Personal life
Farah Khan's father Kamran was a successful stunt film-maker. Her mother Menaka is of Zoroastrian origin and is the sister of screenwriter Honey Irani and former child actor Daisy Irani. [2] Farah's brother is comedian, actor and film director Sajid Khan. When their parents' marriage broke up, Farah and Sajid were shuttled between different homes.[3]
Film personalities Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar are Farah's cousins.
Farah Khan believes in three religions, Hinduism, Islam and Zoroastrianism.[4] She refused to participate in an event that was only for Muslims.[5]
Farah married Shirish Kunder, the editor of her film Main Hoon Na,[6] on 9 December 2004. They have since worked together on each other's films, such as Jaaneman, Om Shanti Om, and Tees Maar Khan. Farah gave birth to triplets on 11 February 2008; one son, Czar, and two daughters, Diva and Anya.[7]
Early career
Khan was studying sociology in St. Xavier's College, Mumbai when Michael Jackson's Thriller was telecast. 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.[3] When the top choreographer of the time, Saroj Khan walked out of the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Farah got her break, and this was her first film to choreograph. This was followed by many more songs which became national hits. She met actor Shahrukh Khan on the set of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and the two have since become good friends and started working together.[8]
Rise to fame
Farah Khan achieved international recognition with her work in Monsoon Wedding, Bombay Dreams and Vanity Fair. She 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 five times. Farah Khan then went on to direct her first film Main Hoon Na which was produced by Gauri Khan. The film was a huge success, and Khan became the second female director to be nominated for Filmfare Best Director Award. As a director, her second movie Om Shanti Om became the highest grossing Hindi film of all time at its time of release.[9] Tees Maar Khan, her next directorial release, was a critical and commercial failure.
Other projects
Khan trained Colombian pop star Shakira for a Bollywood version of her hit Hips Don't Lie for the MTV Video Music Awards on 31 August 2006, which was hosted in Radio City Music Hall.[10] On the second season of American reality TV show America's Got Talent, contestant Kashif Memon[11] copied Khan's moves from Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in what he termed the "Bollywood Dance". Khan has also choreographed Kylie Minogue for the song "Chiggy Wiggy" in the movie Blue in 2009.
She hosted the celebrity chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein and was a judge on the reality television series Indian Idol - Season 1 & Season 2, Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Dance India Dance Li'l Masters.
Khan and her husband have started a production company called "Three's Company" named in honor of their triplets.
Awards
Farah Khan has received numerous awards for her choreographical work, predominantly from Filmfare.[12]
- Filmfare Awards
She won the Filmfare Best Choreography Award six times: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2011.
She remains in second place for the most awards won in the category of Best Choreography, first place being Saroj Khan.
- National Film Awards
- 2004: National Film Award for Best Choreography - "Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala" (Koi Mil Gaya)
- Awards of the International Indian Film Academy
- 2001: Award for Technical Excellence
- 2002: Award for Technical Excellence
- 2005: Award for Technical Excellence, Best Debut Director
- Star Screen Awards
- 2001: Best Choreography
- 2002: Best Choreography
- 2004: Best Choreography
- 2005: Best Debut Director
- Zee Cine Awards
- 2005: Best Debuting Director
- 2011: Best Choreographer - "Sheila Ki Jawani" (Tees Maar Khan)
Filmography
Producer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Tees Maar Khan | |
| 2011 | Joker |
Director
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Main Hoon Na | Winner Zee Cine Awards & Star Screen Awards For Best Debuting Director |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | |
| 2010 | Tees Maar Khan | Released on December 24[13] |
Script Writer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Main Hoon Na | |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om |
Actress
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Jalwa | Background Dancer | |
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Woman on the Neelam show, College student who makes fun of Anjali | Special Appearance |
| 2003 | Kal Ho Na Ho | Customer in restaurant | One of the customers that come to the restaurant after its renovation |
| 2004 | Main Hoon Na | As Herself | Special Appearance in song "Yeh Fizaein" during the end credits |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | Aggressive Junior Artist / As Herself | The one whom Om prakash asks if she's the director of the movie / Special appearance during the end credits |
| 2010 | Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai | As herself | |
| Khichdi: The Movie | As herself | Friendly Appearance |
Choreographer
| Year | Films | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | |
| Angaar | ||
| 1993 | Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa | |
| Waqt Hamara Hai | ||
| Pehla Nasha | ||
| Chandra Mukhi | ||
| 1942: A Love Story | ||
| 1994 | Aatish: Feel the Fire | |
| 1995 | Zamaana Deewana | |
| Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India | ||
| Aazmayish | ||
| Takkar | ||
| Hum Dono | ||
| Barsaat | ||
| Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | ||
| Ram Shastra | ||
| 1996 | English Babu Desi Mem | |
| 1997 | Virasat | Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Choreography |
| Border | ||
| Iruvar | ||
| Yeshwant | ||
| Dil To Pagal Hai | ||
| 1998 | Keemat: They Are Back | |
| Duplicate | ||
| Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai | ||
| Angaaray | ||
| Dil Se.. | Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Choreography | |
| Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | ||
| Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate | ||
| Minsara Kanavu | ||
| 1999 | Sirf Tum | |
| Laawaris | ||
| Silsila Hai Pyar Ka | ||
| Sarfarosh | ||
| Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya | ||
| Baadshah | ||
| Mast | ||
| 2000 | Alaipayuthey | |
| Mela | ||
| Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai | Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Choreography | |
| Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani | ||
| Pukar | ||
| Hum To Mohabbat Karega | ||
| Josh | ||
| Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega... | ||
| Fiza | ||
| 2001 | Dil Chahta Hai | Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Choreography |
| Monsoon Wedding | Nominated - American Choreography Awards for Outstanding Achievement in a Feature Film | |
| Asoka | ||
| Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... | ||
| One 2 Ka 4 | ||
| 2002 | Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam | |
| Maine Dil Tujhko Diya | ||
| Shakti : The Power | ||
| Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai | ||
| Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge | ||
| Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa | ||
| Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe | ||
| Santosham | Telugu film | |
| 2003 | Confidence | |
| Armaan | ||
| Supari | ||
| Koi... Mil Gaya | Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Choreography | |
| Wonderland | ||
| Kal Ho Naa Ho | ||
| Chalte Chalte | ||
| 2004 | Main Hoon Na | |
| Mujhse Shaadi Karogi | ||
| Vanity Fair | ||
| 2005 | Kaal | |
| Paheli | ||
| Perhaps Love | Chinese film | |
| Bluffmaster | ||
| Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya | ||
| 2006 | Krrish | |
| Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota | ||
| Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna | ||
| Baabul | ||
| Jaan-E-Mann: Let's Fall in Love... Again | ||
| Don - The Chase Begins Again | ||
| Zindaggi Rocks | ||
| Heyy Babyy | ||
| 2007 | Marigold: An Adventure In India | |
| Om Shanti Om | ||
| My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves | ||
| Welcome | ||
| 2008 | Dostana | |
| 2009 | Billu | |
| Main Aur Mrs Khanna | ||
| Blue (Indian action Film) | ||
| 2010 | My Name Is Khan | |
| Dabangg | Song "Munni Badnaam" | |
| Tees Maar Khan | Song "Sheila Ki Jawani", Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Choreography |
