Izhar Qazi
Encyclopedia
Izhar Qazi was a famous two time Nigar award winning, Pakistani film and television actor and a playback singer, perhaps best known for his resemblance to the Indian film actor Amitabh Bachhan. Among his peers he was known for his modest lifestyle and honesty. His most famous movies are Love In Nepal, Aalmi Jasoos, Khazana and Sar Kata Insaan.
until he was spotted by the manager Admin of Pakistan Steel Syed Abdul Munim and introduced him to the famous TV drama writer Fatima Suraiyya Bajia, who subsequently called for audition. Fatima Suraiyya Bajia was looking for a new face for television at that time and Izhar's striking resemblance with Indian film actor Amitab Bachhan immediately caught her attention.
Qazi's last acting role before his retirement was in the private TV serial, Pani Pe Naam, aired on PTV for which he received a nomination in the best actor category of Lux Style Awards
in 2004.
stardom.
Izhar Qazi made his film debut in 1986 by starring in Nazar Shabab's Ruby, as the lead actor, which was an instant hit. He excelled in the film despite the presence of veterans Mustafa Qureshi, Shafi Mohammad, Sabeeta and Rangeela
. Although Javed Shiekh was casted initially for the lead role, his sudden disappearance from the cast (due to his visit to India
with Salma Agha
), forced the film distributor Satish Anand to send Izhar Qazi to fill the gap left by Javed Sheikh. During this time Jan Mohammad, another Pakistani film director, grew fed up with Javed and replaced Javed's role with Izhar for his film Bangkok ke chor. In only his third moview, Izhar acted opposite Shabnam (Pakistan's top film actress at that time) in a unique young-to-old character role. Most of his films were in Urdu
but he also appeared in double version Urdu
-Punjabi
films, besides acting in his only Pushto film, Ghunghru do Kalashankoff, opposite Salma Agha.
Soon Izhar made a successful partnership with director Jan Muhammad and released hit films such as Manila ki bijlyan, Roop ki rani and Choron ka baadshah. He also made a successful acting pair with the late Sultan Rahi
, releasing a series of successful Punjabi films such as Abdullah the great, Irada, Gujjar baadshah, Lahori baadshah, Pajero group, Ghunda and Dilari. Hence he was more of an action hero than a romantic one. Qazi's role in Sakhi baadshan and Bakhtawar, both earned him the prestigious Nigar Awards
twice. He also received the National Award for best actor for his role in Masood Butt's Chiragh Bali. One of his only SciFi film Sar kata insaan, in which he played the role of a police investigation officer won a whopping 8 Nigar awards. Qazi also won Graduate Award and Bolan Award.
and the quality of films being produced, besides the local film industry politics, Izhar Qazi called it quit a couple of years ago. He then concentrated on his real estate business.
, Karachi He collapsed and was taken to a nearby private hospital where he died after two hours. His funeral prayers were offered at Masjid Darul Khair, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and was buried at Model Colony
graveyard the next day.
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1997
1999
2004
2005
Entry in Showbusiness
Izhar Qazi was born in Khadda Market, Karachi. By profession he was an engineer and worked at a respectable position at Pakistan Steel MillsPakistan Steel Mills
The Pakistan Steel Mills, PSM, is the state-owned producer of long rolled steel and heavy iron products in Karachi, Sindh Province of Pakistan. The Pakistan Steel Mill is the country's largest industrial undertaking having a production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of steel...
until he was spotted by the manager Admin of Pakistan Steel Syed Abdul Munim and introduced him to the famous TV drama writer Fatima Suraiyya Bajia, who subsequently called for audition. Fatima Suraiyya Bajia was looking for a new face for television at that time and Izhar's striking resemblance with Indian film actor Amitab Bachhan immediately caught her attention.
