Ismail Tara (; 16 November 1949 – 24 November 2022), born Muhammad Ismail Merchant, was a Pakistani actor and comedian. Beginning in 1964, he worked in stage plays, television serials and

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 ...

films till his death in 2022. He was best known for his work in ''Fifty Fifty'', which aired on PTV in the 1980s. He was a five time

Nigar Awards 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 ...

winner for the best comedian in ''Haathi Mere Saathi'' (1993), ''Aakhri Mujra'' (1994), ''Munda Bigra Jaye'' (1995), ''

Chief Sahib ''Chief Saab'' is a 1996 Pakistani musical comedy film, directed by Javed Sheikh and starring himself, Neeli, Saleem Sheikh and Meera in the lead roles. It was a super-hit musical film of 1996. Cast *Javed Sheikh *Neeli *Saleem Sheikh *Meera * ...

'' (1996) and ''Deewarein'' (1998).

Early life

Tara was born Muhammad Ismail Merchant in

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

into a

Gujarati Gujarati may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India * Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat * Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them * Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub- ...

-speaking

Memon Memon may refer to: Ethnic group and language * Memon people, Sunni Muslim community in Gujarat, India and Sindh, Pakistan ** Memons (Kathiawar) ** Kutchi Memon, from Kutch, Gujarat *** Kutchi Memons in Bombay ** Bantva Memons, from Bantva, Gujara ...

business family, and began his career in 1964, at the age of 15, when he got a role in a play staged by a small theatre.

Career

Tara first rose to prominence when he became a part of the ''

Zia Mohyeddin Zia Mohyeddin (; 20 June 1931 – 13 February 2023) was a British-Pakistani film actor, producer, director, and television broadcaster who appeared in both Pakistani cinema and television, as well as in British cinema and television throughout ...

Show'' in 1972–1973. Tara is best known for the popular TV show ''Fifty Fifty'', ending up writing some of its scripts along with fellow TV comedian

Majid Jahangir Abdul Majid Jahangir (1949 – 10 January 2023) was a Pakistani comic actor. He was best known for his comedy roles and caricatures acted in PTV's show ''Fifty-Fifty''. Early life and career Majid Jahngir was born in Karachi. His father ...

when the original scriptwriter

Anwar Maqsood Anwar Maqsood Hameedi (born 7 September 1939; ), popularly known as Anwar Maqsood, is a Pakistani scriptwriter, television presenter, satirist, humorist, and infrequent actor. He is well known for his drama write-ups for PTV in the late 1970 ...

had a fall-out with the show's cast in 1981.

Personal life and death

Tara had to perform a comedy theater the same day his 8-year-old son died. After his performance, he told the audience about his son's death. Tara died due to kidney failure in Karachi on 24 November 2022, at the age of 73.

Filmography

Television

Films

Stage plays

Awards and nominations

: Winner for best comedian for Haathi Mere Saathi in 1993 *

: Winner for best comedian for ''Aakhri Mujra''n 1994 *

: Winner for best comedian for ''Munda Bigra Jaye'' in 1995 *

: Winner for best comedian for ''

'' in 1996 *

: Winner for best comedian for ''Deewarein'' in 1998 *

The 1st Indus Drama Awards The 1st Indus Drama Awards ceremony, presented by Indus TV Network, sponsored by Dulux, took place on 23 September 2005, at PAF Museum, Karachi. The ceremony was recorded, and was scheduled to be televised in Pakistan and UAE on 1 October 2 ...

: Nominated for Best Actor Sitcom in a Leading Role and received Award for TV Comedy Series Fifty Fifty (1980s) *

Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance (), officially known as the Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sp ...

from the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

2022

References

External links

* 1949 births 2022 deaths Memon people Pakistani people of Gujarati descent Pakistani male film actors Pakistani male stage actors Pakistani male television actors Pakistani male comedians Male actors from Karachi Nigar Award winners Male actors in Urdu cinema 20th-century Pakistani male actors 21st-century Pakistani male actors Recipients of the Pride of Performance Muhajir people {{Pakistan-actor-stub