Abdul Nadir February 24, 1999

Tags: Government , Karachi , Pakistan

rel="tag" href="/tag/career">career after the release of
his own production "Hero," also became a victim of the bottom line obsessed
Lollywood. Only the countless fans of this matinee idol have kept his name
alive by zealously celebrating his death anniversary, by annually raising money
to distribute Waheed Murad film awards and by viewing his movies again and
again at theater revivals or on television. After battling for several years,
the same diehard fans of WM forced the Karachi Municipal Corporation to take
an unprecedented step: change Marstan Road-a street of Karachi thronged with
cinemas-to Waheed Murad Road. Such an "appreciation" of WM by the government of
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is startling in that the stigma attached to the film industry has been selectively moderated for a mere actor.

In 1940, at the time of WM's birth, his father Nisar Murad was a successful
film distributor. Exposure to famous actors who used to visit his home
regularly inspired WM to pursue an acting career. His friends remember "Weedu"
as a schoolboy who would wear a guitar around his neck and was a good dancer.
As a student in the Marie-Colaco High School in Karachi, he played parts in
several plays. He made friends with Iqbal Yousuf and Pervaiz Malik, who would
take up the same profession and would remain associated with him for the rest
of his life. Fortunately for WM, his family persuaded him to complete his
education prior to embarking on a film career. He graduated from the Karachi
University in 1962 after completing masters in English literature. A strong
educational background placed WM at an advantage compared to the other film
actors of his time.

Just before graduating from KU, WM had launched his first project in the film
industry as a producer. Zeba and Darpan played the lead in "Aaulad" and the
movie was quite successful. While Waheed was making "Aaulad", Shaukat Hashmi,
an established producer of that time recognized acting potential in him
debonair young man and offered him a role in "Doctor". Even in this small
role, Waheed marked his presence gracefully, but his acting career really took
off in 1964 when his friend Pervaiz Malik returned from the U.S. after
completing a two-year degree in cinematography. Waheed immediately offered
him the job of a director for "Heera aur pathar". Waheed played the role of a
gadha garey walla (donkey cart owner), but it was his innocent romance with
Zeba in the movie that won the hearts of the public. The movie completed
golden jubilee in the Naz cinema of Karachi and WM received the "Nigar award"
for the best actor of 1964.

Two other individuals besides WM and Malik were fundamental in making "Heera
aur Pathar" such a blockbuster: Composer Sohail Rana and songwriter Masroor
Anwar. WM brought the three under the umbrella of "Film Arts"; he was the boss
and the rest of the three were dear friends and employees. "Arman" was
released by Film Arts in 1966. Not only was "Arman" WM's original idea, he
also produced and starred in the film. It became the most successful film of
the Pakistani film industry up until that time. It completed a platinum
jubilee in Karachi, its songs, akailay na jana, kokokorina-are still popular
today, and WM won the award for the best producer of 1966. WM was now an
established actor. All the producers wanted him for the lead roles of their
movies; he was supposed to serenade coy actresses by singing romantic numbers
on the hilltops of Murree or the valleys of the N.W.F.P., and he did the job
in an admirable fashion. "Dooraha", "Ehsan", "Devar Bhabi", "Andaleeb" and
"Anjuman" were mega-hits. Whether he is luring, a seemingly angry Shamim Ara
while singing "Tumhe kaisey bata dou tum merey manzil ho" or trying to flirt
with Shabnam-"Kutch log routh kar bheey lagtey hei", in his sports car,
moviegoers loved him. WM adored seeing himself in such roles and the producers
wanted the same performance from him every time.

In the late sixties, dissension grew between WM and the other three friends; the
team of "Film Arts". Several years after WM's death, Malik wrote in "Daily
Dawn", "Success at an early age had gone to WM's head in a big way. He would
take credit for all the success of movies and give little recognition to
others." Film Arts broke up and Malik started his own projects with new actors
among whom Nadeem was prominent. In order to prove him, Waheed directed
"Ishara" believing that he will be as successful as Malik at direction, but
the movie flopped. Worse still, after her marriage with Mohammed Ali, Zeba was
not allowed to work with WM and though Waheed paired off with Shabnam in a few
successful movies, soon Shabnam's husband Robin Ghosh forced her to not work
with WM. Even Nisho's better half in the 70"s asked her to refuse working in
WM's films. He was effectively ostracized in Lollywood.

Eventually, the repeated performances of a stereotypical romantic hero led to
failure. "Mastani Mehbooba", "Mehboob Mera Mastana" and "Dilruba" were taken
out of theaters within two weeks. In addition, WM was not the only one anymore; Nadeem
was giving him very stiff competition and in fact replaced him as the number one
hero of Pakistan in the mid-seventies. The movie critics who had always found
WM to be difficult & arrogant started getting even with WM and opined in
tabloids that he was only good to perform the role of a romantic actor and
with his advancing age was a spent force. Nonetheless, WM's acting technique
improved with every film. He played diverse roles: that of a poor rickshaw
driver in "Waqt", an innocent villager in "Waada", and a smuggler in "Jab Jab
Phool khile". In the latter movie, he performed brilliantly against his
competitors, Mohammed Ali and Nadeem, who were the other two stars in the
film. Unfortunately, even "Waqt" and "Waada" in which Waheed was the only hero
did not do that well in the box office, leading to a loss of confidence of
the film industry in WM.

