Had no work, people took their money back: Fardeen Khan recalls the bad reviews about his debut Prem Aggan, says ‘did not deserve Filmfare Best Debut Award for it’

By Vandana Srivastawa

on March 09, 2022 06:14:00 PM

Fardeen Khan who is all set to make a comeback in Bollywood with horror drama Visfot has spoken about the tough times he faced in his career after the release of his debut film Prem Aggan. Fardeen appeared in the 1998 film opposite Meghna Kothari and also won the Filmfare Best Debut Award but was majorly panned for his ham acting. Now, in the interview he has spoken about how he felt that he did not deserve the award and the hardship that followed after his debut.

Fardeen said that despite receiving the award, the reviews for the film were not positive and hence the films that were offered to him were taken back and he landed himself in a financial mess. He said, “I don't think I deserve that award. It was a culture and stuff back then, that people got awards like that. I look at my work, I definitely didn't deserve that. The film didn't work, I didn't work, I looked back and I thought I was horrible. I sat at home for a whole year. I had no work, the films I had signed before that, people took their money back. I had spent some of the money that I had been given, so I had to return that money."

Fardeen revealed that his father, producer-director Feroz Khan had told him that he will give him a roof over his head and food for one year and Rs 50,000 a month but told him that he needs to do it on his own. However, since Fardeen had bought a car, the EMI of which was Rs 22,000 per month, and he couldn’t even save enough money to afford gas for the vehicle. Recalling the time, Fardeen said, “So he was very very strict, my dad. Because he was a completely self-made man and he just didn't believe in protecting you, especially in terms of economic reality. That whole year went by, I went into a bit of a shell for some time. The reviews were awful, nobody wanted to work with me. Then I kind of picked myself up, started working out, coming out with a plan to meet people and go out there. I continued working on my Hindi which was very very bad for my first film."

Fardeen credited his father and director Ram Gopal Varma for his career. Varma came to Fardeen’s rescue after Prem Aggan tanked at the box office and he worked with him in Jungle, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya. Fardeen also thanked Urmila Matondkar who was happy to work alongside him in these films and had no qualms about the fact that he was not a top-billing actor.

(Source: Bollywood Hungama)