How Amjad Khan’s widow refused underworld help to claim unpaid debts worth Rs 1.27 crore

Amjad Khan, forever loved as the terrifying Gabbar Singh from ‘Sholay’, passed away in 1992, leaving behind unpaid dues from several people in Bollywood. Until the early 2000s, the underworld had a tight grip on the Hindi film industry. Gangsters would regularly threaten stars, directors, and producers for money and they also invested in films and had a say in casting. So when Amjad’s family got a call from the underworld soon after his death, they were naturally scared. But the call turned out to be nothing like what they expected. The gangsters were not calling to threaten or demand money; they had reached out to help the family recover the money that many people in Bollywood owed the late actor.

Shadaab Khan reveals Bollywood owed Amjad Khan Rs 1.27 crore at the time of his death

In a candid interview with Vickey Lalwani, Amjad’s son Shadaab Khan pulled back the curtain on a shocking revelation. He shared that the film industry owed his father a staggering Rs 1.27 crore at the time of his death, and the call from the underworld was essentially an offer to help the family recover that money. Shadaab explained that in those days, actors would receive what were known as ‘lab letters’—official letters from producers promising payment for their work on a film. When Amjad Khan passed away, his family was left holding a pile of such letters adding up to Rs 1.27 crore in unpaid dues. “The industry owed my father Rs 1.27 crore,” he said, before adding, “We never got that money. And it was back in the day when it was a huge amount.”

Shadaab Khan on why established producers never paid Amjad Khan his dues

Shadaab went on to shed more light on the situation, making it clear that his father had already forgiven the debts of those who genuinely couldn’t afford to pay. The Rs 1.27 crore that remained unpaid was owed by filmmakers who were doing well financially and had no excuse not to pay up. “It’s different when you can’t pay because you were going through a difficult time, or you didn’t have the money and you had an understanding with my father that you couldn’t pay. There were filmmakers who had told my father upfront that they couldn’t pay, and my father forgave that debt. But this money, this was due from established producers,” he said, before adding with a tinge of bitterness, “None of them came forward and gave that money that was due.”

Why Amjad Khan’s family never asked for the money back

He also explained why the family never chased the money: the reason was rooted in something far deeper than finances. It was a matter of self-respect and principle. “My mother was very clear that Amjad Khan never asked for it and I will not do it either after he has passed. If they want to give it, it’s okay, otherwise, God will take care of us. And God did take care of us,” he said. To put things in perspective, Shadaab pointed out just how significant that sum was at the time. While Rs 1.27 crore today might just buy a luxury car, in those days it was a fortune large enough to purchase 3 to 4 apartments on Pali Hill in Bandra, one of Mumbai’s most prestigious and priciest neighbourhoods.

Why did Amjad Khan’s family turn down the underworld’s offer?

He then talked about how the underworld came forward to help the family recover the money, but his mother said no. “Certain elements came forward. They were from the underworld. They came forward and expressed their desire to extract that money on our behalf. My mother said no,” he said. He shared that the family got only one such call, and it was he who answered it. “It was a few months after my father’s passing. I took that call. It was a particular gangster from the Middle East. He said that I have heard this much money is owed to Amjad saab. My mother said no. He said that the money will be at your doorstep in three days but she refused. She said that my husband never took favours from the underworld. I don’t want to start a trend now so the matter finished there,” he said. After Amjad Khan’s death, his mother, who had spent most of her life as a housewife, took a brave step and started her own business.

When Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan spoke about underworld extortion calls

Earlier, filmmakers like Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan had also talked about getting extortion calls from the underworld. Rakesh Roshan was shot in broad daylight just a week after his film ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’ became a big hit. The film also launched his son Hrithik Roshan in Bollywood.