Syed Ishrat Abbas (), (1928 – 8 November 1980) better known by his stage name Darpan (), was one of the original romantic heroes of the "Golden Age" of

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

film industry The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking, i.e., film production company, production companies, film studios, cinematography, animation, film production, screenwriting, pre- ...

(also commonly known as

Lollywood Lollywood is Pakistan's film industry, which has served as the base for both Urdu- and Punjabi-language film production. Lahore has been the center of Pakistani cinema since independence in 1947. However, with the Urdu film hub largel ...

Early life

Syed Ishrat Abbas was born into a middle-class family originally from the United Provinces of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, where he was born in 1928. His older brother, Santosh Kumar, was also a film actor. Another brother, S. Suleman, is a film director.

Career

Darpan was introduced in the film ''Amanat'' in 1950 and went on to feature in the

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

Punjabi film ''Billo'' in 1951. After starring in a few more films produced in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

, he decided to try his luck in India, where he only had moderate level of success. Notable films from this period include '' Barati'' (1954), and '' Adl-e-Jehangir'' (1955) opposite

Meena Kumari Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano; 1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Known as "The Tragedy Queen", she is regarded among the finest and greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinem ...

. Darpan came back to Lahore after a few years, where the film industry was then booming, and he acted in ''Baap Ka Gunah (1957)''. He had a breakthrough with his self-produced film ''Sathi''. '' Raat Ke Rahi (1960)'', ''Saheli'', ''Gulfam'', ''Qaidi'', ''Anchal'', ''Baji'', ''Shikwa'', ''Ik Tera Sahara'' and ''Naela (1965)'' were some big films in which he played vital roles. Critics applauded his lead role performance back in

's film ''Saheli (1960)'' in which he starred alongside

Nayyar Sultana Nayyar Sultana (born Tayyaba Bano; 1937 – 27 October 1992), known as ''Malka-i-Jazbaat'' (Queen of Sentiments) and ''Queen of Emotions'', was a Pakistani film actress. She became one of the foremost screen actresses of Lollywood in the 19 ...

and

Shamim Ara Shamim Ara (, 22 March 1938 – 5 August 2016) was a Pakistani film actress, director, and producer. She was known as ''The Tragic Beauty'' because of the tragic heroine roles she often portrayed in films. She was one of the most popular actr ...

. He won a Best Actor

Nigar Award The Nigar Awards () were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema, after having been revived in 2017 following a 15-year absence. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The ...

for his performance in ''Saheli (1960)'', as well as a Presidential award. His last big film as hero was ''Payal Ki Jhankar'' in 1966. He was the hero in two of

Waheed Murad Waheed Murad (; 2 October 1938 – 23 November 1983), also known as Chocolate Hero, was a Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Famous for his charming expressions, attractive personality, tender voice and unusual talent for acting, ...

's produced films ''Insaan Badalta Hai'' and ''Jab Se Dekha Hai Tumhen''. He played the villain in ''Ik Gunah Aur Sahi'', and was a supporting actor in ''Khuda Te Maan'', ''

Jub Jub Phool Khile Jub Jub Phool Khiley (transl. Whenever the blossoms bloom) was a Pakistani Urdu language, Urdu-language film, released on 21 November 1975. It starred Zeba, Mumtaz (Pakistani actress), Mumtaz, Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali (actor), Mohammad Ali an ...

(1975)'' and a few other films.

Personal life

Darpan was a good-looking and attractive man with hazel eyes and a rich playboy's smile. At first glance, he seemed like a non-serious flirt and a 'lady killer'. At least, that was his 'professional image as an actor'. He used to play non-serious fun-loving roles in the movies quite unlike his older actor brother Santosh Kumar who used to take serious romantic roles in the Pakistani movies of the 1950s and 1960s. When it came to marriage, Darpan fell for a shy, typically eastern and a lady-like fellow actress,

. They had been paired together earlier in a super-hit Pakistani film ''Saheli'' (1960) which also starred

and was directed by veteran film director S. M. Yusuf.

Death

He died in

on 8 November 1980 at age 52.Darpan's 32nd death anniversary today
Geo News (TV channel), Published 8 November 2012, Retrieved 16 July 2022

Filmography

Darpan did a total of 70 films - 58 films in Urdu language, 2 in Hindi language, 8 in Punjabi language and 2 films in Pashto language.

Film

In India

In Pakistan

Awards and recognition

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Darpan 1928 births 1980 deaths Pakistani male film actors Nigar Award winners 20th-century Pakistani male actors Male actors from Lahore Male actors in Urdu cinema Male actors from Uttar Pradesh Male actors in Pashto cinema Pakistani people of Hyderabadi descent Male actors in Punjabi cinema 20th-century Indian male actors Indian male film actors Male actors in Hindi cinema Muhajir people Indian emigrants to Pakistan