Jayant ( Zakaria Khan) ) was an film actor. Jayant was born in Nodeh Payan (Nawa Kali), Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan) on 15 October 1915 and was named Zakaria Khan. He was a Pashtun with Afghan ancestry. Jayant was a police officer in Alwar, Rajasthan before starting the film career.
He was tall and had a deep voice. He acted in many Indian films under his stage name Jayant. He worked in Vijay Bhatt’s first Gujarati movie Sansaar Leela. The name Jayant was also given to him by director and producer Vijay Bhatt. He played lead role in many movies like Love and God (1986) .Barundi (1980) .Mera Gaon Mera Desh .Reshma Aur Shera (1971) .Heer Raanjha . Maa Aur Mamta . Aag Aur Daag .Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi.Inspector .My Love (1970).Anmol Moti .Do Raaste (1969) .Sapnon Ka Saudagar .Sunghursh (1968) . Sagaai .Thakur Jarnail Singh (1966). Himalay ki god mein. Sher Dil (1965) April Fool. Beti Bete. Haqeeqat . Leader.Zindagi (1964). Son of India (1962) Bada Aadmi. Jhumroo.Maya,Memdidi (1961) .arakh (1960) . Kal Hamara Hai (1959). Madhumati (1958) . Naya Andaz (1956) Baap Re Baap.Insaniyat. Musafirkhana. Tangewali .Yasmin (1955) Amar (1954) .Amar Kirtan (1954) Rail Ka Dibba (1953) Nazneen (1951) Saiyan (1951) Pardes (1950) . Chaar Din (1949) Dulari (1949) . Zevaraat (1949) Roop Nagar (1947) Maa Baap Ki Laaj (1946) Shirin Farhad (1945) Poonji (1943) Apni Nagariya (1940) Sardar (1940) Sardar-e-Awwal (1939) State Express (1938) .Azad Veer (1936).Snehlata (1936) Lal Chitta (1935).
Jayant was married and his children were Amjad Khan (of Gabbar Singh fame), Inayat Khan and Imtiaz Khan. He was the grandfather of Shadaab Khan, Ahlam Khan, Seemaab Khan and Ayesha Khan and father-in-law of Shaila Khan and Krutika Desai Khan(wife of Imtiaz).
Jayant died on 2 June 1975 in Bombay two months prior to the release of his son Amjad Khan’s most successful movie Sholay. He died due to cancer.Agency
