News
Friday, September 14, 2012
Pakistan’s golden-age comedian Lehri diesKARACHI: Famous actor and comedian Lehri passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 83, after protracted illness. Lehri was recently admitted to a private hospital, where his condition continually deteriorated. Lehri had been treated in several hospitals in Karachi for his chronic disease of diabetes. His body was shifted to his residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Lehri’s real name was Safirullah Siddiqui.
The deceased actor’s family sources said that he would be laid to rest in Yasin Abad graveyard. Lehri was one of Pakistan’s greatest comedians who made his name in Urdu films. His film career started in the 1950s and lasted until the 1980s. Lehri had also won the Nigar Award for at least a dozen films. Lehri’s first film ‘Anokhi’ was released in 1956, and his last production was ‘Dhanak’ in 1986. Besides performing in a few Punjabi movies, majority of his films were in Urdu.
Former prime minister late Benazir Bhutto provided him with a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 during her first tenure, which he continued to receive, though there had been no increase in the amount. Actors Shabnam, Bushra Ansari, Sangeeta, Umar Sharif, Qavi Khan, and other TV and film actors expressed their condolences over Lehri’s demise. online
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk