It sounds like a joke. A massive star, opposite Amitabh Bachchan, in a Prakash Mehra production. The script was ready, the co-star was Vinod Khanna, and the movie was Hera Pheri (1976). But Feroz Khan said no. His reason? The shooting schedule included Sundays, and he had a strict, non-negotiable rule: he never worked on Sundays.
Sanjay Gupta, who knew the late actor well, broke this down on X on Tuesday. He clarified that while he thought his own aversion to Sunday shifts was unique, Khan held the same boundary. It wasn’t about money or script fatigue. It was principle. Khan turned down a potential career-defining pairing with Bachchan to keep his weekend holy. In an industry known for grueling timelines, that level of stubbornness is rare.
Gupta didn’t stop at the trivia. He painted a picture of Khan as a "true gentleman" who remained deeply grateful to the obscure directors who gave him small roles in his early career. He believed those foundational projects built him, and he never forgot their names. That humility stood in stark contrast to the industry’s typical ego-driven culture.
Then there was the Oberoi incident. Gupta recalled a moment when Raaj Kumar, known for his sharp tongue, tried to throw a nasty comment at Khan in the hotel lobby. The response was physical and immediate. Khan simply pulled off Raaj Kumar’s wig. The comedian, left bald in a high-profile space, reportedly never crossed paths with Khan again. It’s the kind of anecdote that cements a legend’s status—not just through film, but through sheer, unapologetic presence.
Khan passed away in 2009, but stories like these keep his persona alive. He wasn’t just an actor in Qurbani or Dharmatma; he was a man with rules, a heart for mentors, and a sense of humor that didn’t require words. Next time you watch Hera Pheri, remember the man who walked away from the biggest star of the era, all for the sake of a Sunday off.