'Mother India' Actor Sajid Khan Passes Away

Remembering the Legacy of 'Maya' Star

Sajid Khan, known for portraying the younger Birju in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India and gaining recognition in international projects like Maya and The Singing Filipina, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was in his early 70s.

The actor had been fighting cancer for a period, and he succumbed on Friday (December 22), as revealed by his son Sameer to PTI.

As per Sameer, his father had established residence in Kerala with his second wife.

Sameer shared, "My father, adopted by Rajkumar Pitamber Rana and Sunita Pitamber, and fostered by filmmaker Mehboob Khan, was less active in films, focusing on philanthropy. He frequented Kerala, enjoyed it, remarried, and chose to settle here."

The actor was laid to rest at the Kayamkulam Town Juma Masjid in Kerala's Alappuzha district.

Following the Oscar-nominated Mother India, Sajid Khan took on the lead role in Mehboob Khan's Son of India.

Khan achieved global stardom as a teen idol through his role in Maya, portraying the local boy Raji who befriends the character played by Jay North. The movie's success resulted in a series of the same name, further enhancing Khan's popularity.

He made a guest appearance in an episode of the American TV show The Big Valley and served as a guest judge on the music show It's Happening.

The actor gained fame in the Philippines, contributing to films like The Singing Filipina, My Funny Girl, and The Prince and I alongside Nora Aunor.

Sajid Khan portrayed the role of a dacoit chief in the Merchant-Ivory production, Heat and Dust.