# Zayed Khan
**Zayed Khan** (full name Zayed Abbas Khan) is an Indian film actor and producer who works in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), best known for playing Lucky in *Main Hoon Na* (2004). He is the son of the veteran actor [Sanjay Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-khan) and the interior designer Zarine Khan[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301). He made his screen debut in 2003 with *Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne*, and *Main Hoon Na* became one of the biggest hits of his career[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301). He has since worked as a producer through Born Free Entertainment, moved into television in 2017, and in the mid-2020s mounted a comeback that includes his streaming debut, *The Film That Never Was*[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) • [2](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/zayed-khan-makes-his-ott-debut-with-star-packed-comedy-the-film-that-never-was-13027415.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Zayed Abbas Khan; also credited as Zayed Abbas[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) |
| Birth | 5 July, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; IMDb gives the year as 1978, while the Indian Express and StarsUnfolded list 1980[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/about/zayed-khan/) |
| Family | Youngest of four children of Sanjay Khan and Zarine Khan; sisters Simone, Sussanne, and Farah Khan Ali; cousin of actor Fardeen Khan[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) |
| Breakthrough | *Main Hoon Na* (2004), as Lucky opposite Shah Rukh Khan[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) |
| As producer | Born Free Entertainment, co-founded with Dia Mirza; first film *Love Breakups Zindagi* released 7 October 2011[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) |
| Television | Debut in the Sony serial *[Haasil](https://www.edgepedia.org/haasil-indian-tv-series)* (2017)[4](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/) |
| Comeback | OTT debut with the meta-comedy *The Film That Never Was*, directed by Mohit Shrivastava[2](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/zayed-khan-makes-his-ott-debut-with-star-packed-comedy-the-film-that-never-was-13027415.html) |
## Early life and family
Khan grew up in a film family. His father, Sanjay Khan, starred in the 1990 [Doordarshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/doordarshan) series *The Sword of Tipu Sultan*, and his mother, Zarine Katrak Khan, was a well-known model of the 1960s[4](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/). He is the youngest of four children; his older sisters are Simone (married to Ajay Arora), Sussanne (married to the actor [Hrithik Roshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/hrithik-roshan)), and Farah Khan Ali (married to DJ Aqeel). His cousin [Fardeen Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/fardeen-khan) is the son of the late actor Feroz Khan, who was Sanjay Khan's brother[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301).
He attended Welham Boys' School in Dehradun and Kodaikanal International School, where his classmates included the actress [Esha Deol](https://www.edgepedia.org/esha-deol) and his future wife Malaika Parekh[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301). He then studied business management at the University of Washington and filmmaking at the London Film Academy[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) • [4](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/). In school he performed in English theater, and classmates called him "pizza face" because he was thin[4](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/).
## Career
**Debut and breakthrough.** Khan made his screen debut in 2003 with *Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne*, an action-thriller-romance opposite Esha Deol[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301). His breakthrough came with [Farah Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/farah-khan)'s *Main Hoon Na* (2004), in which he played Lucky (Laxman Prasad Sharma) alongside [Shah Rukh Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-rukh-khan) and [Sushmita Sen](https://www.edgepedia.org/sushmita-sen)[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) • [5](https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-talk-about-his-character-lucky-in-film-main-hoon-na-at-iifa-2025-03-19). At the IIFA Awards in 2025 he described the film as the source of his standing in the industry, saying that everything he is owes to *Main Hoon Na*[5](https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-talk-about-his-character-lucky-in-film-main-hoon-na-at-iifa-2025-03-19).
**The multi-starrer phase.** After *Main Hoon Na*, he appeared in a run of ensemble films, including *Dus* (2005), *Vaada* (2005), *Shabd* (2005), *Shaadi No.1* (2005), *Fight Club – Members Only* (2006), *Rocky – The Rebel* (2006), *Cash* (2007), *Speed* (2007), *Yuvvraaj* (2008), *Mission Istaanbul* (2008), *[Blue](https://www.edgepedia.org/blue-2009-film)* (2009), *Anjaana Anjaani* (2010), and *[Tezz](https://www.edgepedia.org/tezz)* (2012)[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) • [6](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/zayed-khan/filmography/). In 2024 he told Zoom, in comments reported by the Indian Express, that these multi-starrers hampered his progress: he had taken his stardom for granted, should have built his brand with single-hero films first, and later received offers only for "second fiddle" or supervillain parts, which he declined[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-blames-career-downfall-on-multi-starrers-says-offers-to-play-second-fiddle-started-coming-in-my-father-was-miffed-9498600/). His father, he said, disagreed with his film choices and was "miffed"[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-blames-career-downfall-on-multi-starrers-says-offers-to-play-second-fiddle-started-coming-in-my-father-was-miffed-9498600/).
