Pakhto Film Stars
BADAR MUNIR
BADAR MUNIR[1940-2008]: Pukhto actor Badar Munir died at a local hospital in Lahore on saturday morning, October 10, 2008. He had been sick during the past few years.
He was born in Madayan, Swat in a religious family. His father served as Imam [prayer leader] at a local village mosque. Badar Munir is survived by one brother name Khurshid, a sister, two wives, 2 sons and 3 daughters from his first wife, and 3 sons from his second wife. Both of his sons [Aqal Munir and Dilbar Munir] tried to follow their father´s profession but could not succeed.
Badar Munir played lead roles in about 400 movies that were produced in Pukhto, Urdu and Punjabi languages.
He was introduced by Urdu film actor Waheed Murad to the film industry in 1970. His first movie was Yousaf Khan & Sherbano, with Yasmin Khan as heroine. The list of his hit films is quite extensive: his most memorable movies include Orbal, Naavay Da Yao Ssphay, Deedan, Chagha, Topak Zama Qanon, Zma Qasam, Da Inteqaam Lumbay, and Adam Khan Durkhanai.
As a person Badar Munir was a very simple and humble man. Although he appeared huge in movies, in reality he was a short and sturdy man. He had only primary school level education; nature had, however, endowed him with enormous acting talent and will be remembered as such. It is going to be an uphill task for Pukhtun youth to take his place. Only in generations talented people of Badar Munir caliber are born. May God bless his soul.
YASMIN KHAN :was born in Kakshal, Peshawar during early 1950s. Her real name was Shamshad. She was a kid when her father died, and her mother married another man in Jamrud, Peshawar. As her mother did not take her along, Yasmin Khan [Shamshad] was raised by her grandmother. Yasmin Khan had a sister named Saeeda. Her mother and sister probably still live in Jamrud, Peshawar.
Yasmin Khan was married three times. Her first marriage was to Urdu/Pashto film actor Saqi, from whom she had a daughter. This daughter of Yasmin Khan played a small role in Pukhtu film Orbal. Basically, she is shown sleeping in a cradle as Yasmin Khan sings a song to her - the first song of Orbal movie. Yasmin Khan´s second marriage was with Khurum Bari - owner of Bari Studio, Lahore. She had a daughter named Qara-tul-Aeen, from Khurum Bari. This marriage did not last long as well.
Her third marriage was with Arifullah - a young man from Kakshall, Peshawar. Arifullah had auto-related business in Shoba Bazar, Peshawar but liked to attend mujras a lot. This marriage turned out to be catastrophic, essentially resulting in Yasmin Khan´s un-timely death in May, 1999. Yasmin Khan was asleep when she was shot in her head. Her daughter Qara-Tul-Aeen was the first to find her mother dead, reporting the murder to the police. Arifullah was held suspect in her death but released after few months from Peshawar jail.
After Yasmin Khan´s un-timely and brutal death, folks offered many explanations as to why she was killed. Some thought Arifullah wanted to get hold of her wealth; others surmised that Arifullah had an eye on her daughter Qara-Tul-Aeeen. Still others thought that Arifullah´s first wife had something to do with it.
Yasmin Khan´s death saddened all Pukhtuns [May God bless her soul]. Indeed, she was a luminary of pashto movies, and pashto movie industry will never be the same without her. Yasmin Khan was burried in Kakshall´s graveyard. One month after her death, police had to open her grave to seek additional information in connection with her murder. About two years after her death, Arifullah was killed by a gang.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on his conversation with Pukhto Film Actress Surraya Khan.
Niamat Sarhadi: Despite that he is hated all the way from the start to the end of a movie, Pashto movies goers think twice when a movie cast does not include Niamat Sarhadi. He has a unique talent that is unmatched by any other Pashto movie villain. That explains why almost every Pashto movie has featured Niamat Sarhadi since 1970 when the first Pashto movie Yousaf Khan Sherbano was produced. Just like Badar Munir and Yasmin Khan, this movie made him a household name. During his movie career, Niamat Sarhadi has played as a villian in almost 450 movies, earning the nickname ´´The King of Pashto Movies´´ for his excellent performances. Pashto movies with Niamat Sarhadi in the cast were guaranteed a box office success.
