LAHORE: Veteran film actor Asad Bukhari passes away in Lahore. He was 90.

Asad Bukhari was a prominent voice of Lollywood as he played many roles including that of a hero and a villain. He was a versatile actor and won admiration for his roles as villain. He seemed equally at ease when offered the role of a character actor in eighties and nineties.

Bukhari possessed a commanding voice with a magnificent dialogue delivery and his exclusiveness made him stand in the unique streak of Pakistani actors.

Though he started his professional life as an insurance agent and also worked as a banker later, he seemed cut out for roles in the film industry. He had close resemblance with Hollywood actor Rock Hudson. His fondness for performing arts brought him to radio in his youth. After radio he started exploring career in film industry that already had the likes of Inayat Hussain Bhatti, Ilyas Kashmir and Kaifee. He acted in 400 films during his career and introduced dhamal in these.

Asad Bukhari whose actual name was Syed Ajazul Hassan Bukhari started his film career from producer and director Shabbab Kairanvi’s film Suriya. Later, he did many villianish roles in Punjabi movies. Among his famous films were Khan Zada, Zulam Da Badla, Pagri Sambhal, Nawab Zada and Chan Makhnan. He also produced a few films which include Asoo Bila, Aaj Di Gal and Landa Bazaar. His last appearance on silver screen was in Zahoor Gilaini’s film Pagri Sambhal Jatta, which was screened in 2004.

He is survived by two wives, six sons and two daughters. His funeral was held at Gulberg and he was laid to rest in a nearby graveyard.

Qul will be held after two days at his Gulberg residence.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2020