Sherry Malik – Memories

Sherry Malik in Shanee (1989) - Pakistan's first science fiction film.

I still remember the day when I saw a tall, handsome young man walking into that happening corridor of Block 6, where I live. At that time, our lane was known for 22-member cricket teams playing each other under lights. Most boys and girls from the neighbouring lanes would visit our lane when the cricket was in full swing, and that made everything consummately more interesting. So, this hunk of a fellow, Sherry was also there for a quick look-see. As I was on the batting side, and whiling away my time under a local poplar tree, I enquired about his passion for films. “I am doing a few films now,” he smiled broadly. “One of them is with Mohammad Ali and Zeba.” Even in the 1980s, this was big news that he was working aside those legends.

The name of the film was Mohabbat Ho To Aisee Ho, a much delayed movie, where, believe it or not, Sherry played Zeba’s husband, who had got­ten separated from her sober husband, Mohammad Ali. Although, in the film, he was looking for some quick money, he is shown to eventually find such respect for the lady that he intends to reunite the old couple. In the film, which did not make such an impression on the public, Sherry definitely acted well. In fact, his gestures were so mature that he did not look like a new man on the job.

Later, of course, Sherry did quite a few movies, which did impress, including that patriotic film, Himmatwala, which could be seen for just his macho image and and some of his fine scenes with Izhar Qazi. After that film, Sherry became a star, and most people thought he would continue in that vein. But, strangely, that did not happen. Though Sherry did films like Beqarar and others, his best and most viewed movie was Saeed Rizvi’s science fiction hit, Shaani, which is surely a new chapter in the history of Pakistani Film industry. That was a great thing for our cinema, no matter what some sections of society may say about it being ten years late. In this country, Shaani was definitely a big stride forward, and a film like that is still needed after that.

Sherry Malik with his sister Amber Ayub

Sherry later switched to tele-films and drama serials. As for Ambar Ayub (Sherry’s sister), it was rather unfortunate that I never got to meet Ambar personally, although I had close encoun­ters with her jazzy elder sis, Anita Ayub. But Ambar was def­initely sizzling material for the screen, and she acted in a few major TV serials. But Ambar never got into films, unlike her elder and more outgoing sis, Anita, who did quite a few movies in both India and Pakistan – Zulqarnain Shahid

Memories