Flamboyant film actor and race horse owner Feroz Khan (70) died in the early hours of Monday of cancer at his farm house at Chickbidarakallu, about 20 kms from Bangalore. He had been critically ill for sometime. Feroz Khan was the recipient of several awards, including the life time achievement award in Hindi cinema.

Feroz Khan was an enthusiastic race horse owner who took an active interest in the horses that he owned. Some of the horses he owned, also figured in his films. The best horse he probably owned was Winning Pretty which was trained by Padmanabhan. The filly went on to win several classics and host of graded races including the Gr 1 Poonawalla Breeders Million. The presence of Feroz Khan always enlivened the proceedings at the race course and he was quite a regular at the Bangalore Turf Club in the 80's before the busy work related to directing and producing films kept him away from racing. Feroz Khan was also a member of the Bangalore Turf Club.

Feroz Khan's mortal remains would be laid to rest at Johnson Market burial grounds on Monday evening.

Several leading personalities of Bollywood have started arriving at his farmhouse to pay their last respects including Sanjay's son-in-law and superstar Hrithik Roshan.

Feroz Khan, who has acted in more than 50 films, had directed and produced several hit films, including Dharmaatma, Qurbani and Jaanbaaz. He had last acted in the film Welcome' in 2007.

He is survived by his actor son Fardeen Khan and daughter Laila.

Feroz Khan was born and brought up in Bangalore. From a modest beginning, working in an abbatior, he made his debut as second lead in Didi (1960). His first big hit was in 1965 with the release of Oonche Log.

He produced, directed and starred in the 1975-77 film Dharmaatma, which was the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan and was also his first blockbuster hit as producer, director and actor.

Feroz Khan later entered film production. He also produced the famous TV serial The Sword of Tipu Sultan with his brother Sanjay Khan.

Trainer Padmanabhan was closely connected with the famous actor besides training his horses. Though in the last year, Feroz Khan did not own any horse, he continued his friendship with Padmanabhan. The actor also bred horses. ''Feroz Khan was a dear friend more than a race horse owner. His death is a great loss not only to the film fraternity but also to racing enthusiasts. His presence at the race course always served to lift the atmosphere. He had a glamorous presence. He was a nice human being.

Having had the privilege of interacting with him at his farm house on one of the rare occasions that he called a few press people to express his disenchantment with the way racing was run in the early 90's, Feroz Khan came out as a person who held strong views and believed in calling a spade a spade.

Feroz Khan was not a big race horse owner in the sense that he owned a large string. His passion for racing and horses was well known and he had made it a point to keep in touch with the sport by owning one or two horses till the very end before illness kept him away from racing and other activities.