Shah Zaman Khan Afridi better known as Sudhir (

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Pakistani actor, director and producer. Sudhir was a highly respected film personality. He is known as the first action hero of

Pakistani cinema Cinema of Pakistan, popularly known as Lollywood ( ur, ), refers to the filmmaking industry in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to several film studios centres, primarily located in its three largest cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. ...

. His film roles symbolized valour and bravery.

Early life

He was born as Shah Zaman Khan Afridi on 25 January 1921 in Hassan Ghari Peshawar , N.W.F.P, British India. He was of

Pashtun Pashtuns (, , ; ps, پښتانه, ), also known as Pakhtuns or Pathans, are an Iranian ethnic group who are native to the geographic region of Pashtunistan in the present-day countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were historically r ...

origin but he spent all his life in Lahore.

Professional career

Sudhir started his career with a role in a

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" ...

film named ''Farz'' in 1947 in British India. Afterwards, he migrated to Pakistan. After 1947, he started his career in the

. His first film was ''Hichkolay'' in 1949. He appeared in the hit musical film ''Dupatta'' in 1952. In 1954, ''Sassi'' was the first ever

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Golden Jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali ''"সু� ...

. ''Dulla Bhatti'' (1956), ''Mahi Munda'' (1956) and ''

Yakke Wali ''Yakke Wali'' is a 1957 Pakistani Punjabi language film directed by M. J. Rana and produced by Bari Malik. It tells the story of a woman who earns a living by driving a tanga. Musarrat Nazir played the title role in the film with Sudhir, M. ...

'' (1957) were the highest grossing

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

films of the time. ''Yakke Wali'' (1957) was the first blockbuster

film. These two films led to building of large film studios in Pakistan. Sudhir was the hero of action film '' Baghi'' (1956), the first Pakistani film to be shown in China. He was an "action films hero", but appeared as

Hatim Tai Hatim al-Tai ( ar, حاتم الطائي, ''Hatim of the Tayy tribe''; died 578), full name Ḥātim bin ʿAbd Allāh bin Saʿd aṭ-Ṭāʾiyy ( ar, حاتم بن عبد الله بن سعد الطائي) was the ruling prince and poet of the T ...

in ''Hatim'' (1956), as Prince Saleem in the famous film ''Anarkali'' (1958), as Mirza Jat in the film ''Mirza Sahiban'' (1956), as Mahinwal in the film ''Sohni'' (1955) and as

Mirza Ghalib ) , birth_date = , birth_place = Kala Mahal, Agra, Maratha Confederacy , death_date = , death_place = Gali Qasim Jaan, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, British India , occupation = Poet , language ...

in the film ''

Ghalib ) , birth_date = , birth_place = Kala Mahal, Agra, Maratha Confederacy , death_date = , death_place = Gali Qasim Jaan, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, British India , occupation = Poet , language ...

'' (1961). He acted in the films ''

Nooran ''Nooran'' ( pa, نوراں), also spelled ''Nooraan'', is a 1957 Pakistani Punjabi-language musical romance film directed and produced by J.C. Anand and starring Noor Jehan and Sudhir in lead roles. Hazeen Qadri weote the film, songs lyric ...

'' (1957), ''Jhoomar'' (1959) and ''Gul Bakawli'' (1961) etc. He starred in one of the highest grossing Punjabi films ''

Kartar Singh Kartar Singh (born 7 October 1953) is an Indian wrestler who won gold medals at the Asian Games in 1978 and 1986. He stood 7th at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 100 kg Wrestling. Life Kartar Singh was born in Sur ...

'' in 1959. He later appeared in hits such as the film '' Farangi'' (1964) and ''Ajab Khan'' (1961), on the struggle against the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was him ...

. His film ''Jeedar'' (1965) was the first to reach a

Platinum Jubilee A platinum jubilee is a celebration held to mark an anniversary. Among monarchies, it usually refers to a 70th anniversary. The most recent monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other C ...

status. ''Maa Puttar'' (1970) was another Punjabi film to celebrate a

. He once fought a real battle with a tiger in film ''Sahil'' (1960). He appeared as a sidekick with his son in film ''Dushman Ki Talash'' (1978).

Pakistan television

At a very old age, he had a special appearance on PTV and was interviewed by Izhar Bobby.,

Pakistan Television Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore. Background Historical c ...

videoclip on YouTube.

Personal life

Sudhir married four times, twice within his extended family. These two marriages were 'arranged marriages' by his elders, which is commonly practiced in Pakistani culture, then with fellow actress Shammi and finally with Pakistani film actress

Zeba Shaheen Bano (born 10 September 1945), known professionally as Zeba ( ur, ), is a Pakistani actress. She was one of the top stars of the Pakistani film industry in the 1960s and the early 1970s.Zeba Shaheen Bano (born 10 September 1945), known professionally as Zeba ( ur, ), is a Pakistani actress. She was one of the top stars of the Pakistani film industry in the 1960s and the early 1970s.Mohammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, ...

. Sudhir had four sons out of these marriages. He had his elder son Noor Zaman Khan from his first wife. He had one son from his second wife namely Meer Zaman also an actor. He had two sons from actress Shammi – Nadir Zaman Khan and Sikandar Zaman. His younger son Sikandar Zaman Khan is married to renowned playback singer

Noor Jehan Noor Jehan (Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Press ...

's granddaughter Fatima. He had no children with Zeba.

Death

Sudhir died on 19 January 1997 and was laid to rest at ''Defense Society Graveyard'' in

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second List of cities in Pakistan by population, most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th List of largest cities, most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is th ...

, Pakistan.

Awards and nominations

* 1970 -

Nigar Awards The Nigar Awards ( ur, , translit=Inʿām Negār, lit=Picture Awards) were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The Nigar Awards ...

(Punjabi films)-Best Actor Award for the film ''Maa Puttar'' * 1974 -

(Punjabi films)-Best Actor Award for the film ''Lottery'' * 1981 -

-Special Award for 30 years of excellence.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sudhir 1921 births 1997 deaths Pashtun people Male actors in Hindi cinema Film directors from Lahore Pakistani male film actors Pakistani film producers Pakistani stunt performers Male actors from Lahore Nigar Award winners 20th-century Pakistani male actors