Sahira Kazmi

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Sahira Kazmi
Born
Sahira Ansari

(1950-04-08) 8 April 1950 (age 74)
British India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Director
  • Producer
Years active1970–2005
Spouse
(m. 1974)
ChildrenAli Kazmi (son)
Nida Kazmi (daughter)
Parent(s)Sunder Shyam (father)
Mumtaz Qureshi (mother)
RelativesZeb Qureshi (aunt)
Shakir Ansari (brother)
AwardsPride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan (2012)

Sahira Kazmi (born 8 April 1950) is a retired Pakistani actress, producer and director. She is best known for her role in the country's first-ever colour series Parchaiyan (1976) and for producing the cult-classic blockbuster series Dhoop Kinare (1987) and the acclaimed drama Nijaat (1993).[1] She along with Uzma Gillani, Roohi Bano, Tahira Naqvi and Khalida Riyasat dominated the television screens of Pakistan during 1970s and 1980s.[2]

Early life

Kazmi was born on 8 April 1950 in

British India and her aunt Zeb Qureshi was also an actress in Hindi Cinema.[3][4] However, after her father Shyam's tragic death in 1951, her family moved to Karachi, which was part of the new state of Pakistan.[5] Sahira's mother, Mumtaz remarried a Pakistani entrepreneur with the surname Ansari. Sahira and her brother Shaakir changed their surnames and became Sahira Ansari and Shakir Ansari. Sahira and her brother also joined the acting field and both became prominent names in Pakistan's acting industry.[6]

Career

Sahira's career began in the 1970s when she started acting in PTV dramas at the PTV World in Rawalpindi. Her first play was Qurbatein aur Faslay (1974), based on Ivan Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons, followed by Parchaiyan (1976), based on Henry James’ novel The Portrait of a Lady, which was followed by another series Teesra Kinara (1980).[7][8] Sahira became famous for her roles in Parchaiyan, and Teesra Kinara alongside the actor Rahat Kazmi, who she later married in the mid 1970s.[9][10][11]

Later, Sahira realized her passion lay in directing content and soon she turned towards directing and producing dramas. She had already directed a number of programmes after her first play. but she made her debut as a director when she launched the series Hawa ke Naam.[7] The highlighted women's rights and their imaging in Pakistan. Sahira joined Pakistan television Karachi center as a permanent employee and worked as director.[12] She directed many dramas that went on to become a classic in the film industry.[13][14] Some of her best known dramas such as Tappish, Dhoop Kinaray, Khaleej, Aahat, Hawa Ki Beti, Nijaat and Zaibunnissa, Dhoop Kinaray (1987), written by Haseena Moin, and starred Rahat Kazmi and Marina Khan.[15][16] The drama became Sahira's most notable work in her production career.[17][18] The series succeeded even after two decades of its production.[19][20] In 2019, the series were also translated into Arabic, to play the drama in Saudi Arabia.[8][21] The step was taken as part of a cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.[22][23] Federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom.[24][25] Arab News said the move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernize the Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.[26][27]

Sahira is known for producing dramas and plays that highlighted social and political issues. Her drama Tappish revolved around a student leader and also highlighted the issue of rape. Aahat, Nijaat, Hawa Ki Beti and Zaib-Un-Nisa highlighted with issues like poverty, domestic abuse and hardships of women.[28] in 1993, Sahira took a break from her career and came back with a new project Tum Se Kehna Thaa; a play inspired by the Hollywood film While you were sleeping.[29] Sahira is also made the hit telefilms Rozi, which starred actor Moeen Akhter and Zikr Hai Saal Kaa, starring Rahat Kazmi and Atiqa Odho. She also produced the drama Kaise Kahoon, which starred the actress Marina Khan.[30][31]

Sahira has also produced many music programs for PTV. She was behind the song "Dekha Na Tha Kabhi Hum Nay Yeh Saman" , which was sung by the singer Alamgir. Sahira also came up with a song "Tere Ishq Mein Jo Bhi Doob Gaya", sung by the folk singer Allan Fakir and pop star Mohammad Ali Shehki. The song combined the words of Urdu and Sindhi.[32]

Personal life

In the mid 1970s, Sahira married Rahat Kazmi; a prominent actor with whom Sahira had worked in many dramas.[33][34] It was then that Sahira changed her name to Sahira Kazmi. The two lived in Karachi and had a daughter Nida Kazmi and son Ali Kazmi.[35][36][37]

Awards and recognition

During the ceremony, Sahira said:

I’m very glad that my work has been recognized after a while and not long after I am gone from the scene! We should pay tribute to other people who have done things during their lifetime.[7]

