Farah Khan (Indian film director and writer) Biography

Farah Khan is a famous choreographer in the Hindi film industry as well as a director, producer and actress. She is best known for her choreography in numerous Bollywood films which includes dance routines for more than a hundred songs in over 80 Hindi films. She began her career in 1987 movie Jalwa as a back ground dancer and came to the forefront as a choreographer from the hit movie Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992).Some of her famous choreographer songs in recent movies are Munni Badnaam” (film Dabbang), Song “Sheila Ki Jawani” ( movie Tees Maar Khan), Song “Ishq Wala Love” & “Radha” ( movie Student Of The year), Song “Fevicol Se” ( movie Dabbang 2), Song “Titli” ( movie Chennai Express) etc. Farah Khan is also a successful director, producer and appears on the small screen as judge for various reality shows. Farah Khan though is not much into acting, has done a few tit-bit roles and cameos in a few movies. Her first full fledged lead role was in the movie Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi(2012) as Shirin Fugawala. She is married to film editor Shirish Kunder and is a mother to triplets.

Farah Khan Biography

Farah Khan’s Family

Farah Khan’s birthplace is Mumbai. Farah Khan’s zodiac sign is Capricorn. Farah Khan’s father’s name is Kamran Khan. Farah Khan’s mother’s name is Menaka Irani. Farah Khan’s brother is Sajid Khan. 

Farah Khan’s husband is Shirish Kunder. Farah Khan’s daughters are Diva Kunder and Anya Kunder. Farah Khan’s son is Czar Kunder. Farah Khan’s mother, Menaka Irani, is related to Honey and Daisy Irani, two former child performers.  As a result, Farah Khan is the first cousin of actors Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar (children of Honey Irani). 

Farah’s mother is an Iranian Zoroastrian, but her father is a Muslim. When Farah was a young child, their marriage ended. Religion and a lack of resources are two factors that contributed to this.

Farah khan child

Farah and Shirish married on December 9, 2004. They became parents to triplets – a son and two daughters – in 2008 via in vitro fertilisation. Their three children are Diva, Anya, and Czar.

Farah Khan’s Education

Farah Khan’s school is St. Theresa Convent School, Mumbai. Farah Khan’s college was St.Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Career Path

• She choreographed the first film “Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya” in 1981.
• In 1985, Farah and Sajid were appeared in film “3D Saamri” as a back dancer in song “Bacha Le Sambha Le Koi To Yahan”.
• She also visited in UK with her partner Hemu Sinha for the dance competition and they won the “Friend Duo” awards and also in India “World Dance Championship” in 1986.
• She also appeared as a back dancer in song “Feeling Hot Hot Hot” in the film Jalwa in 1987.

Also Read : Shah Rukh Khan (Indian Actor And Film Producer) Biography

• As a director she directed the famous movie Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om starring Shah Rukh Khan and she got the Best director award for films.
• She also appeared in Sony TV show Indian Idol 1 in 2004 as a judge with Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa with Shilpa Shetty in 2006.
•  She did 100+ of songs in bollywood as a choreographer throughout her journey in film industry and also makes a place in International projects as a choreographer.

Farah Khan’s Boyfriend and Relationships

• Farah Khan and Akashdeep Saigal

Actor Aakashhdeep Saigal and director-turned-choreographer Farah Khan dated for almost two years before calling it quits. Akashdeep participated in Farah Khan’s Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1 dance reality competition as a competitor. After learning that he and his choreographer Bindi Khare would not be returning to Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the celebrity dance competition on Sony TV, Akashdeep Sehgal caused quite a commotion on the sets. 

Shilpa Shetty was even told by him that she was unqualified to judge a dance competition and that she was constantly following the technical director Sandip Soparrkar’s instructions on how to score each duo.

Their (Farah, Sanjay, and Shilpa’s) inability to judge dance forms was killing my spirit. I voiced my discouragement at the situation. Since Farah was on the program, I should not have joined it, but I was hoping she wouldn’t have any leftover baggage from our relationship.

Farah Khan tweeted, Please Slap Akashdeep Saigal (Skye) on #BB5 from me. One is mainly due to him. He doesn’t care about ladies.

• Farah Khan’s Husband- Shirish Kunder

On the Main Hoon Na set is where it all began. Shirish admitted that his primary motivation for agreeing to work for far less money editing Farah Khan’s directorial debut, Main Hoon Na, was his long-standing crush on the actress. Shirish was silent because he saw no hope, and Farah was unaware of his feelings. Farah experienced something similar much later. She had no time for love because she was so preoccupied with her movies. Shirish’s intelligence became apparent to her over time, and this is what first drew her to him.

Finally, Shirish revealed his feelings to Farah at a party while drunk. Farah Khan shared these sentiments, thus the two began dating. Women frequently enquire of men about the prospects of their relationship. It was the opposite of Farah and Shirish.

