Written By: Mohammed Rizwan Memon

Waheed Murad (October 2, 1938 - November 23, 1983) was a legendary Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Born to a successful film distributor and producer Nisar Murad in Karachi, Waheed Murad got his early education from the Marie Calaco School. He graduated in arts from S.M. Arts College in Karachi and then obtained a Master’s degree in English Literature from the Karachi University later. He was the only son of the famous Pakistani film distributor Mr. Nisar Murad and Mrs. Shireen Murad.

Waheed was very inspired by the film and music industry since his childhood. In his

childhood, he used to wear a guitar around his neck and was famous as a good dancer among his friends. In his school life he played parts in several plays, which made him more popular. Since childhood he was being given an exposure to famous actors who used to visit his father regularly and inspired him to pursue an acting career. A strong educational background placed Waheed Murad at an advantage compared to other film producers and actors of his time

Waheed was the first Rock n' Roll dancing star in South Asia. He was distinctively known as the 'Chocolate Hero' and 'Lady Killer’ due to his attractive personality. He is well-known for his charming expressions, tender voice and unusual talent for acting in films. His romantic style of acting made him popular as well as controversial, as it was the very early stage of Pakistani cinema where such bold and romantic characters were not much-admired. His dressing style, the hair style, dialogues and songs used to be liked and followed by people of mostly teen and adult ages. Waheed's hair cut was very popular among the young and was called the 'Waheed Murad cut', which was the very first “trend” in haircuts in Pakistan.

During the 60’s era of Pakistan, films were dominated by middle-aged actors in lead roles. Waheed not only changed that but also turned around the style of dressing, acting and most importantly, the picturisation of songs. He enlivened the silver screen with his extraordinary talent in acting and picturisation especially in romantic songs. Some of the songs that still turn many nostalgic, are Tumhain kaisay bata doon, Kuch log rooth kar bhi, Dil tumko dey diya, Koko korina, Jhoom aye dil wo dera jaan-e-bahar aye ga, Beetay huway khuch din aisay hain tanhai jinhain duhrati hey, Mujhe tum nazar say gira to rahay ho, Yun kho gaiy teray pyar mein hum, Socha tha piyar na karan gain, Khamosh hein nazaray, Aye abre karam aaj itna baras and many more.

Waheed was a very prominent and successful actor in his times. Apart from doing his most famous romantic roles, he also played roles of an action hero in Jab Jab Phool Khilay, dual role in Hill Station, a suspicious husband role in Shabana and a villain in Sheeshay Ka Ghar. He played the romantic roles in films like Armaan, Doraha, Ehsaan, Devar Bhabi, Insaniyat, Andaleeb, Afsana, Bewafa, Anjuman, Mulaqat, Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, Apne Huay Paraye, Aawaz and Behan Bhai.

One of his block buster films is Armaan, which was his own production, made a pivotal impact on the sub-continental film industry such that the Pakistani film industry was considered as the rising sun after Indian film industry. Armaan made him a superstar overnight and as equal to the Indian film titans such as Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar and Prithviraj Kapoor. Another hit was Heera Aur Pathar which provided the ‘chocolate hero’, as he was affectionately called, the memorable big break as an actor. He produced and wrote the film himself and was instrumental in giving a break to his friends, namely director Pervez Malik, poet Masroor Anwar and musician Sohail Rana. The famous playback singer, Ahmed Rushdi, gave his voice to Waheed in the film and the two became inseparable since then, until his death in 1983. So he was not alone in his remarkable journey of cinema and film industry. His team included Pervez Malik, Masroor Anwar, Sohail Rana and Ahmed Rushdi, who gathered one hit after another like Armaan, Doraha, Ehsaan, Ussay Dekha Ussay Chaha and others.

He produced a couple of films as well like Insan Badalta Hai and Jab Se Dekha Hai Tumhain through his father’s production house called Film Arts and later ventured into acting as a young and promising actor. Under his own Film Company, Waheed produced nine outstanding and super hit films. Heera Aur Patther (1964), Armaan (1966), Ehsaan (1967), Samandar (1968), Ishara (1969), Naseeb Apna Apna (1970), Mastana Mahi (1971), Jaal (1972) and Hero (1983) were the films which provided an excellent base for Pakistani cinema to thrive upon.

Although Waheed paired successfully with Rani, Shamim Ara, Shabnam, Deeba, Babra Sharif, Nisho and Rozina, it was with Zeba that he enjoyed the most hits, including Heera Aur Pathar, Eid Mubarak, Kaneez, Armaan (Pakistan’s first Platinum Jubilee film), Insaanyat, Maa Baap, Ehsaan and Rishta Hai Pyar Ka (first film to be shot abroad).

