Bollywood actor Feroz Khan dies of cancer

Bollywood actor Feroz Khan gestures at the Indian International Academy Awards (IIFA) in Sheffield, northern England in this June 9, 2007 file photo.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Veteran Bollywood actor and filmmaker Feroz Khan, who was known as one of the most colourful personalities of the Indian cinema, died on Sunday of cancer. He was 69.

“He was undergoing treatment at Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai, but expressed his desire to visit his farmhouse in Bangalore. Accordingly, he was brought here, where he passed away last night at around 1 a.m.,” Khan’s aide and manager Raaj Kumar Tiwari told Reuters over telephone.

“He was surrounded by his entire family, including brothers Sanjay and Akbar Khan,” said Tiwari.

Khan, who had acted in hit films like ‘Qurbani’ and ‘Jaanbaaz’ in the 80’s, is survived by his actor son Fardeen Khan, daughter Laila and estranged wife Sundari.

Khan last appeared on screen in the 2007 hit “Welcome”.

He had been diagnosed with cancer last year.

“A lot of people from the fraternity will be flying down for the funeral this afternoon, including Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Gupta and others,” he said.

Khan received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement award in 2000.