Moeen Akhtar – A legend

Posted on July 23, 2006
Filed Under >Bilal Zuberi, Humor, People, TV, Movies & Theatre
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By Bilal Zuberi

How could one read about Fifty Fifty on ATP and not think of the guy who probably ranks among the top masters of Pakistani television comedy: Moeen Akhtar. (Read an interview with Moeen Akhtar, here).

Moeen Akhtar, a young skinny man from Karachi, started his career in 1966 with a variety show, and before long became a face familiar across the nation for acting on TV, movies, stage and theatre, hosting of variety shows, and humorous impersonations of famous personalities (including actors Muhammad Ali, Waheed Murad, Dilip Kumar, and singers Mehdi Hasan and Ahmad Rushdi).

For a sampling of Moeen Akhtar, see this segment from his more recent work in Loose Talk where Moeen Akhtar acts as a Dulha (Groom) complaining about the Supreme Court decision on serving food at marriages. [You can view it here by clicking on the play (arrow) button on the image below, or go to video.google to see this and more].

Moeen Akhtar, to my generation, is what Zia Mohiuddin was to the generation before me. In the past 40 or so years Moeen Akhtar has performed in, and hosted, thousands of shows in Pakistan and abroad, and is arguably the finest actor / comedian / host that Pakistan has produced.

To the Karachi based audience, especially those who watched stage shows with the Omar Sharif & Moeen Akhtar duo in the mid-eighties, he is a legend. I still watch reruns of Buddha Ghar per hai whenever I can. The stage shows have simply not been the same since he left the circuit to pursue other aspirations.

Over his career, Moeen Akhtar starred in many television dramas and live comedy events (including the special televised programs during marathon election night broadcasts and the annual television awards shows). The TV audience from the 80’s and 90’s will distinctly, and fondly, remember the trio of Moeen Akhtar, Anwar Maqsood and Bushra Ansari that brought laughters to many households.

One of his favorite producers was Shoaib Mansoor, about whom ATP has already written before. One of Moeen Akhtar’s more memorable roles was as Rozi, where he cross-dressed and played the counterpart of Dustin Hoffman (from American movie Tootsie (1982). Not to be left behind, Moeen Akhtar also did films (e.g. Taaj Daar) and songs. For some of the uninitiated, the image of Mehdi Hasan engraved on their minds is actually that of impersonating Moeen Akhtar twisting his mouth and rolling his eyes to make the notes come out!

He has parodied in several languages, including English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Memon, Pushto, Gujarati, bengali and others, while in the Urdu-speaking world, he is beloved for providing great humor for people of all ages, and with an etiquette that remains unmatched.

A few years ago, he suffered a heart attack and was admitted into the hospital. His fan base, in both India and Pakistan, and now spread all over the world as well, was gravely concerned for his health. Thankfully, he has recovered and from what I can see, he is back in action on the variety show circuit as well as TV. He has been working again with Anwar Maqsood on a satiric talk-show called Loose Talk on ARY TV (see video above).

In an interview with Mashrique, Moeen Akhtar said: “I want to stay alive in the hearts and minds of the people, even after I am gone.” As a fan who has followed and thorughly enjoyed his work for at least two decades, I can already guarantee him that.

Dr. Bilal Zuberi is Vice President of Product Development at GEO2 Technologies in Boston (MA), USA. See more at Bilal’s blog: BZNotes.

23 responses to “Moeen Akhtar – A legend”

  1. shamsher ali says:

    me moin akhtar sahib ka buhat to nahin magar fan zaroor hon . woh jab be koi comedian ka roll play karty thy to aisa lagta he k yeh un k sath real me ho

  2. jawaid says:

    i am totaly surprised to see the records of pakistani. i was thinking that hardly any pakistani made records in worlds guiness book but i is totaly against of my thinking . so as a pakistani we should proud and respect and own assets. God bless Pakistan

  3. damodaran says:

    Shoaib Akhtar filed his appeal on his lucky day.
    Shoaib Akthar was born on August 13,1975

    On April 1 ,he was banned from playing cricket for five years .On that day he was 32

    years and 233 days old .The age adds up to 13,(3+2+2+3+3=13)

    Last year,he was banned for 13 matches!

    So,number 13,strongly influences him.Thirteen adds upto 4.

    By virtue of his birth date and zodiacal sign ,numbers 1 and 4 are strongly lucky for

    Akthar .Yet, the orders banning him was announced on his lucky day! It is a blessing in

    disguise for him !!

    So,finally,he will return triumphantly.His appeal will result in his favour.

    He cannot be written off .

    Now let us see the case of Shane Warne .He was also born on 13th (September

    13,1969).On February 22,2003 (2+2=4) Warne was suspended for one year
    .
    On July 13, 2004 he equalled Muttiah Muralitharan

  4. Sharjeel says:

    Half the people in this place are only criticising both these phenominal performers. If you go to India or abroad or any country where Pakistani people are found, you all will realise how you do not appreciate the true talent of your own country. I have been to a Rekha show in America in which Moin Akhtar was the host, both Indian and Pakistani people attended and if you saw the response he got from the crowd, you would not be saying all this. I will agree with all those negative comments if any one of you can claim to fill either Moin Akhtar’s or Anwer Maqsood’s shoes and actually do it. Guess what?? You can’t. Because it’s not possible. For the first time in Pakistani entertainment history, Moin Akhtar, our very own artist, has been nominated for the man with the most disguises for Guiness Book of World Records. We should all be proud of our assets instead of degrading them. Have some respect people.. These two men create magic… Appreciate it.

  5. babar bukhari says:

    assalamalaikum friends,
    I just want to say when I met moin and anwar maqsood almost about 22 years ago such lovely ppl and asset to pakistan which can never be forgotton their work from the bottom of my heart moin still looks the same even after so many years ,
    allah bless him and give him more strenth to do more work for the country,

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