Pakistani Dramas is what this site is all about. a few weeks ago i published a list of ten best ever Pakistani dramas . Recently i got a suggesion from some one on DP chat that i should do this on a more regular and diverse basis so here comes the next list this time it the ten best performers ever and this is one is for male actors.
10.Sajid Hassan: An icon of versatility:
Sajid hassan should be called as one of the last of the golden generation of actors that came along in 80’s . Although his first play was “khalij”he came in to lime light with Dhoop Kinaare and since then it has been all up hill for him. He packed a memorable performance in “Sitaara and Meharunnissa”. Then he came in an entirely different role in “Taan Sen” and so on and so forth. he is one of the very few pakistani actors to transform in to movies with success too. His first flick was “Salaakhain” and then he had the ultimate honour to work in the holly wood with “The mighty Heart”. He is i think the last actor with a wonderful urdu accent that used to be a trade mark of all performers from PTV.His powerhouse vocals coupled with his majestic expressions have always been his strength.
9.Behroz Sabzwaari : A character personified
If i had made this list a few months ago then may be Behroz would have been at 10. The reason for moving him one step above is Humsafar as I think he gave a life time performance in this play. What a journey has it been from ” Qabaachaa ” to ” Baseerat Mamun” . although it really started earlier than that. Few would remember but behroz hit the fame chords way back in1974 in “Khuda ki Basti”. His character of Naushah was a true darling of the viewers.He has perhaps the most flexible face in our industry . The transition from comedy to tragedy is so smooth with him that you can hardly feel it. He seems to bring his characters to a life of their own and this is perhaps an actor’s greatest merit.
8.Javed Shiekh : Cinema to TV
Javed shiekh made his debut on the big screen and then came his transition to the shorter screen. Since then it has been a beautiful journey on both the screens. On tv he came in with the PTV flick Two in one but the real break through came from “Unkahi”. The jolly boy that at the end managed to win the heart of shehnaz sheikh won many over many young female citizens of Pakistan in this process. Not many would remember his cameo appearances in fifty fifty but they were truly a delight. After that his main focus has been comic roles. He has always been known for playing light hearted characters . In recent years he has been dominating our TV screens. with his blasting appearances in Baarat series.
7. Moeen Akhtar:the best comedian
Moin Akhtar was truly a legend in his life time. He had a special gift of an exquisite comic timing and one of the most talented mimics. although his comic talents overshadowed them but at times he really showed us that he was equally capable of serious performances as well. The versatility in his acting was perhaps one of the best ever displayed on our TV screens. He made his debut in the 2nd year of PTV in 1966 in a 6th september show and then the boy never looked back. Along with anwar maqsood he represented one of the most talentedd duo of our television history. His performance in Rozie can easily be counted as one of the most memorable ever. another wonderful character was the character of poet in Aangan tehraa, and the icing on the cake came in long play “half Plate” where moin akhtar and khalida riaasat proved themselves to be the best ever couple on Pakistani television ever.In another lovely play “Eid Train” he blew us apart in another exquisite performance. The only thing that moin suffered from was the monotonous comic roles at the end of his careeer which shadowed his versatility but that counted he still stands as one of the most talented paksitani tv performers.
6. Shafi muhammad shah : An Iconic Voice
Radio station hyderabad served as the nursery for two of the most talented actors of paksitan . Film Satar Muhammad Ali and Tv Star Shafi Muhammad. He made his debut with Shehzad Khalil in “Urtaa Asmaan” which was a very unconventional play. He came to limelight with Tesra Kinaara which was a classic PTV production. After gaining his stature he never looked back. memorable performances in Aanch and Chaand Girahan made him a house hold name in every corner of Pakistan. He was best known for his feudal roles beecause his very appearance personified him as a feudal lord but he never limited himself there and in more than 50 serials that he acted he was as versatile as they come. He also did a few films and his first film as a hero Biwi ho to Aisi was a diamond Jubilee hit but unfortunatley his film career never developed further and he concentrated solely on his TV career then.