**Producer and television.** With the actress [Dia Mirza](https://www.edgepedia.org/dia-mirza) and Sahil Sanga, Khan started the production house Born Free Entertainment; their first film, *Love Breakups Zindagi*, released on 7 October 2011[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301). In 2017 he made his television debut in the Sony serial *Haasil*[4](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/).
**Comeback.** In 2022, after a period away from acting, Khan announced his digital debut with *The Film That Never Was* (TFTNW), a quirky meta-comedy described as a mockumentary, directed by Mohit Shrivastava. The project drew attention for its secrecy about plot and cast, and reports have circulated that around 22 well-known figures from Hindi cinema could appear in cameos[2](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/zayed-khan-makes-his-ott-debut-with-star-packed-comedy-the-film-that-never-was-13027415.html) • [8](https://www.khaskhabar.com/local/maharashtra/mumbai-news/bollywood-news-zayed-khan-mysterious-film-the-film-that-never-was-has-increased-curiosity-he-said--let-your-imagination-fly-freely-news-hindi-1-725628-KKN.html). Ahead of the announcement he told Bollywood Hungama in 2023 that he had spent about a year and a half at a low point, stopped taking care of himself, and "almost forgot I had ever been a star" until the producer Aseem Merchant brought him a film offer[9](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/ahead-of-his-comeback-film-zayed-khan-reveals-he-forgot-he-had-ever-been-a-star-4001746).
## Personal life
Khan married Malaika Parekh on 20 November 2005, after the two had dated for about ten years, according to StarsUnfolded. They have a son, Ziddan, born in 2008, and a second son, Aariz, born in 2011[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301) • [4](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/). In interviews he has emphasized fitness and balance: in 2022 he described working out three and a half hours a day and following intermittent fasting with two meals a day, and in 2026 he told [Hindustan Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustan-times) that he stays fit "typically based on roles coming my way" rather than maintaining a permanent strict figure[11](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-birthday-exclusive-interview-on-hrithik-roshan-fardeen-khan-sussanne-khan-arslan-goni-and-more-101656983313608-amp.html) • [12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/zayed-khan-social-media-is-not-going-anywhere-and-i-am-more-than-happy-to-face-the-music-101778928625260-amp.html). His mother Zarine Khan died in Mumbai in November 2025[13](https://infoexchange.live/uploads/2/2025-11/india_info_exchange_91125.pdf).
## Reception
IMDb lists two wins and ten nominations across his career[1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301). [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) describes his filmography as "not extensive" and notes that despite early roles alongside major stars he did not achieve widespread stardom[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/zayed-khan/).
## References
1. [Zayed Khan (I), IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300301)
2. [Zayed Khan makes his OTT debut with star-packed comedy 'The Film That Never Was', Moneycontrol](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/zayed-khan-makes-his-ott-debut-with-star-packed-comedy-the-film-that-never-was-13027415.html)
3. [Zayed Khan: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/zayed-khan/)
4. [Zayed Khan Biography in Hindi, StarsUnfolded](https://hindi.starsunfolded.com/zayed-khan-hindi/amp/)
5. [Zayed Khan on his character Lucky in Main Hoon Na at IIFA 2025, Amar Ujala](https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-talk-about-his-character-lucky-in-film-main-hoon-na-at-iifa-2025-03-19)
6. [Zayed Khan Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/zayed-khan/filmography/)
7. [Zayed Khan blames career downfall on multi-starrers, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-blames-career-downfall-on-multi-starrers-says-offers-to-play-second-fiddle-started-coming-in-my-father-was-miffed-9498600/)
8. [Zayed Khan's The Film That Never Was has increased curiosity, Khaskhabar](https://www.khaskhabar.com/local/maharashtra/mumbai-news/bollywood-news-zayed-khan-mysterious-film-the-film-that-never-was-has-increased-curiosity-he-said--let-your-imagination-fly-freely-news-hindi-1-725628-KKN.html)
9. [Ahead of his comeback film, Zayed Khan reveals he forgot he had ever been a star, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/ahead-of-his-comeback-film-zayed-khan-reveals-he-forgot-he-had-ever-been-a-star-4001746)
10. [Zayed Khan's comeback, The Daily Star](https://online-d11.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/zayed-khans-comeback-4138421)
11. [Zayed Khan birthday interview, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/zayed-khan-birthday-exclusive-interview-on-hrithik-roshan-fardeen-khan-sussanne-khan-arslan-goni-and-more-101656983313608-amp.html)
12. [Zayed Khan: Social media is not going anywhere, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/zayed-khan-social-media-is-not-going-anywhere-and-i-am-more-than-happy-to-face-the-music-101778928625260-amp.html)
13. [India Info Exchange, 9 November 2025](https://infoexchange.live/uploads/2/2025-11/india_info_exchange_91125.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1990s–2000s › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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