By 1978, WM was being caste in only supporting roles, with Mohammed Ali,
Nadeem and Shahid playing the lead. A born star, WM could not take such an
ignominious treatment meted out to him by Lolly wood, but kept silent and did
not seek help from his friends. Malik, who was an established director and
producer by late seventies, wrote in "Daily Dawn", "Not even once during that
time WM come to me seeking work in my films." WM was becoming depressed. His
close friends revealed that he was becoming addicted to alcohol, oral tobacco
and sleeping pills. Even his domestic life suffered and his wife Salma left
for the U.S.

A combination of bad habits and stress caused ulceration in WM's stomach in
1981. He suffered from bleeding and had to undergo stomach removal to save his
life. His many fans came to the hospital to donate blood to save the life of
their favorite hero. Although, he recovered, he lost a significant amount of
weight. Even then, Iqbal Akhtar and Iqbal Yousuf, who proved to be real
friends in difficult times, cast Waheed Murad in their movies. WM appeared
pathetic in "Dil ney phir Yaad keya" and "Ghairao". Even his loyal admirers
felt that it was all over for him.

In 1983, Anwar Maqsood, another close friend from the university days invited
WM to his TV show "Silver Jubilee". At only 90 pounds, WM appeared pencil-thin
on the screen, but attempted to put up a brave front. He said, "Once my film
"Hero"is released, I will recapture my number one position." However, the keen
observers could see that WM would be unable to spellbind the public as he did
in the past. Only during the singing of "Tumhe kaisey bataa dou tum merey
manzil" by Aalamgir, WM's smiles reflected a shadow of his former self-
probably in his mind he was still the young hero 20 years earlier. Babra
Shareef, a top actress of the time, revealed that during filming of a scene of
"Hero", WM lost his balance while walking briskly toward her and fell down. He
took several minutes to catch his breath prior to standing up on his feet
again.

In July of 1983, WM was driving his car too fast; one of his favorite
hobbies. The steering wheel slipped from his hand and he pumped the gas
instead of the brakes; his car struck a big tree. WM had a narrow escape, but
was left with a large scar on his face. A few days after the accident, WM
asked his friend Malik, "Do you have a role for me?" Malik knowing that WM was
not ready for an acting assignment said, "Weedu you get better and you will be
the lead in my next film." With his still razor-sharp mind , WM replied
quickly, "You give me the role and I will get better." He was going to Karachi
to get the scar fixed in order to complete the last few scenes of "Hero" when
he met the chief editor of the national film tabloid "Nigar" at the airport.
Rasheedi wrote,"By chance a famous film producer was also present in the
waiting area and WM put him on the spot by asking if he had a role for him for
Javed Sheikh's father in his movie. The producer had a difficult time dodging
WM." During the flight Waheed was very bitter. He told Rasheedi that he was
reduced to working in a Pushto film produced by Badar Muneer, who used to help
WM with his household work in the late sixties, but subsequently became a
successful movie star.

WM's son Aadil was in Karachi staying with his grand mother. A day before
surgery, WM celebrated his birthday. He bought several gifts for Aadil and
wished him a happy year. He returned late to spend the night at Anita Ayub's
mother Mumtaz Ayub's house. When WM did not wake up until late, the door had
to be forced open and WM was found lying on the floor, dead for several hours.
A pan leaf with "something" in it was found in his mouth. Nobody knows for
sure if it was a heart attack or suicide.

The mercurial rise and fall of WM is quite similar to that of Elvis Presley
and analogies have been drawn between these two icons. Despite suffering such
a tragic death, WM was born again. His movies are repeatedly shown on the big
screen and are well received. "Hero" was completed after WM's death by Iqbal
Yousuf and was a sellout for two weeks in twenty theaters where it was shown
in Karachi. Even the younger generation, not fully aware of WM's fame, have
copied his style by redoing his songs, "Sayoney mera mahey" and "ko ko
korina".

WM was a superb actor and probably one of the best who ever graced
"Lollywood". His failure in movies was not owing to lack of talent. In fact,
he was the most stylish and original actor in Pakistan. He improved the image
of Lollywood by shining through their mediocre scripts; they repaid him by
contributing to his downfall. Bad luck, his own strong personality and
rendezvous with several actresses also ruined him. He, however, still lives on
in the hearts of millions of fans. As his daughter Aaliya said, "If abbo knew
that he had such a following, he would not have died."