Sajid Khan

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Sajid Khan (1951–2023) was an Indian actor and singer who started life in a Mumbai slum and was adopted by Bollywood filmmaker Mehboob Khan, who gave him the name Sajid Khan.

Early life and debut
Sajid grew up in poverty in Bombay (now Mumbai). He began acting as a child in his adoptive father Mehboob Khan’s film Mother India (1957), playing the younger Birju. His first film salary was ₹750. After his father’s death in 1964, Sajid moved to the United States to continue his education.

Career
Sajid gained fame in the United States with the 1966 film Maya, co-starring with Jay North. The movie led to a TV series Maya on NBC (1967–1968), making him a teen idol for a time. He also released a self-titled album.

In the late 1960s, he appeared on The Big Valley and It’s Happening. In the early 1970s, he acted in the Philippines as the male lead opposite Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. His Hindi films from 1972 to 1983 did not do well financially, and his peak years were 1966–1974, with his last film appearance in Heat and Dust (1983) in a brief, non-speaking role.

Personal life
Khan was married, but the wife’s name isn’t widely known. They had two sons, Stephanos (who lives in the UK) and Sameer. The couple divorced in 1990. In the 1970s, he reportedly ran a small jewelry business in India.

Death
Sajid Khan died on 22 December 2023 after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 71.

Selected filmography
- Mother India (1957) — Young Birju
- Son of India (1962)
- Maya (1966) — Raji; Maya TV series (1967–1968)
- Heat and Dust (1983)
- Also appeared on TV in 1857 Kranti (2000)

Note: This is a shorter, easy-to-understand version of the life and career of Sajid Khan.