Shafi Muhammad Shah laid to rest

Staff Report

KARACHI: Veteran art performer and actor Shafi Muhammad Shah was laid to rest Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the Gizri Graveyard, Defence Phase IV.

The 57-year old actor was born in a town called Kandiaro in Nushero Feroz. He left a widow, a son and two daughters, besides a large number of fans. “It was a big loss to the entertainment industry and his fans as well,” said many of his co-stars.

Many renowned figures from both television and film gathered in his house at Sea View and performed the final rituals before his body was taken to the graveyard.

“Shafi was not only a friend but a brother to me,” said Nadeem, a renowned film actor and also a drama artist.

He said that his death would create a void in the industry which cannot be filled by anyone.

According to Abid Ali, a TV artist, Shah was a great performer and many senior artists hesitated performing in front of him in difficult scenes.

Another TV artist, Sohail Asghar, said, “Shah was like a father to me. It is a loss equal to losing a father.”

He also said that academies abroad show his acting footage to train people. “He was a legend.” Shah was featured in more than 50 drama serials and over 100 plays on PTV and Sindhi channels. He was also the lead in many private productions and became popular after his performance in the early 80s drama serial, Jungle, in which he played a famous dacoit.

Other hits were made as Shahjee in Chand Grahan, a strict father in Aanch, a don in Nasal, a feudal lord in Laila Majnoon, Marvi and several other plays. He also featured in a few movies and was paired with Shabnam in one film, but, he never managed to find a permanent spot in the big screen and later returned to the silver screen.

Moreover, shah was also an active member of the Pakistan People’s Party and also contested the general elections in October 2002 from NA-210, Karachi but lost. He was also in his party’s cultural committee and worked to promote arts and culture.

Those who attended his funeral included Gulab Chandio, Kaiser Khan, Nadeem, Abid Ali, Sohail Asghar, Adnan Jillani, Yar Muhammed Shah, Hameed Bhutto and several figures from the entertainment industry.

Home | National