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Ilyas Kashmiri (1924-2007 LAHORE - Veteran film actor Ilyas Kashmiri passed away at his Gulberg-III residence after a long illness on 14 December 2007.
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 G.A. 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.
Ilyas Kashmiri
Villain, Character Actor and
Producer Ilyas Kashmiri is one of few actors who has spent more than 50 years in the film industry. He was introduced as hero in his first film Mundri (1949). At the starting of his film career he acted as hero in some films like Anjam (Yasmeen) but could not be succeeded due to his limited acting abilities. Film Mahi Munda (1956) was a landmark in his film career. Yakke wali (1957) was as main villain an all time mega hit film. He played a title role in film Murad (1957) very well. Waada (1957) and Mirza Jatt (1967) were his best films as performer. Due to his high pitch voice and height, which was more than 62”, he was the best actor in ”Chodhary and Jagirdar” roles. Ilyas Kashmiri produced film Ishq par zor nahin in 1963 and acted doctor’s role opposite Jameela Razzaq (hero Aslam Pervez). It was a classical film and got many awards but 1960s was a struggling period for him and the main reason was Mazhar Shah’s dominance as villain. He was more a supporting actor than a villain in the 60s. In film Paidagir (1966) he played a comedy role. The breakthrough came after his main villain role in films like Babul (1971, Basheera (1972) and Ziddi (1973). He was in the title role with Munawar Zarif in super hit film Banarsi Thagg (1973), followed by few other films in title roles as Ayyash, Ustad Shagird and Gama B.A. But after Munawar Zarifs sudden death and Sultan Rahi’s huge popularity, he became main villain actor and was very busy until Sultan Rahi’s death in 1996. Ilyas Kashmiri was married with studio owner Barik Malik’s daughter. Ilyas Kashmiri's famous films:
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He
was 83. 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.
The entire expenditure of Kashmiri’s treatment at Ittefaq Hospital
was borne by former premier Nawaz Sharif.