Adeeb
Encyclopedia
Muzaffar Adeeb was a Pakistan
i film actor. He appeared in 38 films from 1940 to 1998, although he did not start performing in films until 1950s. In 1960, he shifted from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Lahore
, Pakistan and resumed his film career that lasted until his death.
He was villain of Pakistani silver screen, born in Bombay in a conservative pukhtoon family
that was resident in Kashmir
. His family moved on to Bombay before the Partition
and that is where the actor in him emerged, after the completion of his Master's Degree
in Urdu literature
from Bombay University Maharashtra. Unlike his contemporaries, scriptwriting was the first love of Adeeb, who worked in the scriptwriting department with Raj Kapoor
's father, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, in Prithvi Theatre
and later with Indian National Theatre as assistant director. It is during this time in India that he got to know the basics of acting which later helped him enthral generations of audience.
Although he worked in minor roles in his initial career, it was Zia Sarhadi's Footpath
(1953) that gave him his first breakthrough role opposite Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari and Anwar Hussain (Nargis's brother). He worked in 30 films during his stay in India including Mehndi
, Pak Daman and Jung, before migrating to Pakistan in 1962, on the insistence of director Akbar Ali Akku and actor/director Iqbal Yusuf, son of Adeeb’s close friend, director S.M. Yusuf. He settled in Karachi and later moved on to Lahore in search of roles which kept pouring in from the ‘60s until his very last film – Syed Noor’s super-hit Majajan.
In an era when on-screen villainy in Pakistani films was ruled by good looking villains such as Aslam Pervez, Masood Akhtar
and even Mohammad Ali
(in his initial films), Adeeb made his entry with Daal Mein Kala (1964), which was directed by Iqbal Yusuf and featured Syed Kamal and Bahar in the lead along with late actors Nirala and Mohammad Ali. In the coming years, he became close to Mohammad Ali and the two acted in numerous successful films such as Kaneez (1965), Aadil and Baghi Sardar (1966), Hatim Tai (1967), Mahal (1968), Naaz (1969), Aansoo Ban Gaye Moti (1970), Dushman (1974), Shirin Farhad (1975), Haider Ali (1978), Josh (1979), Sangram (1981), Zanjeer (1986) with Rocky Dada being their last film together in 1987.
He was at ease in both Urdu
and Punjabi
films, playing memorable roles in countless films opposite other actors such as Sultan Rahi
in Maula Jat and Andaata, Waheed Murad
in Eid Mubarak and Kaneez (1965), Saaz Aur Awaaz (1965), Rishta Hai Pyar Ka (1967), Aik Nagina (1969), Afsana (1970) and Dushman (1974), Syed Kamal
in Daal Main Kaala (1962) and Shab Bakhair and Nadeem in Talaash (1986), Ustadon Kay Ustad (1990) and Khazana (1995). Late directors in their films – Rangeela
's Diya Aur Toofan (1969) and Riaz Shahid
's Gharnata and Yeh Aman (both 1971) – gave Adeeb tailor-made roles to show his true potential. Interestingly, he was one of the few actors to work with actor Shaan's father, Riaz Shahid, and portray the character of his father on-screen, lastly in Majajan.
During his last days, he was more active on stage than in films and depicted the role of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
in one of his last TV plays. In a career spanning over 50 years, Adeeb featured in more than 600 films, depicting villainous roles in different shades such as a deceiving brother, cruel father, nasty husband, dishonest friend and brutal landlord. Adeeb died on March 26, 2006, at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology
, Lahore, where he was admitted after suffering a heart attack the previous week.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i film actor. He appeared in 38 films from 1940 to 1998, although he did not start performing in films until 1950s. In 1960, he shifted from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan and resumed his film career that lasted until his death.
He was villain of Pakistani silver screen, born in Bombay in a conservative pukhtoon family
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
that was resident in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. His family moved on to Bombay before the Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
and that is where the actor in him emerged, after the completion of his Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Urdu literature
Urdu literature
Urdu literature has a long and colorful history that is inextricably tied to the development of that very language, Urdu, in which it is written...
from Bombay University Maharashtra. Unlike his contemporaries, scriptwriting was the first love of Adeeb, who worked in the scriptwriting department with Raj Kapoor
Raj Kapoor
Known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
's father, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, in Prithvi Theatre
Prithvi Theatre
Prithvi Theatre is one of Mumbai's best known theatres. It belongs to the Kapoor family, one of the most influential actor/director families in Bollywood. The theatre is named after Prithviraj Kapoor who first founded 'Prithvi Theatres', a travelling theatre company in 1944. The company ran for...
and later with Indian National Theatre as assistant director. It is during this time in India that he got to know the basics of acting which later helped him enthral generations of audience.
Although he worked in minor roles in his initial career, it was Zia Sarhadi's Footpath
Footpath (1953 film)
Footpath is a 1953 Hindi film directed and written by Zia Sarhadi. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari and Anwar Hussain. The music of the film is by Timir Baran and Khayyam.-Synopsis:...
