Web Desk: Renowned late actor Qavi Khan 84th birth anniversary is being celebrated today.
Qavi was born in Badaun, India on Nov 13, 1942. His father was in the British Army. The family migrated to Pakistan in 1947 by train and reached Khokropar, Sindh. Later, they moved to Peshawar and started living opposite Masjid Mahabat Khan.
Khan got admission to Govt High School No-2 in Peshawar. Radio artiste Sheikh Sharif who lived nearby gave Khan an chance to take part in a children programme, Nanay Mian. Khan did matriculation from Govt High School No-4. He used to visit his brother-in-law’s Capital Cinema where he learnt film projection. In 1956, he took admission to Edwardes College but left his studies in third year. He joined the Grindlays Bank as the front desk officer. A craving for acting compelled Khan to move to Lahore, the center of all film and theatre. On his request, the bank transferred him to Lahore.
In 1961 at Alhamra, Shoaib Hashmi cast him in a play Dagha Baz, written by Dr Envar Sajjad and directed by Kamal Ahmed Rizvi. Later, he was offered another play ‘Aap Ki Tareef’ written and directed by Naeem Tahir. In 1964, he got a chance from director Diljit Mirza to work in the movie Riwaj. In 1971, he started producing films and Mr Buddhu was his first production. He produced 13 films and acted in about 200 films.
Khan’s television career started in 1964. Fazal Kamal, the first head of the PTV cast him in the first ever TV play ‘Nazrana’ as the male lead opposite Kanwal Naseer. The play went on air live because there was no recording system. During his acting career, Qavi worked in over 1,000 plays of the PTV and did a variety of roles. His most famous one was the role of the police officer in Andhera Ujala.
Qavi was laid to rest in Canada. He left behind two sons, two daughters and a widow.