Waheed was married to Salma, a daughter of Karachi based industrialist. Their marriage took place on Thursday, September 17, 1964. The wedding ceremony was arranged at Nisar Murad's house in Tariq Road, Karachi. They had two daughters Aaliya and Sadia (died in infancy) and one son Adil.

Waheed Murad acted in a total of 124 films (2 films were released after his death) of which 38 were black and white and 86 were in colour. He acted in 115 Urdu films, 8 Punjabi films and 1 Pushto film. As an actor, Waheed achieved 4 Nigar awards in the best actor's category for the films Heera aur pathar, Armaan, Andleeb and Mastana Mahi.

By Mahwish Kamil

Anwer Maqsood was born in September 07, 1940, in Hyderabad Deccan. He started his career working in a bank but only came into limelight when he switched to being a columnist in Hurriyet. Gradually he climbed up the ladder of success with his writings for TV and hosting in chat shows.

Anwer Maqsood belongs to one of the most famous and talented families in Pakistan. He is one of ten siblings which boast Fatima Surayya Bajia (TV personality who also helped in planning his career), Zehra Nigah (poetess), Zubaida Tariq (cooking expert) and Mrs. Kazmi (clothing designer). He grew up in an environment where creativity in any form was encouraged and talent was appreciated. He believes that one inherits a lot from ancestors (for him, his maternal grandfather – a classical poet). It is no doubt that he loves to reminisce about his past and has strong links with his childhood.

His family still encourages and critiques each others work. They speak articulate Urdu; his elders would not let them speak in typical Hyderabadi version of Urdu, as this may affect the quality of his scripts and writings.

Since the last four decades, Anwer Maqsood has been at the forefront of the Pakistan entertainment industry. He can be called a master in every field; from art, television, radio and theatre to press. He does not believe in run-of-the-mill treatment in any field. Through the undying freshness and spontaneity, the entertainer in him dominates Anwer Maqsood the man. Despite the diverse skill base and endless chain of achievements to his credit, Anwer Maqsood feels that more can be done and says that ‘there is no end in this field’.

With a career that spreads over a large span, Anwer Maqsood is someone that Pakistan is proud of.

Anwer Maqsood is a writer-actor of class. He does not like to write plays in a dialogue format; instead he writes it as a conversation.

His first play and performance was in 1967 in ‘Hero’. He also wrote for the groundbreaking ‘Zia Moyeuddin Show’. Later he began writing skits with witty retorts and one-liners, for shows like ‘Fifty Fifty’, ‘Shosha’, ‘Showtime’, ‘Studio Dhai’ and ofcourse, ‘Silver Jubilee’. He further set a milestone in comic television with introducing sitcom on TV through drama series, ‘Aangan Terha’ - which he takes as his best play. As he writes comical lines with a purpose, he has also won applause for such fine specimens of serous plays and serials such as ‘Duar-e-Junoon’ and ‘Sitara aur Mehrunnisa’. He is hugely popular for his talk show; ‘Loose Talk’ which is written and hosted by him is still appreciated worldwide.

As a television personality his career started in early seventies and commands a very respectable name in the television fraternity today. He has done programs of varied nature, both in the realm of entertainment and for mass awareness. His plays for television enjoy the reputation of a cult classic. His longest recording was 1600 hours, on PTV.

Anwer maqsood is a painter of national repute. He has over forty exhibitions to his credit. During his first painting exhibition in 1959, at the French embassy, within half an hour, he sold 60 of his paintings, with Jamshed Marker buying 35 of them.

‘Painting is how I make my living’, says Anwer Maqsood, and that remains his basic profession. He is one of the more serious names in the world of Pakistani art and is known to be the quintessential Renaissance man”.

Though known for his satire, Anwer Maqsood has not picked up his paintbrush for cartoons and caricatures, except when he drew caricatures of famous personalities as a journalist.

Talent blended with winning personality traits makes an Anwer Maqsood, a man of substance. An interview with the artiste substantiated what we had heard and read about him.

His work reflects his keen observation and decades of experience. He knows every knit of our social fabric and paints it meticulously on TV as well as on canvas. When he translates this knowledge into his powerful prose, we are bound to have one of the most enlightening and moving experiences of our lives.

He is every one's favorite because of his departure from the conventional style of comparing and writing and for his compassionate, seemingly altruistic efforts towards society. He may be a familiar face on television that has made the public smile and laugh with his sharp wit, for decades, but for Anwer Maqsood the smiles that greet him every time he goes to remote areas of Pakistan for welfare causes are worth more than all the money in the world. He continues in his quest as he sees hope; like a flickering light at the end of a dark tunnel.