June 5th, 2011

Remembering Moin Akhtar

Bilal Maqsood (Strings)

“I think unlike many other Pakistani artists who’ve passed away recently, Moin Akhter enjoyed a full life. He was loved and respected all over the world, well traveled,  working till the last day of his life and his exit  from this stage was amidst thunderous applause. I guess this is every artist’s dream.

He was extremely talented but his real magic ignited whenever he worked with Anwer Maqsood’s scripts, be it Studio Dhai, Loose Talk, a funny mushaira or anything else.”

Faisal Kapadia (Strings)

“It’s indeed a great loss for the nation. He was a true comic legend. No one could match his genius. He could do every thing; comedies, drama, stand up comedy. He made a lethal combination with Anwar Maqsood. May God bless his soul.

He hosted many of our shows. And, I still remember how he used to call me on stage as Faisal Kapariya, which was actually quite funny. I loved Loose Talk with Anwar Maqsood.”

Ali Zafar

“It was indeed very shocking to hear about Moin Akhter’s untimely demise. I have worked with him many times and found him to be a thorough gentleman and very encouraging.  He was certainly one of the most versatile and finest actors/talk show hosts of the region. No one like him! God bless his soul, Ameen.”

Ali Haider

“We have indeed lost a legend amongst us. Nobody would be able to fill this void. Moin bhai was a true artist. He could do nothing wrong. He could easily be labeled as a greater actor than Dilip Kumar. He had fan following throughout the world. And the honour he has received upon his demise speaks for his greatness.

I have great memories with him. My favourite work of his was Rozy. And, it’s funny that whenever he used to call me, he would speak in a woman’s voice and I used to say, “Moin bhai, bewaqoof mat banayen.” He was a brother to me.”

Shafqat Amanat Ali

“Moin Akhtar was a great human being and artist. The best thing about him was that whenever he interacted with anyone, that person would feel as though he had a special relationship with Moin bhai. I am very shocked at his untimely death. He has definitely left us in tears. May God rest his soul in peace.”

Faakhir

“I had the honour of sharing the stage with the big man several times. His wit, humour, professionalism, intelligence, his selection of words, his kindness to junior artists, his words of wisdom and guidance to newcomers made him a class above his contemporaries. He had extraordinary energy and passion for his art that turned him into a complete workaholic. I was always fascinated by his excellent research and observation, skills which are so essential for an actor. We grew up watching him perform comedy, singing, anchoring and conducting shows in his signature classy humorous style and sometimes he’d shift gears and be a complete philosopher exhibiting unique sobriety as the situation and setting demanded. It never really occured to us that one day he’ll be departing, leaving millions of his adoring fans mourning! He’ll be dearly missed. May Allah bless his soul. Ameen.”

Junaid Khan (Call)

“It’s really sad for the whole entertainment industry. We recently lost some of the most promising entertainers of this country namely, Liaqat Soldier, Babu Baral, Mastana and now Moin Akhtar. I never met him or worked with him but I had been watching his work since i was a child.

I think the political skits in Loose Talk that he used to do with Anwer Maqsood are what I consider his best work. Now that I am venturing into acting as well, I am realizing how good an actor he was. His comedic style was unique and no one can match him to date. A true legend, indeed!”

Haroon

“I am saddened by his passing. He was a wonderful man. I had the honour of spending time with him over the years. He was the host of many of my live concerts. He was intelligent, articulate, always warm, friendly and gracious towards me. I considered him a friend.  I believe that he was a true genius with God gifted talent. He brought happiness and joy to millions. His comedic works always had me in stitches. This is a great loss but his memory will always bring a smile to my face. This was the passing of a legend.

I remember seeing him in 1989 at a stage show in Islamabad performing at Liaqat Gymansium. He was hosting the show I was in school and in the audience and he gave a description or spoof of various singers and how they perform on stage e.g. ghazal singers, classical singers, pop singers and hard rock singers. It was so funny and I laughed so hard that I could hardly breathe and I had tears coming out of my eyes. He truly was a comic genius.” (Source – The News on Sunday)

Memories