ISLAMABAD: Esteemed film actor and singer Izhar Qazi was remembered on the occasion of his 16th death anniversary today (Saturday).
Born on September 16, 1955, in Karachi, he initially pursued a career as an engineer at Pakistan Steel Mills.
His entry into the world of entertainment came through an introduction to television drama writer Fatima Suraiyya Bajia, who was in search of a fresh face for the television serial Ana. This marked the beginning of his journey as the romantic lead alongside Mehreen Ilahi, Shakeel, and Ghazala Kaifee in the 1982 serial. Subsequently, he appeared in Daira and Gardish alongside Shakeel and Saqi.
Transitioning to the Lollywood film industry in 1986 after television success, Qazi made his film debut as the lead in Nazar Shabab’s Ruby, earning critical acclaim. Director Jan Mohammad became a frequent collaborator, and their notable films included Manila ki Bijlyan, Roop ki Rani, and Choron ka Baadshah. Qazi’s most famous films included Love in Nepal, Aalmi Jasoos, Khazana, and Sarkata Insaan.
Izhar Qazi, who passed away on December 23, 2007, in Karachi due to a heart attack, retired from the film industry in 2003. His final acting role was in the series Pani Pe Naam, which aired on PTV.
The film Sarkata Insaan, where Qazi portrayed a police investigator, garnered eight Nigar Awards. He received Nigar Awards for his performances in Sakhi Baadshan and Bakhtawar, and the National Award for Best Actor for his role in Masood Butt’s Chiragh Bali.
On that fateful day in 2007, while singing at a wedding in Karachi, Izhar Qazi suffered a heart attack and subsequently passed away at a local hospital. He was laid to rest at the Model Colony graveyard. —APP
