Popular Bollywood actor, writer and director of yesteryear, Kader Khan, has arrived in Makkah to perform Haj.
The Baluchistan-born 78-year-old actor is accompanied by his two sons, Shahnawaz and Sarfaraz, and a daughter-in-law.
Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak told Arab News on Monday that he is being accorded the customary welcome for important pilgrims.
"He was received in Makkah on arrival on Sunday by our Haj Mission official Omer Khan," said Mubarak.
“Kader Khan is very happy to be in Makkah,” said Omer Khan. “His sons are equally delighted at being here for Haj. They are looking forward to performing the rituals in the coming days.”
Omer Khan said the people at the place where he is staying immediately recognized him and his signature voice and they hugged and congratulated him.
Kader Khan has come to the Kingdom through Arabian Group, a private Haj operator.
In recent interviews, Kader Khan, an ethnic Pashtun, expressed regret for having spent his time acting in films. He has changed his life and now devotes all his time to the propagation of Islamic principles. He worked in numerous films and is known in the industry for his witticisms and good-natured repartee.
A graduate of Ismail Yusuf College in Mumbai, he taught at Saboo Siddik College of Engineering in Mumbai in the mid-1970s before he went into film.
