Farah Khan Kunder | |
|---|---|
 Khan in 2016 | |
| Born | Farah Khan 9 January 1965 (1965-01-09) (age 60) |
| Alma mater | St. Xavier's College, Bombay |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
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YouTube information | |
| Channels | FarahKhanK |
| Subscribers | 1.38 Million (14 March 2025) |
| Total views | 440,908,681 (14 March 2025) |
| Contents are in | Hindi |
Last updated: 14 March 2025 | |
Farah Khan Kunder (née Khan; born 9 January 1965)[1] is an Indian film director, writer, film producer, actress, dancer and choreographer who works predominantly inHindi films. Khan has choreographed more than a hundred songs in over 80 films,[2] winning theNational Film Award for Best Choreography and sevenFilmfare Awards for Best Choreography.
In addition, she has worked onTamil films and in international projects, such asMonsoon Wedding (2001),Bombay Dreams (2002),Vanity Fair (2004) andMarigold: An Adventure in India (2007), and the Chinese filmsPerhaps Love (2005) andKung Fu Yoga (2017), earningTony Award andGolden Horse Award nominations.
As a film director, she received twoFilmfare Award for Best Director nominations for the masala filmsMain Hoon Na (2004) andOm Shanti Om (2007). She then went on to direct the comedyTees Maar Khan (2010) and the dance heist comedyHappy New Year (2014).
Farah Khan was born on 9 January 1965. Her father, Kamran Khan, was a stuntman-turned-filmmaker. Her mother, Menaka Irani, was the sister of former child actorsHoney Irani andDaisy Irani.[3] Farah is thus a first cousin of film personalitiesFarhan Akhtar andZoya Akhtar (children of Honey Irani). She has one brother,Sajid Khan, who is a comedian, actor and film director.
Farah Khan marriedShirish Kunder, the editor of directorial debutMain Hoon Na (2004),[4] on 9 December 2004. They have since worked together on each other's films, such asJaan-E-Mann (2006),Om Shanti Om (2007), andTees Maar Khan (2010). Khan gave birth to triplets — one son and two daughters — in 2008 throughin vitro fertilisation.[5]
Khan was studyingsociology inSt. Xavier's College, Bombay when the music video ofMichael 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.[6] When the choreographerSaroj Khan walked out of the filmJo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Khan took over. This was followed by numerous iconic dance numbers over the years. She met actorShahrukh Khan on the sets ofKabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) and the two have since become good friends and began their collaborative journey. She is the recipient of sevenFilmfare Awards for Best Choreography.
In 2013, she also choreographed "Jumping Jhapak", the official anthem for2013 Indian Premier League.
Khan also collaborated on several international projects such asMonsoon Wedding (2001),Bombay Dreams (2002) andVanity Fair (2004), receiving a nomination for theTony Award for Best Choreography forBombay Dreams, alongside Anthony van Laast. Khan trainedColombian pop starShakira for aBollywood version of her song "Hips Don't Lie" for theMTVVideo Music Awards on 31 August 2006.[7] Khan has also choreographedKylie Minogue for the song "Chiggy Wiggy" in the 2009 filmBlue.
In 2004, Khan ventured into direction with themasala filmMain Hoon Na (2004), starringShahrukh Khan andSushmita Sen in lead roles, produced byRed Chillies Entertainment. The film received positive reviews upon release, and emerged as thesecond highest-grossing Indian film of the year, only surpassed by another Shah Rukh Khan-starrerVeer-Zaara.[8] It earned Khan her first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Director, thus becoming the second female director to be nominated for the award.
She followed it up with the reincarnation melodramaOm Shanti Om (2007), again starring Shahrukh Khan, alongside debutanteDeepika Padukone in lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as thehighest-grossing Hindi film of the year, in addition to becoming the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time of its release.[9][10] 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.
Her next directorial venture was the comedyTees Maar Khan, starringAkshay Kumar andKatrina 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.[11] 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 alongsideBoman Irani in the romantic comedyShirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012), directed by Bela Bhansali Sehgal, the sister of directorSanjay Leela Bhansali. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews upon release, but emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.[12]
Her next directorial venture was the dance heist comedyHappy New Year (2014), reteaming with Shahrukh Khan and Padukone 7 years afterOm Shanti Om. She had initially announced to direct the film in 2005 and was supposed to be Padukone's Hindi film debut,[13] but was shelved due to multiple delays and cast changes that occurred over a number of years.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] The project was again reported as being in the works as of 2012.[24] Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, but emerged as thesecond highest-grossing Indian film of the year.[14]
She hosted the celebrity chat showTere Mere Beach Mein and was a judge on the reality television seriesIndian Idol – first and second season,Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star,Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega andDance India Dance Li'l Masters. She also judged dance reality showJust Dance alongside Hrithik Roshan and Vaibhavi Merchant onStar Plus.
In 2015, Khan replacedSalman Khan and hosted the reality showBigg Boss Halla Bol, the spin-off ofBigg Boss season 8.[25]
Khan and her husband have started a production company called "Three's Company" named in honor of their triplets.[26]
| Year | Title | Actress | Director | Producer | Script Writer | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Jalwa | Yes | Dancer in the "Feeling Hot Hot" song[27] | |||
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Yes | Woman on the Neelam show/ College student who makes fun of Anjali | |||
| 2003 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Yes | One of the customers that come to the restaurant after its renovation | |||
| 2004 | Main Hoon Na | Yes | Yes | Yes | Herself (special appearance in song "Yeh Fizaein" during the end credits) Nominated –Filmfare Award for Best Director | |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | Yes | Yes | Yes | The one whom Om Prakash asks if she's the director of the movie / Herself (special appearance during the end credits) Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director | |
| 2010 | Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai | Yes | Herself | |||
| 2010 | Tees Maar Khan | Yes | Yes | |||
| 2010 | Khichdi: The Movie | Yes | Herself (cameo) | |||
| 2012 | Joker | Yes | Yes | Herself (special appearance) | ||
| 2012 | Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi | Yes | Shirin Fugawala | |||
| 2012 | Student of the Year | Yes | Cameo in "Disco Song" as a judge | |||
| 2014 | Happy New Year | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cameo in the end credits | |
| 2016 | Devi | Yes | Herself (guest appearance); multilingual film | |||
| 2019 | Student of the Year 2 | Yes | Cameo in "The Jawaani Song" as a judge | |||
| 2020 | Mrs. Serial Killer | Yes | ||||
| 2023 | Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan | Yes | Cameo |
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2006, 2016–2017 | Indian Idol | Judge | Season 1, 2 and 7 |
| 2006–present | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa | Judge | Seasons 1, 9, 11 |
| 2008 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star | Judge | |
| 2008, 2015 | Nach Baliye | Judge | Season 4 and 7 |
| 2009–2014 | Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega | Judge | |
| 2010 | Dance India Dance Li'l Masters 1 | Judge | |
| 2011 | Just Dance | Judge | |
| 2012 | Dance Ke Superkids | Judge | |
| 2012 | India's Got Talent | Judge | Season 4 |
| 2013 | Nach Baliye Shriman v/s Shrimati | Judge | |
| 2013 | Dance India Dance Supermoms | Judge | |
| 2015 | Bigg Boss Halla Bol | Co-host | |
| 2015 | Farah Ki Dawat | Host | |
| 2020 | Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India | Interim Host | [29] |
| 2021 | Zee Comedy Show | Judge | [30] |
| 2022 | The Khatra Show | Host | [31] |
| 2025 | Celebrity MasterChef | Host & Judge |
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.
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