He was born in Bala Manrei, Peshawar on the Kohat road in circa 1943. This is the same neighborhood of Peshawar where Muhammad Rafeeq Shinwari (Pashto music composer) lived and had a residence, Mahjabina Qazalbash has a house, and a host of other artists reside. His uniqueness is not confined to his roles on the silver screen. Despite living in a city like Lahore, Niamat Sarhadi has 4 wives and all of them live with him in the same house. While without exception, he had always been at war with Badar Munir on the silver screen, in real life the two were brother-in-laws [Niamat Sarhadi married to Badar Munir sister].
Personally, I only had a chance to see Niamat Sarhadi from nearby in Mansehra in a hotel in 1987, and never had the opportunity to meet him. But those who know him well (e.g., actress Nimmi, Mussarat Shaheen) have spoken high of him to me. Undoubtly, on the screen he is as nasty as one can get but in real life Niamat Sarhadi is a nice and decent fellow. LONG LIVE NIAMAT SARHADI.
Asif Ali Khan : Known as ( ASIF KHAN), was born in village Badrashi [also known as Badrakho] in 1947. The village is located about 10 km to the southeast of Nowshera [also known as Naokhaar]. He obtained his early education in his hometown and attended a college in Rawalpindi, earning a BA degree.
In 1964 he joined Pakistan Army but did not like the job and resigned in 1965. Asif Ali Khan was married in 1966. Of his six children, only his son Arbaaz Khan chose to adopt the same profession as his father. Moreover, none of Asif Khan´s 4 brothers are associated with film industry.
Early on Asif had developed keen interest in the film industry. He would take regular visits to film studios in Lahore and join film crews on film shootings in Murree, Swat and a host of other locations. Asif Ali Khan had great admiration for Urdu actor Muhammad Ali; thus he developed close ties with him. It was Muhammad Ali that encouraged and facilitated Asif Ali Khan´s entry into the film industry.
Asif Khan´s first successful movie was a Pashto film Darra Khybar, produced in 1970, although he played a lead role in pashto movie ´´Musa Khan Gul Makai´´ prior to the release of Darra Khybar. The film Darra Khybar was an overnight success, making Asif Ali Khan a household name. Darra Khybar turned out to be a milestone for many other Pashto artists as well. For instance, Gulnar Begum, Khyal Muhammad, and Kishwar Sultan recorded their first film song in this movie. Likewise, Surraya Khan, Jamil Babar, Amaan, and Liaqat Major were introduced through the same movie.
Asif Ali Khan´s movie career has just been splendid. So far he has worked in about 375 movies that were produced in Urdu, Pashto or Punjabi languages. He has played diverse roles both as a hero and a villain. Indeed, Asif Ali Khan is a great Pukhtun artist -- whether it was his Pashto, Urdu or a Punjabi movie, and regardless whether he played a hero or villain, Asif Ali Khan never disappointed his fans. His performance was always just superb.
His memorable pashto movies include Urbal, Makhrur, Zama Badal, Khana Badoosh, Darra Khybar, Da Inteqaam Lumbay. Among his Urdu film, I would mention ´´Yadoon Ke Baraat´´, ´´Suhaag´´, ´´Kala Dunday Goray Log´´, and ´´Inteqaam Kay Shoulay.´´ His Punjabi films include ´´Zulum Da Anjaam´´, and ´´Sargent.´´
When I recollect my impressions of Asif Ali Khan´s movie career, one thing comes to my mind: Asif Khan is not only a versatile but a decent artist as well. Decency is probably the only virtue that is rare in the film industry in general and Pashto movies in particular. Asif Ali Khan has never resorted to sub-standard behavior, and has always avoided roles that involved nudity, vulgarity, or other despicable behavior. There are two reasons that explain Asif Ali Khan´s decent behavior: the great influence of core Pukhun values and that of his mentor Muhammad Ali who never resorted to indecent behavior either to survive in the film industry.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on his e-mail correspondence with Yousaf Ali Khan. Yousaf Ali Khan is Asif Ali Khan´s nephew.
Surraya Khan: was born in Jehangir Pura, Peshawar in 1958. Her real name is Sayyida Aasiya Bibi. She has a sister and three brothers. Her father Major Raza Hussain Shah died in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. Surraya Khan has one son [Shakeel Hussain] who has a B.Sc degree from Punjab University.
