A stylized form is more important than meaningful content- or at least Feroz Khan seemed to think so while making his films. This handsome Pathan came into film industry in the sixties, much against his father’s wishes, who wanted him to be a lawyer. In fact, even his other two brothers – Sanjay and Akbar became actors and film- makers. A modest actor at best, Feroz played second fiddle in films like Aarzoo and Aadmi aur insaan before establishing his own banner ‘FK International’.

Influenced heavily by Hollywood’s mafia and cowboy western movies, Feroz Khan patented his formula of crime thrillers. Lavish bungalows with swimming pools full of bathing beauties, smoky casinos with steamy cabarets in psychedelic lighting, lush stud farms with galloping horses, raw physical romance, eye-popping action stunts and raunchy music gave his movies the famous FK look and it scored big at box office.

 Apradh- his first film as a film- maker was a slick crime flick, starting off with a Formula 1 race, a feat in itself. Feroz Khan and Prem Chopra play two brothers, former a race driver and latter a crime boss, in this tale beginning in Europe with a diamond necklace robbery and ending in India with the backdrop of a smuggling racket. This story telling- ‘Crime doesn’t pay’ takes more twists and turns than the racing car! Mumtaz plays the sensuous heroine to perfection.

 Dharmatma was the desi version of Godfather, where Premnath (of all persons!) plays the title role of original Don Corleone and Feroz plays his son- a sort of mixture of Sonny and Michael Corleone! Shot in wild mountainous terrains of Afghanistan, the story tells of a rivalry between two Kabilas. Hema Mailini and Rekha play the roles of Apollonia and Kay- Michael’s lady loves from original movie, former getting blown off in a car explosion – a ditto frame capture from the parent source! Technically competent but totally devoid of artistry, this film is not a patch on original masterpiece.

 Janbaaz was perhaps his last successful film, before he lost track totally as a film-maker. It’s a patchy tale of a police officer’s (Feroz Khan) revenge on a drug- mafia for inducing his wife’s (Sridevi) death, interweaved with a saucy love story of his wayward brother (Anil Kapoor) and an orphaned family friend (Dimple). Again it’s the jazzy film- making that really keeps you interested in the proceedings, rather than story or histrionics.