(1953) that gave him his first breakthrough role opposite Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari and Anwar Hussain (Nargis's brother). He worked in 30 films during his stay in India including Mehndi
Mehndi
Mehndi or menhdi is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration in India, as well as by expatriate communities from the country. The word mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā. The use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Vedic ritual books...
, Pak Daman and Jung, before migrating to Pakistan in 1962, on the insistence of director Akbar Ali Akku and actor/director Iqbal Yusuf, son of Adeeb’s close friend, director S.M. Yusuf. He settled in Karachi and later moved on to Lahore in search of roles which kept pouring in from the ‘60s until his very last film – Syed Noor’s super-hit Majajan.
In an era when on-screen villainy in Pakistani films was ruled by good looking villains such as Aslam Pervez, Masood Akhtar
Masood Akhtar
Masood Akhtar is popular Pakistani singer. He has fan base stretching from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pashtun areas of Balochistan to southern parts of Afghanistan, and has achieved much recognition. Masood sings in several languages: Pashto, Urdu, Hindko- Origin :Masood was born in Mardan, Khyber...
and even Mohammad Ali
Mohammad Ali (actor)
Mohammad Ali was a Pakistani actor. He was known as Shahenshah-e-Jazbaat , means The Emperor of Emotions. He had starred in over 250 movies playing roles as hero and villain. He was included among 25 greatest actors of Asia by CNN survey...
(in his initial films), Adeeb made his entry with Daal Mein Kala (1964), which was directed by Iqbal Yusuf and featured Syed Kamal and Bahar in the lead along with late actors Nirala and Mohammad Ali. In the coming years, he became close to Mohammad Ali and the two acted in numerous successful films such as Kaneez (1965), Aadil and Baghi Sardar (1966), Hatim Tai (1967), Mahal (1968), Naaz (1969), Aansoo Ban Gaye Moti (1970), Dushman (1974), Shirin Farhad (1975), Haider Ali (1978), Josh (1979), Sangram (1981), Zanjeer (1986) with Rocky Dada being their last film together in 1987.
He was at ease in both Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
films, playing memorable roles in countless films opposite other actors such as Sultan Rahi
Sultan Rahi
Sultan Muhammad , popularly known as Sultan Rahi, in a Muslim family of Saharanpur, was a notable Pakistani film actor who was prominent in Pakistan in Punjabi films during the 1970s and 1980s. He was mostly popular among people in Punjab, Pakistan and among Sikh and Punjabi community of India...
in Maula Jat and Andaata, Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad was a legendary Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Waheed is considered to be one of the most famous and influential actors of subcontinent. Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, he was the only child of well-off film distributor Mr. Nisar Murad. He got early education from...
in Eid Mubarak and Kaneez (1965), Saaz Aur Awaaz (1965), Rishta Hai Pyar Ka (1967), Aik Nagina (1969), Afsana (1970) and Dushman (1974), Syed Kamal
Syed Kamal
Syed Kamal was a Pakistani film and TV actor.Kamal was a popular film star of in the 1960s and the 1970s. Kamal, whose film Tauba became a success, has a striking resemblance with the Indian filmstar Raj Kapoor, and he is not evasive about this issue...
in Daal Main Kaala (1962) and Shab Bakhair and Nadeem in Talaash (1986), Ustadon Kay Ustad (1990) and Khazana (1995). Late directors in their films – Rangeela
Saeed Khan Rangeela
Saeed Khan Rangeela was a Pakistani Lollywood actor, singer and director.His birthname was Mohammad Saeed Khan and he was born in Nangarhar, Afghanistan...
's Diya Aur Toofan (1969) and Riaz Shahid
Riaz Shahid
Riaz Shahid was a noted Pakistani filmmaker, film writer, and journalist. His real name was Sheikh Riaz, but was called by his nickname Shahid. Originally from Kashmir, Riaz settled in Lahore where he started his career as a journalist for newspaper Chataan and later joined Faiz Ahmed Faiz's...
's Gharnata and Yeh Aman (both 1971) – gave Adeeb tailor-made roles to show his true potential. Interestingly, he was one of the few actors to work with actor Shaan's father, Riaz Shahid, and portray the character of his father on-screen, lastly in Majajan.
During his last days, he was more active on stage than in films and depicted the role of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Syed Ahmed Khan
Javad-ud Daula, Arif Jang, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, KCSI , commonly known as Sir Syed, was an Indian educator and politician, and an Islamic reformer and modernist...
in one of his last TV plays. In a career spanning over 50 years, Adeeb featured in more than 600 films, depicting villainous roles in different shades such as a deceiving brother, cruel father, nasty husband, dishonest friend and brutal landlord. Adeeb died on March 26, 2006, at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology
Punjab Institute of Cardiology
Punjab Institute of Cardiology , located in Lahore, Pakistan, is a 292-bed tertiary care hospital providing nationwide comprehensive cardiac care services for the last 18 years. Its services include cardiac emergency, OPD, diagnostics, interventional and invasive cardiology and cardiac surgery....
, Lahore, where he was admitted after suffering a heart attack the previous week.