Surraya Khan entry into the Pukhtu film industry was accidental. It was in 1971 when she was visiting a film studio in Lahore along with her high school class fellows that she got an offer from pukhtu film Director Mumtaz Ali Khan to act in pashto film Dara Khyber. Mumtaz Ali Khan communicated the offer through Surraya Khan´s high school principal who was leading the high school tour that day to the studio. After permission from her family members, she accepted the role, and thus started a film career that has continued till this day. So far, Surraya Khan has played various roles, mainly as heroine, in about 150 pashto movies, and the march to fullfilment continues. In addition to acting, Surraya Khan has produced many movies, including [ZAR TAJA] that became very popular because of its great story and songs.
Her favorite directors include Mumtaz Ali Khan, Saeed -Un-Naskh Saeedi, and Aziz Tabassum. Her favorite singers are Khyal Muhammad and Gulnar Begum. This song from film Zar Taja is one of her favorite song. During my conversation with Surraya Khan, she talked about it with great excitement. Because she belongs to a religious Shia family, early on she had decided to avoid objectionable film roles.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on conversation with Surraya Khan.
Murad Shinwari: life took a big turn when he started writing lyrics for Pashto movies in early 1970s. This was probably the beginning of the golden era of Pashto movies. He wrote dialogues, scenarios, and songs for more than hundred movies including Urbal (along with Ameer Ghulam Sadiq), Bangree Au Hatkarrey, Juram Au Saza, Naway Da Yawe Shpey (along with Ameer Ghulam Sadiq), Wena aw Meena, Chagha, Ujrati Qatel, and Multan Khan Afridi. Hundred of memorable Pashto film songs sung by Gulnar Begum, Khyal Mohammad, Kishwar Sultan and other singers were written by Murad Shinwari. Murad Shinwari disassociated himself from Pashto film industry forever when some vested interests tried to present a distorted image of the Pakhtoon culture.
Murad Shinwari son of pashto poet Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari was born at Landi Kotal (Khyber Agency) in 1928. His mother died when he was a year old. He obtained his early education at government high school No.1, Peshawar. His first job was as an assistant editor of Afghan newspaper, and his first book Palwashay was a collection of short stories. His second job was in the Khyber -Rifle as an instructor that led to his studies at the Army School of Education in Murree, and subsequent award of BT degree by Punjab University. Murad Shinwari later obtained a masters degree in pashto literature from University of
Peshawar , receiving gold medal for his outstanding performance.
In 1958, Murad Shinwari joined Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar as Librarian, lexicographer and translator. Here he exhibited excellent skills and edited 40 rare manuscripts and compiled a dictionary. Among others, these included translation of The Merchant of Vince by Shakespeare, and The lady of Shalott by Alferd Tennyson in Pashto free verse. However, after developing differences with the Director of the Academy (Maulana Abdul Qadir), Murad Shinwari joined Radio Station Peshawar as a staff artist. At the station, he wrote some memorable feature programs including Hujra, and Maraka that highlighted social evils in pashtun society.
After getting retirement from Radio Station Peshawar in 1989, this reputed poet is living a miserable life. Despite his tremendous contribution to the golden era of Pashto films and Pashto language and literature, Murad Shinwari is not receiving any stipend or financial assistance from provincial cultural department or Academy of Letters, Islamabad to support his large family.
Source: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on a write up by SherAlam Shinwari.
Shahnaz Hussain: was born in 1950 in village Shergarh, district Okara [Punjab], which is located to the south-west of Lahore. Her family belongs to the Sayyed class and owns a substantial amount of farmland. Shahnaz has two siblings [a sister and brother].
At young age, Shahnaz was a rebellious person. She left home without her parent consent to seek a movie career in Karachi, where her sister lived at the time. But events did not turn out the way Shahnaz had imagined; She could not establish a foothold in the Urdu movie industry as a mainstream actress. However, this did not influence her committment and determination to make it in the Urdu movie industry. She just left Karachi for Lahore. In Lahore, she got a chance in a pashto movie named ´´Da Pukhtun Thora´´ that made her the heart throb of millions of pashtuns. In subsequent years, she had the opportunity to play memorable roles in pashto movies including Khana Badoosh, Dehqaan, Chagha and Da Marg Saudagar. Of these, Chagha and Da Marg Saudagar were released in Urdu language as well.
