Tribute to 'Moin Akhtar' - An Iconic Pakistani TV Comedian & Presenter

Moin Akhtar (1950 - 2011), was a Pakistani top - notch TV Comedian, Entertainer, Presenter, Writer, Director, and TV host. Moin started his career at a young age of 15, and continued entertaining people of Pakistan and sub - comtinent, to his death in 2011.

Moin Akhtar was a very gifted artist and an extra ordinary intelligent human being and a media personality, who ruled pakistani TV dramas and talk shows with his superb comedy.

Moin Akhtar Born on 24th of December, 1950, to Mr. Muhammad Ebrahim Mehboob, a small businessmen from Uttar Pardesh, India. Muhammad Ebrahim Mehboob, migrated to Pakistan, after partition in 1947 and settled in Karachi.

Young Moin Akhtar was born and raised in Karachi. Moin Akhtar started his acting career as a child artist to support his family, as family was facing economic challenges. Later when Pakistan Television (PTV) was inaugrated in 1966, he made his debut on Pakistan Television, the same year, on Defence day, 6th of September, 1966 in a variety show as a Comedian.

Moin Akhtar was a very talented artist. In his school, he played the character of 'Shylock' of Shakespear's 'Merchant of Venice', at the age of thirteen (13). He won the Best actor prize from jury of the school for the same as well.

Moin got a formal break at the age of fifteen years at 'PTV' s variety show in 1966. Thereafter he was introduced to one of the producers of PTV Karachi and started playing various characters in TV plays. Mainly comedy characters were offered to Moin as he was a great comedian and used to impersonate famous personalities of that time.

Moin Akhtar worked in so many memorable TV Dramas in his illustrious career of fourty five (45) years. Some of his memorable work & all time classics are;

• 'Rosey'
• 'Such Much Part 1,2'
• 'Angan Terhaa'
• 'Eid Train'
• 'Studio Dhaee'
• 'Studio Ponay Teen'
• 'Show Shaw'
• 'Show Time'
• 'Half Plate'
• 'Family 93'
• 'Intezar Farmaaye'
• 'Babey'
• 'Bandar road se kemaari'
• 'Mirza aur Hameeda'
• 'Bakra qiston per'
• 'Kia bany baat'
• 'Harialy Banny'

Talk shows was Moin Akhtars's speciality. Many of his talk shows were very popular amongst the masses. But his best performance were in TV talk show 'Loos Talk' with Anwar Maqsood. He played over four hundred (400) different characters in loose talk and every episode of 'Loos Talk' was a super hit.

Some of his all time classic talk shows are;

• 'Moin Akhtar show'
• 'Yes sir, No Sir'
• 'Loos Talk'

Moin Akhtar was a fabulous show host and one of a kind interviewer. He interviewed Legendary Indian Actor, 'Dilip Kumar', 'King Hussain' of Jordan, former Prime Minister of Gambia, 'Dawood Al - Jozah', Former Presidents of Pakistan, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Gen. Yahya Khan, and Pervez Musharraf. He also interviewed The Than Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Z A Bhutto (1972 - 77). And Current Prime Minister and former Cricket Captain of Pakistan, Imran Khan.

Moin Akhtar died on 22nd of April, 2011 at the age of Sixty (60). He left behind one widow and five kids. Out of those five, two are sons and three daughters.

Moin was a legendary figure, who entertained the folks for fourty five (45) years. he was a versatile veteran who is still alive in the hearts of his fans.

Moin Akhtar throughout his career won so many honors and awards. few of the awrads are mentioned here;

• Pride of Performance, by Govt. of Pakistan in 1996
• Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2011
• Honorary Citizenship of Dallas in 1996
• Best Comedian Award by Indus Drama Awards in 2005

Moin had a very humble beginning. He was a brilliant student in the school, but he left school to financially support his family. His father was not happy with his decision of quitting his studies, but he was steadfast and committed towards his acting career. He worked really very hard and reached at the top of his field.

Moin never forgot his poor backgroung and always helped the poor and suffering humanity. He use to help others silently. He was a great human being and a great actor and comedian.

One of his fellow worker and colleague Mr. Kishwar Adeel Jafri paid a poetic tribute to the Legends of Moin Akhtar in 'URDU'. I am reproducing the original with English Translation.

"Jo ho saky gi na poori kabhi, kami tum ho"

"Hamari palkon pe thehri hui nami tum ho"

"Tumhara raaj hy muddat sy fun ki dunya par"

"Aye shah-e-fun, koi naheen, tumhi tum ho"

Summarised Translation:

'The vacuum created with your death will never be filled'

'we are all tears with your sad demise'

'you have ruled the showbiz for decades'

'there's no comparison for you, no one else can match your skills'