Umer Sharif
Encyclopedia
Umer Sharif, TI is a Pakistani stand-up comedian
, stage
, film
and television
actor
, writer, director and producer
. His original name is Mohammad Umer, however he changed that to Umer Zarif when he joined the theater and later changed that to Umer Sharif.
He rose to fame due to his work on stage and his stage shows are considered among the most popular in Pakistan
. He started his showbiz career from Karachi
as stage performer at the age of 14.
speaking family, Sharif became one of the most well known stage performers in Pakistan after his extremely popular 1989 comedy stage plays Bakra Qistoon Pay and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai. In both he starred with another comedy legend Moin Akhter
.
Much of the success comes from the fact that he started to record his shows and the videos were rented out. Yes Sir Eid, No Sir Eid, followed by Bakra Qistoon Pay were the first stage shows to come out on video.
He is known in South Asia
as the King of Comedy. He was rated as best comedian ever even by Indian audiences. Indian comedy kings Johnny Lever and Raju Srivastava have called him the God Of Asian Comedy on the Indian comedy show " Comedy Circus". In India his videos are released by Music Track and are sold at premium prices across all stores.
Bakra Qistoon Pay is considered to be the show that made stage plays what they are today in Pakistan. Before the advent of Bakra Qistoon Pay majority stage shows in Pakistan used to be classy with rather poetic dialogs. After Bakra Qistoon Pay (Goat on installments) stage shows became a vibrant, majorly comical (and often gritty) part of the Pakistani culture
. It has also sparked many sequels. He has also produced films like Mr. 420, Mr. Charlie, Miss Fitna, etc.
The popularity of Bakra Qistoon Pay also crossed the border into India
as well and Umer Sharif became a famous name in India as well.
He also was a judge in the famous Indian comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
along with Siddu and Shekar Suman.
Umer Sharif does his own show, on Geo TV called, "The Sharif Show," where he interviews a variety of actors, actresses, entertainers of all kinds as well musicians. Also from time to time, Sharif is seen as Masters of Ceremonies for various important events.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, writer, director and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. His original name is Mohammad Umer, however he changed that to Umer Zarif when he joined the theater and later changed that to Umer Sharif.
He rose to fame due to his work on stage and his stage shows are considered among the most popular in Pakistan
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...
. He started his showbiz career from Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
as stage performer at the age of 14.
Career
Born in an UrduUrdu
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...
speaking family, Sharif became one of the most well known stage performers in Pakistan after his extremely popular 1989 comedy stage plays Bakra Qistoon Pay and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai. In both he starred with another comedy legend Moin Akhter
Moin Akhter
Moin Akhtar was a Pakistani television, film and stage actor, as well as a humorist, comedian, impersonator, and a host. He was also a play writer, singer, film director and a producer....
.
Much of the success comes from the fact that he started to record his shows and the videos were rented out. Yes Sir Eid, No Sir Eid, followed by Bakra Qistoon Pay were the first stage shows to come out on video.
He is known in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
as the King of Comedy. He was rated as best comedian ever even by Indian audiences. Indian comedy kings Johnny Lever and Raju Srivastava have called him the God Of Asian Comedy on the Indian comedy show " Comedy Circus". In India his videos are released by Music Track and are sold at premium prices across all stores.
Bakra Qistoon Pay is considered to be the show that made stage plays what they are today in Pakistan. Before the advent of Bakra Qistoon Pay majority stage shows in Pakistan used to be classy with rather poetic dialogs. After Bakra Qistoon Pay (Goat on installments) stage shows became a vibrant, majorly comical (and often gritty) part of the Pakistani culture
Culture of Pakistan
The society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities in the north...
. It has also sparked many sequels. He has also produced films like Mr. 420, Mr. Charlie, Miss Fitna, etc.
The popularity of Bakra Qistoon Pay also crossed the border into 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...
as well and Umer Sharif became a famous name in India as well.
He also was a judge in the famous Indian comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is one of the very successful reality shows on Indian television. It is a competition of stand up comedians that is presented on STAR One...
along with Siddu and Shekar Suman.
Umer Sharif does his own show, on Geo TV called, "The Sharif Show," where he interviews a variety of actors, actresses, entertainers of all kinds as well musicians. Also from time to time, Sharif is seen as Masters of Ceremonies for various important events.
Awards
He has received the following awards:- Best comedian and Best Actor National Awards in 1992 for Mr. 420
- Ten (10) Nigar Awards - He is the only one to receive 4 Nigar Awards in a single year
- Three (3) Graduate Awards
- Best Drama Writer
- Best Actor
- Best Director
- Four (4) qaumi awards
- Best Stage Actor (1984)
- Best Stage Director (1988)
- Cassette Melody Awards
- Best Award for Hat trick in Audio Cassettes
- One (1) International Emirates Award in Dubai
- National Defence College Pakistan Shield
- Two (2) Bolan Awards
- Musavir Award
- Chicago Award (1992)
- Award in Los Angeles (1996)
- Waheed Murad Award
- Trend Changer Award from Karachi in 1993
- Lahore Press Club Award for Excellent Performance, 1996
- Jang Akhbar Award
- Khabrain Award
- Sadaaqat News Paper Award
- Award from Allama Iqbal Medical College
- Key to the City of Karachi: For the first time in the history of Pakistan's film industry the key of any city was presented to an actor.