Shahnaz did not want to be confined to pashto movie roles, and seriously weighed her options. She wanted to be known for her talent in Urdu movie; thus she married Urdu and Punjabi movie director Iqbal Kashmiri with the expectation of promoting her movie career in Urdu movies. It turned that Iqbal Kashmiri could not help Shahnaz either in realizing her most cherished dream. The marriage ended after a brief period. Shahnaz has a son named Faisal Kashmiri from this marriage, who is currently a movie director himself in Lahore.
After her failed attempts to make it in Urdu movies coupled with a failed marriage in Lahore, Shahnaz decided to return to Karachi again. She got married to police DIG Fataih Ali [currently retired]. Shahnaz has two daughters and a son from this marriage. Unfortunately, the marriage did not work; thus she separated from Fataih Ali and now lives with her children.
What a difference a personal commitment and vision of one´s career makes. Shahnaz did not get what she had dreamed of [i.e., a role in mainstream Urdu movies], and although she was the heart throb of millions of pashto movie lovers, that is not what She cared for. Her pashtun fans always wondered what happened to Shahnaz despite her splendid pashto movie career and hordes of pashtun fans. The sage of Shahnaz movie career reminds of a very famous poem by U.S. poet Robert Frost:
´´Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.´´
I must mention here that pashto movie actor Badar Munir had a deep love corner for Shahnaz and worked strenuously to marry her but falied to win her heart. This trite adage that ´´no one gets all one wants in this world´´ impresses me so much when I think of Badar Munir not being able to see his dream of a family with Shahnaz come true. Folks think he could have any pashto actress he wanted to; now we know he could not.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on his conversation film actress Nimmi and correspondence with a Youtube friend.
Waheeda Khan: was born in Nautiya (Sadar Bazar) Peshawar. Waheeda Khan started her film career by acting in Hindko Dramas in Peshawar. Her real name is Sabiha-Tur-Raza, and has other family members associated with the film industry. She played memorable lead roles in Pukhtu movies such as Jawargar, Makhroor, Dehqaan, Alaqa Ghair, and Jwand Ya Marg, during 1970s.
She also appeared in Urdu movie BAAZI. During the late 1970s, she started producing and directing movies and has many pukhtu movies to her credit as a director [e.g., Da Wachay Khan, Da Karayai Gorilay, Naavay aw Nakrezay, etc]. Currently she is married to the well known pukhtu film producer Aziz Jehangiri, and lives with him in Dobai, where they arrange musical shows and related programs.
SOURCE: Written by Anwar Gul, Kohat. - 
بېرته شاته
YASMIN KHAN
YASMIN KHAN :was born in Kakshal, Peshawar during early 1950s. Her real name was Shamshad. She was a kid when her father died, and her mother married another man in Jamrud, Peshawar. As her mother did not take her along, Yasmin Khan [Shamshad] was raised by her grandmother. Yasmin Khan had a sister named Saeeda. Her mother and sister probably still live in Jamrud, Peshawar.
Yasmin Khan was married three times. Her first marriage was to Urdu/Pashto film actor Saqi, from whom she had a daughter. This daughter of Yasmin Khan played a small role in Pukhtu film Orbal. Basically, she is shown sleeping in a cradle as Yasmin Khan sings a song to her - the first song of Orbal movie. Yasmin Khan´s second marriage was with Khurum Bari - owner of Bari Studio, Lahore. She had a daughter named Qara-tul-Aeen, from Khurum Bari. This marriage did not last long as well.
Her third marriage was with Arifullah - a young man from Kakshall, Peshawar. Arifullah had auto-related business in Shoba Bazar, Peshawar but liked to attend mujras a lot. This marriage turned out to be catastrophic, essentially resulting in Yasmin Khan´s un-timely death in May, 1999. Yasmin Khan was asleep when she was shot in her head. Her daughter Qara-Tul-Aeen was the first to find her mother dead, reporting the murder to the police. Arifullah was held suspect in her death but released after few months from Peshawar jail.
