Moin Akhtar

Moin Akhtar, who was born on 24 December 1950 in Karachi to Urdu speaking Kashmiri parents migrated from Mumbai India, was highly dynamic and versatile performer. He was a television, film and stage actor, as well as a humourist, comedian, impersonator, and a host. He was also a play writer, singer, film director and a producer.

He made his debut for television on 6 September 1966, in a variety show held on PTV to celebrate the first defense day of Pakistan. Since then, he has performed several roles in TV plays/shows, later making a team with Anwar Maqsood and Bushra Ansari.

He was beloved for providing humour for people of all ages, and with an etiquette that remains unmatched. His attempts to avoid vulgarity in his humour rendered him a favourite amongst family audiences.

Moin Akhtar was fluent in several languages, including English, Bengali, Sindhi, Punjabi, Memon, Pashto, Gujarati and Urdu. He performed not only in Pakistan but played in several stage shows like Bakra Qiston Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai with Umer Sharif in India too.

Moin Akhtar rose to the national spotlight and gathered critical acclaim for his performance in the drama Rosy/Rozy, in which he played the role of a female TV artist. Rozy was an Urdu adaptation of Hollywood movie Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman.

Moreover, in a talk-show namely Loose Talk, which began in 2005 on ARY Digital, he appeared as a different character in each and every of over 400 episodes interviewed by Anwar Maqsood, the writer and the host of the program. Akhter also briefly hosted the game show Kya Aap Banaingay Crorepati, the Pakistani version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

He was awarded honorary citizenship of Dallas in 1996 for his achievements.

He died on 22 April 2011 in Karachi after suffering from a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons. The funeral prayers of Moin Akhtar were offered in Tauheed Masjid near his residence. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayer which was led by Junaid Jamshed. The world famous wax museum Madame Tussauds has expressed its wish to include a statue of Moin Akhtar in their London museum. If made, it will be the first of its kind for any Pakistani entertainer.