with, or supported, went on to become a star, a superstar (sic).”
RIP Kader Khan Saab.
He was not just my “ustaad” but a father figure to me, his midas touch and his aura made every actor he worked with a superstar. The entire film industry and my family deeply mourns this loss and we cannot express the sorrow in words.#ripkaderkhansaab???????? pic.twitter.com/NISPM1UMs1— Govinda (@govindaahuja21) January 1, 2019
The actor formed a defining partnership with Kader Khan in films like Coolie No 1 (1995), Hero No 1 (1997), Rajaji (1999) and Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999). Their partnership resulted in some of the most memorable roles in both actors’ careers through the 1990s.
Kader Khan (1937 – 31 December 2018): A master at writing dialogue as well as delivering it
Praising Kader Khan as his teacher, Govinda said, “Kader Khan sir was not just my teacher, and I gave many hit films with him. In the starting years of my career, I had done many films as second lead. He had a prominent role in those films. Govinda would dance, and Kader Khan would act, they would say.”
The actor went on, “I always remember that he would record his dialogues and send them to me to help me, so that I do not make a mistake in dialogue delivery. He was a teacher, and always took care that if you are a co-artiste, people will notice your work in the film. The film will be appreciated. Whether that was Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty or me, the reason for the success of many of our films goes to his dialogues.”
Kader Khan’s career took off right in front of my eyes, recalls Satish Shah
As good as Khan was as a writer, Govinda pointed out that his acting was no less. The actor credited the veteran as the reason for his success.
“Even in acting, he was not less than anyone,” the star of several comedy films said. “Aankhen (1993), Deewana Mastana (1997), Dulhe Raja (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Jodi No 1 (2001) were some of the prominent films we did together. He had a very large role to play in my success. I would like to thank him, and would pray that he rests in peace.”
Kader Khan died on the evening of 31 December 2018 in Toronto, Canada, after a prolonged illness.