After Yasmin Khan´s un-timely and brutal death, folks offered many explanations as to why she was killed. Some thought Arifullah wanted to get hold of her wealth; others surmised that Arifullah had an eye on her daughter Qara-Tul-Aeeen. Still others thought that Arifullah´s first wife had something to do with it.
Yasmin Khan´s death saddened all Pukhtuns [May God bless her soul]. Indeed, she was a luminary of pashto movies, and pashto movie industry will never be the same without her. Yasmin Khan was burried in Kakshall´s graveyard. One month after her death, police had to open her grave to seek additional information in connection with her murder. About two years after her death, Arifullah was killed by a gang.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on his conversation with Pukhto Film Actress Surraya Khan.
Niamat Sarhadi
Niamat Sarhadi: Despite that he is hated all the way from the start to the end of a movie, Pashto movies goers think twice when a movie cast does not include Niamat Sarhadi. He has a unique talent that is unmatched by any other Pashto movie villain. That explains why almost every Pashto movie has featured Niamat Sarhadi since 1970 when the first Pashto movie Yousaf Khan Sherbano was produced. Just like Badar Munir and Yasmin Khan, this movie made him a household name. During his movie career, Niamat Sarhadi has played as a villian in almost 450 movies, earning the nickname ´´The King of Pashto Movies´´ for his excellent performances. Pashto movies with Niamat Sarhadi in the cast were guaranteed a box office success.
He was born in Bala Manrei, Peshawar on the Kohat road in circa 1943. This is the same neighborhood of Peshawar where Muhammad Rafeeq Shinwari (Pashto music composer) lived and had a residence, Mahjabina Qazalbash has a house, and a host of other artists reside. His uniqueness is not confined to his roles on the silver screen. Despite living in a city like Lahore, Niamat Sarhadi has 4 wives and all of them live with him in the same house. While without exception, he had always been at war with Badar Munir on the silver screen, in real life the two were brother-in-laws [Niamat Sarhadi married to Badar Munir sister].
Personally, I only had a chance to see Niamat Sarhadi from nearby in Mansehra in a hotel in 1987, and never had the opportunity to meet him. But those who know him well (e.g., actress Nimmi, Mussarat Shaheen) have spoken high of him to me. Undoubtly, on the screen he is as nasty as one can get but in real life Niamat Sarhadi is a nice and decent fellow. LONG LIVE NIAMAT SARHADI.
Asif Ali Khan
Asif Ali Khan : Known as ( ASIF KHAN), was born in village Badrashi [also known as Badrakho] in 1947. The village is located about 10 km to the southeast of Nowshera [also known as Naokhaar]. He obtained his early education in his hometown and attended a college in Rawalpindi, earning a BA degree.
In 1964 he joined Pakistan Army but did not like the job and resigned in 1965. Asif Ali Khan was married in 1966. Of his six children, only his son Arbaaz Khan chose to adopt the same profession as his father. Moreover, none of Asif Khan´s 4 brothers are associated with film industry.
Early on Asif had developed keen interest in the film industry. He would take regular visits to film studios in Lahore and join film crews on film shootings in Murree, Swat and a host of other locations. Asif Ali Khan had great admiration for Urdu actor Muhammad Ali; thus he developed close ties with him. It was Muhammad Ali that encouraged and facilitated Asif Ali Khan´s entry into the film industry.
Asif Khan´s first successful movie was a Pashto film Darra Khybar, produced in 1970, although he played a lead role in pashto movie ´´Musa Khan Gul Makai´´ prior to the release of Darra Khybar. The film Darra Khybar was an overnight success, making Asif Ali Khan a household name. Darra Khybar turned out to be a milestone for many other Pashto artists as well. For instance, Gulnar Begum, Khyal Muhammad, and Kishwar Sultan recorded their first film song in this movie. Likewise, Surraya Khan, Jamil Babar, Amaan, and Liaqat Major were introduced through the same movie.
Asif Ali Khan´s movie career has just been splendid. So far he has worked in about 375 movies that were produced in Urdu, Pashto or Punjabi languages. He has played diverse roles both as a hero and a villain. Indeed, Asif Ali Khan is a great Pukhtun artist -- whether it was his Pashto, Urdu or a Punjabi movie, and regardless whether he played a hero or villain, Asif Ali Khan never disappointed his fans. His performance was always just superb.
