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Farah Khan Kunder
Khan in 2016
Born	Farah Khan 9 January 1965 (1965-01-09) (age 59) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Alma mater	St. Xavier's College, Bombay
Occupations	Film director actress television presenter choreographer writer producer dancer
Years active	1987–present
Spouse	Shirish Kunder ​(m. 2004)​
Children	3
Relatives	Honey Irani (aunt) Daisy Irani (aunt) Sajid Khan (brother)

Farah Khan Kunder (née Khan; born 9 January 1965) is an Indian film director, writer, film producer, actress, dancer and choreographer who works predominantly in Hindi films. Khan has choreographed more than a hundred songs in over 80 films, winning the National Film Award for Best Choreography and seven Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography.

In addition, she has worked on Tamil films and in international projects, such as Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bombay Dreams (2002), Vanity Fair (2004) and Marigold: An Adventure in India (2007), and the Chinese films Perhaps Love (2005) and Kung Fu Yoga (2017), earning Tony Award and Golden Horse Award nominations.

As a film director, she received two Filmfare Award for Best Director nominations for the masala films Main Hoon Na (2004) and Om Shanti Om (2007). She then went on to direct the comedy Tees Maar Khan (2010) and the dance heist comedy Happy New Year (2014).

Early life and personal life

Farah Khan was born on 9 January 1965. Her father, Kamran Khan, was a stuntman-turned-filmmaker. Her mother, Menaka Irani, is the sister of former child actors Honey Irani and Daisy Irani. Farah is thus a first cousin of film personalities Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar (children of Honey Irani). She has one brother, Sajid Khan, who is a comedian, actor and film director.

Farah Khan married Shirish Kunder, the editor of directorial debut Main Hoon Na (2004), on 9 December 2004. They have since worked together on each other's films, such as Jaan-E-Mann (2006), Om Shanti Om (2007), and Tees Maar Khan (2010). Khan gave birth to triplets — one son and two daughters — in 2008 through in vitro fertilisation.

Career

Choreography career

Khan was studying sociology in St. Xavier's College, Bombay when the music video of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was released. She was so inspired by the song, 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. When the choreographer Saroj Khan walked out of the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Khan took over. This was followed by numerous iconic dance numbers over the years. She met actor Shahrukh Khan on the sets of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) and the two have since become good friends and began their collaborative journey. She is the recipient of seven Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography.

In 2013, she also choreographed "Jumping Jhapak", the official anthem for 2013 Indian Premier League.

Khan also collaborated on several international projects such as Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bombay Dreams (2002) and Vanity Fair (2004), receiving a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Choreography for Bombay Dreams, alongside Anthony van Laast. Khan trained Colombian pop star Shakira for a Bollywood version of her song "Hips Don't Lie" for the MTV Video Music Awards on 31 August 2006. Khan has also choreographed Kylie Minogue for the song "Chiggy Wiggy" in the 2009 film Blue.

Directorial debut and breakthrough (2004–2007)

In 2004, Khan ventured into direction with the masala film Main Hoon Na (2004), starring Shahrukh Khan and Sushmita Sen in lead roles, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment. The film received positive reviews upon release, and emerged as the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year, only surpassed by another Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Veer-Zaara. It earned Khan her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director, thus becoming the second female director to be nominated for the award.

She followed it up with the reincarnation melodrama Om Shanti Om (2007), again starring Shahrukh Khan, alongside debutante Deepika Padukone in lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, in addition to becoming the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time of its release. The film earned Khan her second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director, thus becoming the first female director to be nominated for the award twice.

Setback, acting debut and directorial resurgence (2010–present)

Her next directorial venture was the comedy Tees Maar Khan, starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. Despite hype, the film was panned by critics upon release, and emerged as a below-average commercial success at the box-office. The film is today primarily remembered for Kaif's iconic dance number "Sheila Ki Jawani", also choreographed by Khan.

She then made her acting debut alongside Boman Irani in the romantic comedy Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012), directed by Bela Bhansali Sehgal, the sister of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews upon release, but emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.

Her next directorial venture was the dance heist comedy Happy New Year (2014), reteaming with Shahrukh Khan and Padukone 7 years after Om Shanti Om. She had initially announced to direct the film in 2005 and was supposed to be Padukone's Hindi film debut, but was shelved due to multiple delays and cast changes that occurred over a number of years. The project was again reported as being in the works as of 2012. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, but emerged as the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Television and production career

She hosted the celebrity chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein and was a judge on the reality television series Indian Idol – first and second season, Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Dance India Dance Li'l Masters. She also judged dance reality show Just Dance alongside Hrithik Roshan and Vaibhavi Merchant on Star Plus.