Shirish has a severe fear of broken hearts. He therefore simply instructed Farah Khan to consider her options and only schedule a meeting if she felt that their relationship had potential. Farah described her experience on Simi Grewal’s show and remarked, He replied, dear, get out if you don’t want to get married! I don’t want to spend my time only seeing you. We will move forward if you are sincere and we decide to get married. Shirish sought a commitment from Farah because he was terrified of getting brokenhearted. After giving it some thought, Farah decided to marry Shirish. Gauri Khan was the one who initially learned about these lovers. Shirish was presented to everyone at Shahrukh’s house during the Main Hoon Na victory party by Farah.

After Karan gave Farah a Tarot card reading and assured her how wonderful her life would be with Shirish, the two of them began making wedding plans in 2004. The first wedding was a legally binding union, and then there was a South Indian ceremony where Shahrukh and Gauri performed Farah’s kanyadan before the nikah. The couple welcomed their triplets in 2008, giving them the names Diva, Anya, and Czar. 

Awards

• Filmfare Awards 1998 – Best Choreography for Virasat (1997) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 1999 – Best Choreography for Dil Se.. (1998) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2001 – Best Choreography for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000) – Winner
• IIFA Awards 2001 – Best Choreography for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2002 – Best Choreography for Dil Chahta Hai (2001) – Winner
• IIFA Awards 2002 – Best Choreography for Dil Chahta Hai (2001) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2004 – Best Choreography for Koi… Mil Gaya (2003) – Winner
• IIFA Awards 2004 – Best Choreography for Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2005 – Best Director for Main Hoon Na (2004) – Nominee
• IIFA Awards 2005 – Best Choreography for Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) – Winner
• IIFA Awards 2005 – Best Debut Director for Main Hoon Na (2004) – Winner
• IIFA Awards 2005 – Best Director for Main Hoon Na (2004) – Nominee
• Filmfare Awards 2007 – Best Choreography for Jaan-E-Mann: Let’s Fall in Love… Again (2006) – Nominee
• Filmfare Awards 2008 – Best Film for Om Shanti Om (2007) – Nominee
• Filmfare Awards 2008 – Best Director for Om Shanti Om (2007) – Nominee
• IIFA Awards 2009 – Best Choreography for Dostana (2008) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2011 – Best Choreography for Tees Maar Khan (2010) – Winner
• IIFA Awards 2011 – Best Choreography for Dabangg (2010) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2021 – Best Choreography for Dil Bechara (2020) – Winner
• Filmfare Awards 2022 – Best Choreography for Sooryavanshi (2021) – Nominee

Farah Khan’s Career Timeline

Farah Khan’s Net Worth

In 2024, Farah Khan’s net worth is around $10 million or 350 Crores in Indian Rupees. She charges Rs. 50 lakh for each song (to choreograph). Farah Khan and her husband founded a production firm called Three’s Company in honor of their triplets. She created the choreography for Radha and Ishq Wala Love for Student Of The Year in 2012. She choreographed Jumping Jhapak in 2013.

Farah Khan’s Controversies

• Farah Khan on hurting religious sentiments

Against actor Raveena Tandon, director-choreographer Farah Khan, and comedian Bharti Singh, a case was opened on December 25 2019 based on a complaint made by Sonu Jafar, head of the Christian Front of Ajnala Block, for allegedly hurting the religious feelings of a community in a comedy event.

Now, director-choreographer Farah Khan posted a clarification on the matter on her social media accounts. She expressed regret and expressed her deep sadness about the entire chapter. I’m deeply unhappy that any sentiments have unintentionally been wounded by a recent episode of my show, she added. All religions are respected by me, and I would never want to disrespect any of them.

• Farah Khan comments on Sajid Khan’s MeToo issue

After her brother Sajid Khan was accused of sexual harassment, Bollywood director Farah Khan replied.

This is a painful time for my family, Farah stated on Twitter. We have a lot of challenging problems to solve. If my brother acted in this way, he has much to make up for. I firmly oppose this conduct and stand in support of all women who have suffered or hurt.

Interesting Facts and Trivia about Farah Khan

• Former screenwriter named Honey Irani is her aunt.
• Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar are her cousins. Farah and Farhan share same birthday, although their years are different, they always used to call each other as Capri 9.
• Farah’s parents separated when she was 11 years old.
• Farah was only 19 years old when her father died due to liver damage.
• Farah Khan never took any official training for dancing; she always tried to learn it by seeing numerous videos.
• Sajid and Farah performed as a tailback dancer in the song titled “Bacha Le Sambha Le Koi To Yahan Se Nikale” in the movie 3D Saamri. They had sludge on their faces in this song; hence, their faces are not identifiable.