Hamid Ali Khan (English: Hamid Ali Khan, born- January 27, 1922, Golconda; died- October 21, 1998, Hyderabad) was a famous actor of Indian Hindi cinema. He gained fame as a villain in Hindi cinema. Talking about Ajit’s favorite character, he first played his favorite and unforgettable character in producer-director Subhash Ghai’s film ‘Kalicharan’ released in 1976. The character ‘Lion’ played by him in the film ‘Kalicharan’ became synonymous with his name.
Hamid Ali Khan alias Ajit was born on January 27, 1922 in Golconda in the then princely state of Hyderabad. Ajit was fond of acting since childhood. His father Bashir Ali Khan worked in the Nizam’s army in Hyderabad. Ajit completed his early education from Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. In the forties, he joined the film industry to become a hero and started his acting career with the film ‘Shahe Misr’ released in the year 1946.
From 1946 to 1956, Ajit struggled to make his place in the film industry. After ‘Shahe Misr’, he started accepting whatever role he got. Meanwhile, he acted in many films like ‘Patanga’, ‘Zid’, ‘Sarkar’, ‘Saiyan’, ‘Tarang’, ‘Moti Mahal’, ‘Samrat’ and ‘Tirandaz’; But none of these films were successful at the box office. In 1950, film director K. Amarnath advised him to shorten his film name. After this, he changed his film name to Ajit in place of Hamid Ali Khan and worked as a hero in the film ‘Beksoor’ directed by Amarnath.
In 1957, B. R. Ajit appeared in the role of a rural youth in Chopra’s film ‘Naya Daur’. His role in this film had grey-shades. This film completely focused on actor Dilip Kumar. Still he managed to leave an impression of his acting among the audience in the presence of an actor like Dilip Kumar. After this film, Ajit decided that he would show his acting talent only in villainy. After this he started struggling to make his mark in the film industry as a villain. In the film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ released in 1960, once again opposite him was the acting emperor of the Hindi film world, Dilip Kumar, but Ajit looted the applause of the audience through his small role.
Through the success of films like ‘Zindagi Aur Khwaab’, ‘Shikari’, ‘Himalaya Ki Lap Mein’, ‘Sooraj’, ‘Prince’, ‘Aadmi Aur Insaan’, Ajit has established his acting skills among the audience. Reached where he could choose his own role in the film. 1973 proved to be an important milestone in Ajit’s cine career. That year his films like ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, ‘Samjhauta’, ‘Kahani Kismat Ki’ and ‘Jugnu’ were released, which set new records of success at the box office. After the success of these films, Ajit touched the heights for which he had come to his dream city Mumbai.
Talking about Ajit’s favorite character, he first played his favorite and unforgettable character in producer-director Subhash Ghai’s film ‘Kalicharan’ released in 1976. The character ‘Lion’ played by him in the film ‘Kalicharan’ became synonymous with his name. His dialogue in the film ‘Sara Shahar Mujhe Lion Naam Janta Hai’ is very popular even today and people use it colloquially from time to time. Apart from this, his dialogues like Lily Don’t Be Silly and Mona Darling also became quite popular among cine lovers.
In the 90s, Ajit reduced his work in films due to poor health. During this period, he impressed the audience with his acting in many films like ‘Jigar’ (1992), ‘Shaktimaan’ (1993), ‘Aadmi’ (1993), ‘Aatish’, ‘Aa Gale Lag Jaa’ and ‘Betaaj Badshah’ (1994). Entertained. Ajit, the uncrowned king of dialogue delivery, showed his acting prowess in nearly 200 films in a film career spanning nearly four decades and departed from this world on October 21, 1998.