In 2015, Khan replaced Salman Khan and hosted the reality show Bigg Boss Halla Bol, the spin-off of Bigg Boss season 8.

Khan and her husband have started a production company called "Three's Company" named in honor of their triplets.

Filmography

Film

Choreography

Television

Accolades

See also

• Indian Women in Dance

Further reading

• Kabir, Nasreen Munni (2009). Farah Khan. Zubaan.

References

1. Thomas, Anjali (7 October 2007). "Farah Khan latest chant is 'Mom Shanti MOM' - Lifestyle - DNA". dnaindia.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.
2. "Latest News: Latest Headlines Today, Latest Current Affairs News News18". News18. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
3. "Farah Khan shares never seen before childhood photo dancing with cousin Farhan Akhtar". DNA India. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
4. Kulkarni, Ronjita (12 August 2004). "Meet the man Farah Khan will marry". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
5. "'Glad I became mom through IVF at 43': Farah Khan pens heartfelt open letter". DNA India. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
6. "Tête à tête". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
7. Jha, Subhash K. (1 September 2006). "Farah Khan bonds big time with Shakira". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
8. "Main Hoon Na - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
9. "Om Shanti Om - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
10. Fenton, Ben (26 June 2008). "Om Shanti Om rakes in $45m worldwide". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
11. "Tees Maar Khan - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
12. "Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
13. "Farah Khan makes Deepika happy". Sify Movies. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
14. ^ "'Happy New Year' went on floors in 2014 Khan". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
15. "Farah Khan gives Fictitious dance group a break in Happy New Year". Business of Cinema. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
16. "Shah Rukh dampens Farah's 'Happy New Year' plans!". Zee News. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
17. "Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan come together for 'Happy New Year'". The Indian Express. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
18. "SRK wants to work with Priyanka in Farah Khan's film Happy New Year". India Today. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
19. "Shah Rukh Khan busy for Farah Khan till 2013". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
20. "Anushka is not pairing with Shahrukh for Farah". India Glitz. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
21. "Shah Rukh Khan miffed with 'Happy New Year' report!". Zee News. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
22. "Katrina, Sonakshi or newcomer for Happy New Year?". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
23. "Farah Khan lays out parameters for 'Happy New Year' heroine". The Indian Express. 2 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
24. "John joins Shah Rukh for Farah's next film". The Times of India. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
25. "Bigg Boss 8: Farah Khan talks about Salman Khan and Halla Bol | The Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
26. Mariam Thomas, Sonia (26 October 2015). "Women Of Worth 2015 Grit And Glory". www.outlookbusiness.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
27. "Farah Khan says she refused to step out when people 'ripped apart' Tees Maar Khan, called herself 'poor cousins' of Zoya-Farhan Akhtar". 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024. Farah Khan started off as an assistant and a background dancer. Stating how she never bothered about money, she said she agreed to be a part of Jalwa (1987) and dance behind Archana Puran Singh because she was getting to step in an aircraft for the first time. She shot in Goa and was paid Rs 300 per day.
28. "Farah Khan to choreograph song in Jackie Chan's 'Kung Fu Yoga'". The Times of India. 28 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
29. "In Rohit Shetty's absence, Farah Khan to introduce Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India". The Indian Express. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
30. "Zee Comedy Show set to tickle the funny bone, to launch this weekend - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
31. "Farah Khan joins Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa for new season of the Khatra Khatra Show". 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.

External links

• Farah Khan at IMDb 
• Farah Khan at Bollywood Hungama
• Farah Khan on Twitter

• 1965 births
• Living people
• 20th-century Indian dancers
• 21st-century Indian dancers
• 21st-century Indian people
• 21st-century Indian women artists
• Artists from Mumbai
• Best Choreography National Film Award winners
• Businesswomen from Maharashtra
• Dancers from Maharashtra
• Film directors from Mumbai
• Film producers from Mumbai
• Hindi-language film directors
• Indian choreographers
• Indian film choreographers
• Indian television presenters
• Indian women choreographers
• Indian women film directors
• Indian women film producers
• Indian women television presenters
• Musical theatre choreographers
• Women artists from Maharashtra
• 20th-century Indian women