Television
Izhar Qazi made his showbiz debut in 1982 by starring in Fatima Surraiyya Bajia's family television drama serial Ana. In one of the middle episodes of Ana in which he appeared for the first time, Izhar didn’t deliver a single dialogue. But his mere appearance on the screen and resemblance with Amitabh caught the eyes of every viewer in Pakistan. Debuting alongside another newcomer, Mehreen Ilahi, as the young romantic lead and proving his mettle opposite veteran television performers Shakeel and Ghazala Kaifi, Izhar became a household name through his first TV serial. His credentials were further strengthened by excellent acting in the serial Daira and Gardish, again standing out in presence of Shakeel and the late Pakistani actor Saqi.Qazi's last acting role before his retirement was in the private TV serial, Pani Pe Naam, aired on PTV for which he received a nomination in the best actor category of Lux Style Awards
Lux Style Awards
The Lux Style Awards is an award ceremony held annually in Pakistan since 2002. The awards celebrate "style" in the Pakistani entertainment industry, and honour the country's best talents in film, television, music, and fashion. Around 30 awards are given annually.The Lux Style Awards is considered...
in 2004.
Film
Soon after achieving moderate television success, Izhar Qazi played a gamble by leaving his job and venturing into films and remarkably again achieved instant LollywoodLollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
stardom.
Izhar Qazi made his film debut in 1986 by starring in Nazar Shabab's Ruby, as the lead actor, which was an instant hit. He excelled in the film despite the presence of veterans Mustafa Qureshi, Shafi Mohammad, Sabeeta and 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...
. Although Javed Shiekh was casted initially for the lead role, his sudden disappearance from the cast (due to his visit to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with Salma Agha
Salma Agha
Salma Agha is a singer and actress from Pakistan who sang as well as acted in Indian films in the 1980s and the early 1990s. She won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award in 1982 for the ghazal "Dil ke Armaan" in Nikaah.-Early life:...
), forced the film distributor Satish Anand to send Izhar Qazi to fill the gap left by Javed Sheikh. During this time Jan Mohammad, another Pakistani film director, grew fed up with Javed and replaced Javed's role with Izhar for his film Bangkok ke chor. In only his third moview, Izhar acted opposite Shabnam (Pakistan's top film actress at that time) in a unique young-to-old character role. Most of his films were in 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...
but he also appeared in double version 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...
-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, besides acting in his only Pushto film, Ghunghru do Kalashankoff, opposite Salma Agha.
Soon Izhar made a successful partnership with director Jan Muhammad and released hit films such as Manila ki bijlyan, Roop ki rani and Choron ka baadshah. He also made a successful acting pair with the late 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...
, releasing a series of successful Punjabi films such as Abdullah the great, Irada, Gujjar baadshah, Lahori baadshah, Pajero group, Ghunda and Dilari. Hence he was more of an action hero than a romantic one. Qazi's role in Sakhi baadshan and Bakhtawar, both earned him the prestigious Nigar Awards
Nigar Awards
The Nigar Awards, the official awards of Pakistani film industry, are the oldest awards to honour the show business personalities of Pakistan. The awards were first introduced in 1958 by Ilyas Rasheedi, the editor of weekly Nigar magazine, with a purpose to recognize the achievements of those who...
twice. He also received the National Award for best actor for his role in Masood Butt's Chiragh Bali. One of his only SciFi film Sar kata insaan, in which he played the role of a police investigation officer won a whopping 8 Nigar awards. Qazi also won Graduate Award and Bolan Award.
Retirement
Disillusioned by the dismal situation of LollywoodLollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
and the quality of films being produced, besides the local film industry politics, Izhar Qazi called it quit a couple of years ago. He then concentrated on his real estate business.
Personal life
Izhar Qazi has four daughters and a son.http://www.dawn.com/2007/12/25/local5.htm Besides acting Izhar was also fond of singing and worked as a playback singer in a handful of films, releasing an audio album which didn’t get good reviews from music lovers. He also had good literary sense and was actively involved in various literary organizations and functions.Death
On December 23, 2007, Izhar Qazi, suffered heart attack on late Sunday night while singing at a marriage ceremony of his sister-in-law in Gulistan-e-JauharGulistan-e-Jauhar
Gulistan-e-Jauhar or Gulistan-e-Johar is one of the major neighbourhoods of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. This neighborhood is named after Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar....
