Archive for Actors & Actresses
Lehri – Profile
Starting in the mid-1950s, Lehri — born Safirullah Siddiqui — was a reliable entertainer for many decades. In his later years he served as a nostalgic reminder about all that had gone wrong with Pakistani cinema and the country in general. The largely urban-based dramas produced soon after independence in …
Jamil Fakhri – Obituary
Renowned theatre, TV and film actor Jamil Fakhri was one such actor who was revered by the masses as long as the spotlight was on him. On June 9, 2011, after being on a ventilator after a paralysis attack, he left for the hereafter. Jamil Fakhri was born in Lahore …
Veena Malik
Veena Malik, born Zahida Malik on 26 February 1978, is an actress, model and comedian. She established herself as one of the leading women in the Pakistani television and film industry with her abilities to mimic others and improvise. Veena grew up expressing an interest in joining the film industry …
Swaranlata (1924 – 2008)
Swaranlata, known to the world as the ‘tragedy queen’ of her time, was born into a Sikh Syal family in Rawalpindi as the youngest of many siblings. She lost her mother at the time of birth and was brought up by her eldest brother, who subsequently also gave her permission …
Firdous
Real name Parveen, Firdous was introduced by Nakshab in Fanoos (1963) as a supporting actress, while the main leads were played by Komal and Salam Peerzada. The film was about a haunted Haveli, where a dancer is seen performing her classical dances, and making occasional appearances at the old gate …
Shammi
Younger sister of actress Salma Mumtaz, Shammi belonged to very poor family. Shammi (Shimmi) was introduced by director Munshi in the Punjabi film of the same name Shammi (1950), opposite Santosh Kumar, Ajmal and Shola. At that time Pakistani film industry was at its nascent stage and was generally unable …
Nadeem
He may have made his debut as Pakistan’s answer to Dilip Kumar but Mirza Nazeer Baig Mughal has evolved from a super-hit actor into a superstar during his 43-year career. The journey that began with Chakori in 1967 is still going strong. Not only has Nadeem outlived his contemporaries but …
Yousuf Khan
He may have started his career as a second lead but veteran actor Yousuf Khan — the first actor in Pakistan to complete a Golden Jubilee in Lollywood — became a force to reckon with as he matured as an actor. He worked extensively in films during the 50 years, …
Munawwar Saeed
Had Munawwar Saeed’s family not migrated to Pakistan in 1960, we would have lost him to the Indian world of cinema and the performing arts. As a young student at the Aligarh University in India, Munawwar Saeed had already started emitting the acting sparks in him. And when he approached …
Nirala
Very seldom do we see a comedian in Indo-Pakistani films who doesn’t have you in stitches, but brings a hearting smile to your face. Late Nirala was one such actor. Nirala sahib belonged to the generation of comedians that brought the house down with their pun-replete, double entendre dialogue, namely …