Rehman Khan was born on June 23, 1923, in Lahore, British India, to a Pathan family believed to be the descendants of Afghanistan's King Amanuallah. His family later relocated to Jabalpur, where he attended Robinson College.
After completing his education, Rehman joined the Indian Air Force as a pilot, but he opted out in 1944 to pursue a career in the film industry. He started working at Prabhat Studios in Bombay as a 3rd Assistant to renowned Bollywood director Vikram Bedekar, who was filming 'Lakharani' at the time.
On the sets of 'Chand', the crew was struggling to find someone who could tie a Pathani turban, and Rehman's solution to this problem earned him a small dialogue role in the film. This marked the beginning of his acting career, which would go on to span over seven decades.
Rehman's first major role was in 'Hum Ek Hain' alongside Dev Anand in 1946, followed by his iconic portrayal of Emperor Shahjahan in 'Shahjahan' the same year. He went on to star in over 70 movies, mostly playing character roles that showcased his debonair and aristocratic persona, often as a villain.
Some of his most memorable films include 'Pyaasa', 'Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam', 'Waqt', 'Dil Diya Dard Liya', and 'Chaudvi Ka Chand'. He was a close friend of the legendary filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt.
Rehman's acting career was tragically cut short in 1977 when he suffered three massive heart attacks, which he barely survived. Unfortunately, he was later diagnosed with throat cancer, which led to the loss of his voice and ultimately took his life in 1979.
Despite his untimely passing, Rehman is still remembered fondly by his fans, and his movies continue to be popular even today on various Hindi language channels.
