Hamid Ali Khan (27 January 1922 – 22 October 1998), better known by his stage name Ajit, was an Indian actor active in Hindi films. He acted in over two hundred movies over almost four decades. Ajit is also credited for starring as a lead actor in popular Bollywood movies such as Beqasoor, Nastik, Bada Bhai, Milan, Bara Dari, and later as the second lead in Mughal-e-Azam and Naya Daur.

He started as a hero and later got famous for the roles of sophisticated villains. He is remembered even today for his dialogues like ‘Mona Darling’ and ‘Smart Guy.

Celebrating his centenary anniversary, Lamakaan celebrates this son of the soil films, art, legacy, and much more through screening of some of the finest films on all Wednesday of the May month and discussing Ajit's work pre and post-screening. Film: ZANJEER(1973) Directed by: Prakash Mehra Duration: 147 minutes

ABOUT THE FILM: Zanjeer (transl. Shackles) is a 1973 Indian Hindi action thriller film written by Salim–Javed, directed and produced by Prakash Mehra, and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Pran, Ajit Khan and Bindu. The film started a new wave in Bollywood. At a time when India was suffering from corruption and low economic growth, and the common man was left with frustration and anger over the system, Zanjeer began shifting Hindi cinema in a violent and aggressive direction. Reflecting the anger of the masses, Bachchan was seen as the new hero, who had the courage to fight against the wrongs while maintaining moral values at the same time. This film also ended the struggling period for Bachchan and turned him into a rising star. The film was a blockbuster success, domestically in India and overseas in the Soviet Union.

It was the first of many collaborations between the screenwriter duo Salim–Javed and Bachchan. Ever since Zanjeer, Salim–Javed wrote many of their subsequent scripts with Bachchan in mind for the lead role, and insisted on him being cast for their later films, including blockbusters such as Deewaar (1975) and Sholay (1975), establishing Bachchan as a superstar. In addition to being a turning point for Bachchan's career and Hindi cinema, Zanjeer was also a turning point for South Indian cinema, with Bachchan's acting inspiring future Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth. Zanjeer remains an important film in the history of Indian cinema and is regarded as a classic today. Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raaj Kumar, and Dharmendra were offered the lead role, but they somehow did not accept the role.

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