His memorable pashto movies include Urbal, Makhrur, Zama Badal, Khana Badoosh, Darra Khybar, Da Inteqaam Lumbay. Among his Urdu film, I would mention ´´Yadoon Ke Baraat´´, ´´Suhaag´´, ´´Kala Dunday Goray Log´´, and ´´Inteqaam Kay Shoulay.´´ His Punjabi films include ´´Zulum Da Anjaam´´, and ´´Sargent.´´
When I recollect my impressions of Asif Ali Khan´s movie career, one thing comes to my mind: Asif Khan is not only a versatile but a decent artist as well. Decency is probably the only virtue that is rare in the film industry in general and Pashto movies in particular. Asif Ali Khan has never resorted to sub-standard behavior, and has always avoided roles that involved nudity, vulgarity, or other despicable behavior. There are two reasons that explain Asif Ali Khan´s decent behavior: the great influence of core Pukhun values and that of his mentor Muhammad Ali who never resorted to indecent behavior either to survive in the film industry.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on his e-mail correspondence with Yousaf Ali Khan. Yousaf Ali Khan is Asif Ali Khan´s nephew.
Surraya Khan
Surraya Khan: was born in Jehangir Pura, Peshawar in 1958. Her real name is Sayyida Aasiya Bibi. She has a sister and three brothers. Her father Major Raza Hussain Shah died in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. Surraya Khan has one son [Shakeel Hussain] who has a B.Sc degree from Punjab University.
Surraya Khan entry into the Pukhtu film industry was accidental. It was in 1971 when she was visiting a film studio in Lahore along with her high school class fellows that she got an offer from pukhtu film Director Mumtaz Ali Khan to act in pashto film Dara Khyber. Mumtaz Ali Khan communicated the offer through Surraya Khan´s high school principal who was leading the high school tour that day to the studio. After permission from her family members, she accepted the role, and thus started a film career that has continued till this day. So far, Surraya Khan has played various roles, mainly as heroine, in about 150 pashto movies, and the march to fullfilment continues. In addition to acting, Surraya Khan has produced many movies, including [ZAR TAJA] that became very popular because of its great story and songs.
Her favorite directors include Mumtaz Ali Khan, Saeed -Un-Naskh Saeedi, and Aziz Tabassum. Her favorite singers are Khyal Muhammad and Gulnar Begum. This song from film Zar Taja is one of her favorite song. During my conversation with Surraya Khan, she talked about it with great excitement. Because she belongs to a religious Shia family, early on she had decided to avoid objectionable film roles.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on conversation with Surraya Khan.
Murad Shinwari
Murad Shinwari: life took a big turn when he started writing lyrics for Pashto movies in early 1970s. This was probably the beginning of the golden era of Pashto movies. He wrote dialogues, scenarios, and songs for more than hundred movies including Urbal (along with Ameer Ghulam Sadiq), Bangree Au Hatkarrey, Juram Au Saza, Naway Da Yawe Shpey (along with Ameer Ghulam Sadiq), Wena aw Meena, Chagha, Ujrati Qatel, and Multan Khan Afridi. Hundred of memorable Pashto film songs sung by Gulnar Begum, Khyal Mohammad, Kishwar Sultan and other singers were written by Murad Shinwari. Murad Shinwari disassociated himself from Pashto film industry forever when some vested interests tried to present a distorted image of the Pakhtoon culture.
Murad Shinwari son of pashto poet Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari was born at Landi Kotal (Khyber Agency) in 1928. His mother died when he was a year old. He obtained his early education at government high school No.1, Peshawar. His first job was as an assistant editor of Afghan newspaper, and his first book Palwashay was a collection of short stories. His second job was in the Khyber -Rifle as an instructor that led to his studies at the Army School of Education in Murree, and subsequent award of BT degree by Punjab University. Murad Shinwari later obtained a masters degree in pashto literature from University of
Peshawar , receiving gold medal for his outstanding performance.
In 1958, Murad Shinwari joined Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar as Librarian, lexicographer and translator. Here he exhibited excellent skills and edited 40 rare manuscripts and compiled a dictionary. Among others, these included translation of The Merchant of Vince by Shakespeare, and The lady of Shalott by Alferd Tennyson in Pashto free verse. However, after developing differences with the Director of the Academy (Maulana Abdul Qadir), Murad Shinwari joined Radio Station Peshawar as a staff artist. At the station, he wrote some memorable feature programs including Hujra, and Maraka that highlighted social evils in pashtun society.