, Karachi He collapsed and was taken to a nearby private hospital where he died after two hours. His funeral prayers were offered at Masjid Darul Khair, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and was buried at Model Colony
Model Colony
Model Colony is one of the neighbourhoods of Malir Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.There are several ethnic groups in Malir Town including Urdu speakers, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochs, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis. Over 98% of the population is Muslim and 2% Christians,...
graveyard the next day.
Films
1986- Rubi Urdu Sabeeta, Izhar Qazi, Rangeela
- Bangkok ke Chour Urdu Sabeeta, Izhar Qazi
1987
- Dulari Punjabi Anjuman, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Himmat wala Urdu Sabeeta, Izhar Qazi
- Manila ki bijlian Urdu Sabeeta, Izhar Qazi
- Mera Insaaf Urdu Babra Sharif, Izhar Qazi
- Nachay Nagin Punjabi Nadira, Ismael Shah, Izhar Qazi, Rahi
- Nijat Urdu Sabeeta, Izhar Qazi
- Baghi Haseena Urdu Babra Sharif, Izhar Qazi
1988
- Bardasht Punjabi Anjuman, Izhar Qazi
- Choron ka Badshah Urdu Kaveeta, Izhar Qazi
1989
- Manila ke Janbaz Urdu Kaveeta, Izhar Qazi
- Rakhwala Punjabi Nadira, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
1990
- Jangi Punjabi Anjuman, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Kala Pani P/U Babra Sharif, Izhar Qazi, Ajab Gul
- Malanga Punjabi Anjuman, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Number One P/U Salma Agha, Izhar Qazi
- Insaniyat ke Dushman Urdu Anjuman, Sultan Rahi, Nadeem, Izhar Qazi
- Leader Urdu Kaveeta, Nadeem, Izhar Qazi, Hamayun
1991
- Akhri shikar P/U Babra Sharif, Salma Agha, Izhar Qazi
- Bakhtawar P/U Neeli, Izhar Qazi, Saima, Ghulam Moh.
- Chiragh Bali Punjabi Anjuman, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Teen Yakke teen Chhakke P/U Neeli, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Aalmi Jasoos P/U Kaveeta, Izhar Qazi, Ghulam Mohayuddin
- Watan ke Rakhwaley Urdu Nadra, Saima, Sultan Rahi, Nadeem, Izhar
1992
- Suhag raat P/U Kaveeta, Izhar Qazi
- Abdullah The Great P/U Neeli, Nadeem, Saima, Rahi, Izhar Qazi
1993
- Ghunda Punjabi Reema, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Ghunghru do Kalashankoff Pashto Salma Agha, Izhar Qazi
- Iradah P/U Madiah Shah, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Jannat Urdu Rubi Niazi, Izhar Qazi, Mohsin Khan
- Nagin Sapera P/U Madiha Shah, Jan Rambo, Izhar Qazi
- Sapni P/U Nadia, Izhar Qazi, Sonia
- Betaj Badshah P/U Neeli, Reema, Nadeem, Izhar Qazi, Abid Ali
1994
- Laila P/U Nadira, Izhar Qazi
- Sanam Bewafa P/U Madiha Shah, Izhar Qazi, Sahiba
1995
- Khazana Urdu Sahiba, Izhar Qazi, Nadeem, Sahiba
- Jungle ka Qanoon P/U Saima, Reema, Rahi, Nadeem, Izhar Qazi
1997
- Ghail Urdu Babra Sharif, Izhar Qazi,, Ghulam Moh.
- Kala Raj Punjabi Saima, Sultan Rahi, Izhar Qazi
- Kalay Naag Punjabi Saima, Izhar Qazi
- Aulad ki Qasam Urdu Reema, Babur Ali, Shabnam, Nadeem, Izhar
1999
- Hawwa ki Beti Urdu Sapna, Izhar Qazi, Nargis
2004
- Daaman aur Chingari Urdu Saima, Izhar Qazi, Nargis
2005
- Parcham Urdu Sana, Shaan, Arbaz Khan, Izhar Qazi
Television
- Ana (Ego)
- Daira (Boundary)
- Gardish (Circulation)
- Zakhm (Injury)
- Gunahgar (Sinner)
- Paani pe naam (Name on water)