December 13, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 2, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 12: Veteran film actor Ilyas Kashmiri passed away at his Gulberg-III residence after a long illness on Wednesday. He was 83.

One of the most senior actors in the Pakistan film industry, Kashmiri had been ill and bed-ridden for the past six years, suffering from diabetes and other complexities stemming out of it. His left leg was amputated a few years ago due to gangrene.

He died on Wednesday at around 12:45pm, said his servant Tahir. No family member of the late artiste was present in the house except his sister-in-law, Farida. His funeral will be held in a day or two after his sons — Moazam and Asim – return from abroad. According to Farida, his wife Parveen died 10 years ago.

His body was put in a Defence hospital’s morgue. According to his servant Tahir, the entire expenditure of Kashmiri’s treatment when he was admitted to Ittefaq Hospital was borne by former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Kashmiri had been out of the industry for the last six years due to his illness. He started his film career from Bombay before Partition. In Bombay, the first film in which he appeared as a hero was Malika, directed and produced by Nazir. He also acted in a film with the grandmother of Bollywood diva, Kajol. After Partition, he appeared hero in ‘Mundri’, produced by Agha GA Gul. He did all kinds of roles, from hero to comedian to character acting and also earned fame as a villain.

He was born in Muhalla Dara Shikoh near Rewali Cinema, Lahore. According to film circles, he acted in over 600 Urdu and Punjabi films. Among his famous films are: Mukhra Chan Warga, Chacha Jee, Hath Jori, Banarsi Thag, Ustad Shagird, Ishq Per Zor Nahi, Pinjra, Hatim, Mahi Munda, Sabira, Yakay Wali, Laila Majnoon, Wada, Anjaam, Shuhrat, Sardar and Murad.