5.Jamshed Ansaari: A gem of Karachi centre
Jamshed ansaari was perhaps the biggest ambassadors of laughters on Pakistan television. His very appearance forced people to smile and made them laugh. His first serial was jhaorkay but he really raised the curtains in Zair Zabar Pesh. Despite being one of the best comedians his serious acting skills were equally exquisite and wonderful. His skills as an actor were best presented in the flurry of hasina moin serials in the late 80’s when he brought brilliant performances to fore in Unkahi and tanhaaiyan. Although he had already won critical and commercial acclaim in Kiran Kahaani and Uncle Urfi. His beautiful and charming personality still makes him one of the most endearing actors of a generation.
4. Salim Nasir: a crystallic master
Technically perhaps the most gifted actor of all times. The only reson for him not being on top of the list is that due to his tragic departure in young age he never got the chance to materialize hi full potential but what ever we saw was remarkable to say the leeast. His film career began with Zaib un nissaa where he held his own against a legend like waheed murad but he never survived too much in the film. His real break came with TV. His role in Aangan tehraa was the biggest reason for success of that play. Then in Ankahi again he was the true touch of class. Although both these roles were comic but he also demonstrated his serious acting potetial in Dastak.His role in Dastak can easily be declared the best ever depiction of a lawyer on our tv screens.His roles in Jangloss and finally his depiction of Sultan Jalal Uddin in Akhri Chattan are a sheer testimony to the vast array of acting talents he could summon. Again his death was perhaps the greatest loss for out TV.
3. Khayyam Sarhadi :versatility personified
Khayaam sarhadi was a truly remarkable son of a remarkable father. His father Zia Sarhadi was one of the most iconic writers in the history of the Indo Pak cinema and khayyam made his father proud with his acting skills. Khayaam was a unique artist . he laways had something new up his sleeve . the relative ease with which he transformed in to various characters was lovely to say the least. his range was vast and his limitations almost none. He always loved new challenges. His performances in film were few and far between but his talent never went un noticed even in that domain but in TV he was truly a king. One of his last characters in Meri Zaat Zara E Benishaan was the most memorable one and added another feather to his already filled crown. A truly remarkable artist.
2.Talat Hussein: The most Memorable Voice
Talat hussein was and is perhaps the most beautiful voice artist ever produced by paksitan. A graduate from LAMDA he stands out to be the most qualified paksitani actor. He knows his art too well. His debut came in 1967 with arjumand from PTV. He has won international acclaim and has played ,any major roles in BBC’s various drama series. He is also the only asian to recive the Amanda Award(norwegian highest film award) forhis role in a 2006 norwegain flick. On Paksitan Tv he again has countless roles to his credit, his memorable pplays include but are not limited to Aansoo,Despardes,Kashkol and Tariq Bin Zyaad. He has also acted in many films including the holly wood flick Jinaah. His voice has been perhaps the most used voice in commercails. He holds a unique honour of being the first broad caster to record the entire urdu translation of the Holy Quran.
1. Muhammad Qavi Khan: The 1st and the Best
Qavi khan deserves to be called the true founding father of tv acting in paksitan. coming of from radia he was the man who acted in the very firsst play of paksitan television and since then what a journey it has been ?? .He has played almost an entire array of roles young and old , rich and poor, hero and villians and never has he faltered for once in the depiction of a character. we fell in love with the ASP in Adehra Ujaala and that was perhaps the most popular role but his acting taalent has surpassed our ecpectaitons many times. I still rmemebr a Drama 85 production Ghanti in which he played a character far older than his age with such ease that astonished me.The greatest charmer of Pakistan televsion has not finished just yet. in durre shahwar he is again playing a lovely performance. the words fall short for this man trully the greatest tv actor of Paksitan.
Note Worthy Omission:
due to such a vast array of actors many names had to be ommitted even though they desrve to be mentioned since it was only 10. people like mehmood ali, subhaai bayounas, qazi wajid , hasaam qazi, noman ejaz and abid ali were very painfull to leave out. also i did not include any of the recent heroes since they still have alot to travel to get there.