After getting retirement from Radio Station Peshawar in 1989, this reputed poet is living a miserable life. Despite his tremendous contribution to the golden era of Pashto films and Pashto language and literature, Murad Shinwari is not receiving any stipend or financial assistance from provincial cultural department or Academy of Letters, Islamabad to support his large family.
Source: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on a write up by SherAlam Shinwari.
Shahnaz Hussain
Shahnaz Hussain: was born in 1950 in village Shergarh, district Okara [Punjab], which is located to the south-west of Lahore. Her family belongs to the Sayyed class and owns a substantial amount of farmland. Shahnaz has two siblings [a sister and brother].
At young age, Shahnaz was a rebellious person. She left home without her parent consent to seek a movie career in Karachi, where her sister lived at the time. But events did not turn out the way Shahnaz had imagined; She could not establish a foothold in the Urdu movie industry as a mainstream actress. However, this did not influence her committment and determination to make it in the Urdu movie industry. She just left Karachi for Lahore. In Lahore, she got a chance in a pashto movie named ´´Da Pukhtun Thora´´ that made her the heart throb of millions of pashtuns. In subsequent years, she had the opportunity to play memorable roles in pashto movies including Khana Badoosh, Dehqaan, Chagha and Da Marg Saudagar. Of these, Chagha and Da Marg Saudagar were released in Urdu language as well.
Shahnaz did not want to be confined to pashto movie roles, and seriously weighed her options. She wanted to be known for her talent in Urdu movie; thus she married Urdu and Punjabi movie director Iqbal Kashmiri with the expectation of promoting her movie career in Urdu movies. It turned that Iqbal Kashmiri could not help Shahnaz either in realizing her most cherished dream. The marriage ended after a brief period. Shahnaz has a son named Faisal Kashmiri from this marriage, who is currently a movie director himself in Lahore.
After her failed attempts to make it in Urdu movies coupled with a failed marriage in Lahore, Shahnaz decided to return to Karachi again. She got married to police DIG Fataih Ali [currently retired]. Shahnaz has two daughters and a son from this marriage. Unfortunately, the marriage did not work; thus she separated from Fataih Ali and now lives with her children.
What a difference a personal commitment and vision of one´s career makes. Shahnaz did not get what she had dreamed of [i.e., a role in mainstream Urdu movies], and although she was the heart throb of millions of pashto movie lovers, that is not what She cared for. Her pashtun fans always wondered what happened to Shahnaz despite her splendid pashto movie career and hordes of pashtun fans. The sage of Shahnaz movie career reminds of a very famous poem by U.S. poet Robert Frost:
´´Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.´´
I must mention here that pashto movie actor Badar Munir had a deep love corner for Shahnaz and worked strenuously to marry her but falied to win her heart. This trite adage that ´´no one gets all one wants in this world´´ impresses me so much when I think of Badar Munir not being able to see his dream of a family with Shahnaz come true. Folks think he could have any pashto actress he wanted to; now we know he could not.
SOURCE: Written by AnwarGul of Kohat based on his conversation film actress Nimmi and correspondence with a Youtube friend.
Waheeda Khan
Waheeda Khan: was born in Nautiya (Sadar Bazar) Peshawar. Waheeda Khan started her film career by acting in Hindko Dramas in Peshawar. Her real name is Sabiha-Tur-Raza, and has other family members associated with the film industry. She played memorable lead roles in Pukhtu movies such as Jawargar, Makhroor, Dehqaan, Alaqa Ghair, and Jwand Ya Marg, during 1970s.
She also appeared in Urdu movie BAAZI. During the late 1970s, she started producing and directing movies and has many pukhtu movies to her credit as a director [e.g., Da Wachay Khan, Da Karayai Gorilay, Naavay aw Nakrezay, etc]. Currently she is married to the well known pukhtu film producer Aziz Jehangiri, and lives with him in Dobai, where they arrange musical shows and related programs.
SOURCE: Written by Anwar Gul, Kohat. - بېرته شاته