Dramas

Acting

Television series

Year Title Role Network
1974 Qurbatein Aur Faslay Aliya PTV
1975 Sangsaar Bushra PTV
1976 Parchaiyan Najia PTV[42]
1980 Teesra Kinara Mehreen PTV
1983 Picnic Iffat PTV
1984 Anjanay Main Samiya PTV

Director and Producer

References

  1. ^ Ahmad, Bisma (13 March 2015). "Old but not forgotten: Top 10 Pakistani dramas to re-watch now". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ^ "PTV's golden age". The Express Tribune. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. ^ Ali, Rashid Nazir (27 September 2014). "The Kazmi Family". Reviewit.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  5. ^ Bali, Karan (28 February 2016). "Manto to Shyam — 'Lahore, Amritsar and Rawalpindi are all where they used to be'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ editor2 (12 April 2016). "Exclusive Interview With Sahira Kazmi And Rahat Kazmi". Home - ARY NEWS. Retrieved 25 November 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c d "Civil awards: Pride of the nation". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 15 August 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Classic TV serials Dhoop Kinare, Taanhaiyaan to be aired in Saudi Arabia". Daily Pakistan Global. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Special Report, NOS, The News International". jang.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. ^ Jangnews. "Sahira and Rahat Kazmi".
  11. ^ "I took retakes just to hug Rahat Kazmi, says Iffat Omar". 24 News HD. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. ^ Ahmed, Shoaib (3 July 2017). "Today's dramas don't depict the society we belong to, says Amjad Islam Amjad". Images. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  13. ^ Alavi, Omair (7 April 2020). "Pakistani Dramas On Youtube To Make Your Isolation More Bearable!". Edition.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Pakistani dramas that once appealed to every group have now glued themselves to feminist issues only". The Nation. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  15. ^ ""I was the kind of girl that I portrayed in most of my plays." | Instep | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  16. ^ Meenakshi Sinha (3 January 2010). "Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyaan still remembered fondly - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Must watch 10 Pakistani dramas of the yesteryear!". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Our Remake Of The Classic Drama "Dhoop Kinare"". Niche. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  19. ^ "In Conversation with Marina Khan". The Friday Times. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Sajid Hassan reveals he was never paid for Dhoop Kinare | SAMAA". Samaa TV. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Classic Pakistani drama 'Dhoop Kinare' ready to air in Saudi Arabia". News Box. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Dhoop Kinare to air in Saudi Arabia with Arabic dubbing". Something Haute. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Popular PTV drama Dhoop Kinare to air in Saudi Arabia". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Zoya Nasir shares a fun fact as 'Dhoop Kinare' heads to Saudi Arabia". ARY NEWS. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  25. ^ Ali, Arshad (5 April 2019). "Classic Pakistani play, Dhoop Kinare, to on air in Saudi Arabia". Khyber News -Official Website. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Nothing lost in translation: Two more Pakistani serials to enthrall Saudi Arabia". Arab News PK. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Arabic version of 'Dhoop Kinare' ready for airing in Saudi Arabia". The Express Tribune. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  28. ^ "Events in Lahore: TOWN TALK | Shehr | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  29. ^ "'The actor woke up and realised she never wanted to act'". The Express Tribune. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Where is Marrina Khan? - Dr. Dushka H. Saiyid - Youlin Magazine". www.youlinmagazine.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  31. ^ "Eleven ignored dramas of Marina Khan". The Nation. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  32. ^ Dawnnews (8 March 2017). "Sahira Kazmi".
  33. ^ "Once Upon A Time..." Newsline. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  34. ^ "Ali Kazmi shooting with 'Game of Thrones' director | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Most Talented Pakistani Drama Actor Siblings Nida Kazmi And Ali Kazmi's Latest Pictures With Their Families". Health Fashion. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Rahat Kazmi had a proud moment that moved Ali Kazmi to tears". FUCHSIA. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  37. ^ "Sahira Kazmi Archives". Watch Latest Episodes of ARY Digital. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  38. ^ a b c d e Women's Year Book of Pakistan - Volume 4. Ladies Forum Publications. p. 258.
  39. Nigar Weekly
    (in Urdu). Golden Jubilee Number: 297. 2000.
  40. Nigar Weekly
    (in Urdu). Golden Jubilee Number: 297. 2000.
  41. ^ "Star & Style Season 3 | Dhoop Kinare Special Show". Pakistan Television Corporation. 19 June 2023.
  42. ^ "PTV yesterday and today | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  43. ^ "Dhoop Kinaray | Pakistan Today". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  44. ^ NewsBytes. "Classic Pakistani play, Dhoop Kinare, to air in Saudi Arabia this June". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  45. ^ Web Desk (13 August 2020). "Our content was once glorious". The Financial Daily. Retrieved 25 November 2020.

External links