Born in Allahabad, India, Ayub Zulquader Khan completed his higher education in 1980 and moved to Mumbai to pursue his passion for cinema. He initially settled in Bhiwandi (Thane District), where he worked as a cinema exhibitor and successfully managed Payal and Jhankar Cinema theatres for six years. During this time, he regularly traveled to Mumbai to perform in stage plays and maintained his artistic and physical discipline through theatre and fitness training.
In 1988, he permanently relocated to Mumbai and began his professional journey in films and theatre. He worked as an Assistant Director and Actor in the film Apradhinee under Director Vinod Sharma and also handled its film distribution in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Notably, actress Ranjita played a double role in Apradhinee.
He worked for five years with legendary filmmaker and lyricist Gulzar, including as an Assistant Director and actor on the iconic television series Mirza Ghalib. He later collaborated with Director Swaroop Kumar on films Andha Inteqaam and Zameer Ki Awaaz as Chief Assistant Director and worked with Directors Tony Singh and Diya Singh on Zee TV television projects.