Aamir Khan’s father Tahir Hussain – Bollywood Film Producer

Tahir Hussain (1938 – 2010), younger brother of ace filmmaker Nasir Hussain was also a film producer and director. Popular actor Aamir Khan is his elder son. His younger son Faisal Khan has also appeared in a few movies, while his daughter Nikhat Khan produced his first direction venture, Tum Mere Ho starring Aamir Khan in lead role. Known actor Tariq Khan of Hum Kise Se Kum Nahi fame and director Mansoor Khan are his nephews. Tahir Hussain produced Bollywood hits like Caravan, Anamika and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke.

He produced super hit ‘Caravan’ marking his entry to film production

Tahir Hussain Khan belonged to a family of filmmakers. Tahir Hussain was born in 1938 in Shahabad, Hardoi, now a part of Uttar Pradesh. Following his elder brother’s footsteps he too reached the world of films, and Nasir served as his mentor. Since late 1950s he was associated with his elder brother in the role of an assistant. He worked as an assistant for Nasir’s early hits – Tumsa Nahi Dekha and Dil Dekhe Dekho. He played a cameo role in 1961 hit romantic comedy, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, the first movie produced by Nasir Hussain. He played Sardar Ranjit Kumar in 1969 romantic musical Pyar Ka Mausam made by his elder brother. He also worked as a production executive for his brother in those days.

Dilbar Dil Se Pyaare from Caravan, sung by Lata Mangeshkar

He turned an associate producer with the movie, Pyar Ka Mausam in 1969. As a full-fledged film producer, his debut film was Caravan in 1971 directed by his brother, and it was a profitable venture. The movie starring Jeetendra and Asha Parekh, with memorable songs was a blockbuster hit in India. The movie had a grand release in China in 1979, and created the record of highest-grossing foreign film in China.

His career was not so successful as his elder brother

His second movie was ‘Anamika’ starring Jaya Bhaduri and Sanjeev Kumar, which was not directed by his brother, but R. D. Burman who regularly worked with Hussain films composed its super hit music. However he produced a string of flops after that. His brother’s muse Asha Parekh and his nephew Tariq Ali Khan appeared in Zakhmee (1975), which was a flop. But its music by Bappi Lahiri was well received.

Bahon Mein Chali Aa song from Anamika

He produced around 12 movies. Gujarati movie – Janam Janam Na Saath, Khoon Ki Pukaar, Locket, Tum Mere Ho, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Madhosh are among those films. Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke starring his son Aamir Khan was a super hit, while most of his rest production ventures flopped. His family faced huge financial troubles in the 1980s, when his production ventures flopped one after another.

Madhosh in 1994 gave first break to his son Faisal Khan in a lead role, but the movie bombed at box office. His single direction venture, Tum Mere Ho starring Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla too flopped. After the big commercial failure of Madhosh in 1994, he retired from films. At that time, Aamir Khan became one of the most popular actors of Bollywood screen. He passed away in Mumbai in 2010, following a heart attack. He was 71 years then.

Tahir Hussain – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He is an actor turned film producer, though his acting roles went unnoticed. He mostly played cameo roles in movies made by Nasir Hussain.

2. He is related to India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

3. Film actor Imran Khan (grandson of Nasir Hussain) is his grandnephew.

4. His debut venture Caravan was the highest-grossing foreign film in China, when it got released in 1979.

5. He played a cameo role in his debut Gujarati movie – Janam Janam Na Saath.

6. He worked as a production executive of 1966 super hit, Teesri Manzil, directed by his big brother Nasir Hussain.

7. Juhi Chawla was frequently paired with Aamir Khan in many movies produced/directed by Hussain brothers. It includes huge hits like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, and flops like Tum Mere Ho.

8. Tum Mere Ho is his single movie as a film director and screenwriter.

9. He produced two movies with the title, Madhosh with a gap of 20 years. He was an assistant producer in his last film, Madhosh released in 1994.

10. He belongs to a family of many freedom fighters, and is related to Zakir Hussain, former president of India and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister.

11. He was married to Zeenat Hussain and had 4 children. While both his sons joined Bollywood as actors, his daughters – Farhat Khan and Nikhat Khan never pursued acting. However Nikhat Khan made a late entry to Bollywood through 2019 biographical drama film, Saand Ki Aankh at the age of 53.

12. Well-known actor Raj Zutshi is related to Hussain family, as Raj is the stepfather of Imran Khan, young actor from the family.