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1-43 of 43
- Of British parentage, John Sutton was born in Rawalpindi, India (now part of Pakistan), on October 22, 1908. After graduating from Wellington College, he spent a decade or so working in various British colonies, including several in Africa, as a hunter, rancher and tea plantation manager. An avid wanderlust adventurer in the same vein as Errol Flynn (with whom he worked in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)) during his pre-Hollywood days, Sutton lived all over the world, including China, Malaya and the Philippines. He somehow arrived in Hollywood in the mid-'30s as a technical consultant on films with a British Empire background. He was a dark, handsome man and, eventually, this caught directors' eyes and he was placed in front of the camera. Making an unbilled debut in The Last of the Mohicans (1936), he apprenticed in a number of bit roles for a couple of years, including a minor running part in the "Bulldog Drummond" series from 1937-1939. Unlike Flynn, however, this slick-looking actor had more slivery eyes to match his slivery mustache and a shadier countenance. For most of his career he would find himself more on the cruel end of a romantic triangle. As the "other man" or hero's adversary, he was shown at his best as flashy, slimy swashbucklers who met their fate at the end of the sword in the final reel. He peaked in the 1940s at 20th Century-Fox, where he carved out quite a nasty niche for himself in such films as Hudson's Bay (1940), Jane Eyre (1943), Captain from Castile (1947), Adventures of Casanova (1948), The Three Musketeers (1948), Bride of Vengeance (1949) and The Fan (1949). Occasionally he was asked to play a lead, particularly at a time when all the romantic male stars were serving their country during WWII, in films such as Moon Over Her Shoulder (1941) and Tonight We Raid Calais (1943). In the 1950s his film career waned and he took on TV roles. Sutton died suddenly in August of 1963 of a heart attack in Cannes, France, at the age of 54, shortly after finishing work on Of Human Bondage (1964) in England.
- Vinita Butt was born on 3 April 1937 in Rawalpindi, British India. She is an actress, known for Rustom Sohrab (1967), Midnight Mail (1939) and Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955).
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Jawed Sheikh was born on 8 October 1954 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. He is an actor and director, known for Na Maloom Afraad (2014), Om Shanti Om (2007) and Tamasha (2015).- Background: Actress and mimic par excellence Veena Malik was born on February 26, 1984, in Rawalpindi. Veena has a strong family background: her father was a retired Army officer and her sisters have completed advanced educations and have gone on to successful, professional careers. Education: Veena is fortunate in that, before entering modeling and acting, she had ample opportunity to complete her education. She has always been a promising student, successful in her studies as well as in co-curricular activities, i.e., Qirat, Naat, and English/Urdu debates. She received both bachelor and graduate degrees (Sociology, Psychology and Persian) from F.G. College Rawalpindi.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Rugged looks, brawny and stocky, with an aggressive style of dialogue delivery. Sultan Rahi the Pakistani film superstar was the ultimate action hero and firmly established himself as the biggest film personality from Pakistan. He was a Pakistani version of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone, and James Bond all rolled into one with a Punjabi touch. He appeared in over 800 movies. Starting his career playing as a villain or character roles he gradually progressed to a hero. However, following the phenomenal success of Maula Jat (1979) he, in tandem with Mustafa Qureshi, was considered essential in any Punjabi movie hoping to succeed. He played the most number of 'title roles'.
Some of his major films include Maula Jatt, Sher Khan (1981), Chan Veryam (1981), Kaley Chore, and Sakhi Badshah (1996). A one-man film industry power-house during the 1980s and 90's he had an extremely successful film career which came to a tragic and premature end with his assassination in January 1996.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Mukhtar's portfolio as an actor ranges from theatre plays such The Good Doctor, 14/48 Theatre Festival 2008, The Producers and Act 144, to acting in the widely appreciated play Pawnay 14 August. He has also featured in Janaan. Mukhtar's work profile ranges from directing, shooting and editing his own short films such as the critically acclaimed short film 'Aasia' which won him an award in 2007, based on a true story, it tackled the issue of child molestation, something which is still considered taboo in Pakistan's modest society. His independent films such as 'Black Coffee' and the 2011 online video series 'Sweetness', in which he also acted, went viral on social media for it's out of the box concept and humor, appealing largely to the young generation and thus earning him a cult following.- Zahid Ahmed is a Pakistani Theater and Television actor. Born and raised in Islamabad, he performed in a number of classic theatrical adaptations including the likes of Phantom of the Opera, Bombay Dreams, It runs in the family etc. A decade long career in theater paved the way towards television acting where he debuted on the country's premium entertainment network (Hum Tv) in 2016. From there on he continued television, winning an award for best negative role in only his second play. Since then he continues to perform on Pakistani television channels, is a prominent feature in television commercials and his baritone voice is used by many brands in their advertisements.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Balraj Sahni, born in Rawalpindi, British India (present-day Pakistan), was an acclaimed Indian film and stage actor. Known for his powerful and impactful performances, Balraj Sahni became a prominent figure in the golden era of Indian cinema.
Balraj Sahni initially pursued a career in the civil service but eventually found his true calling in acting. He became associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), a leftist cultural organization, where he honed his skills and passion for acting. His association with IPTA marked the beginning of his journey in theater.
Balraj Sahni made his film debut in 1946 with the film "Insaaf," but he gained widespread recognition and acclaim for his role in the film "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953), directed by Bimal Roy. His portrayal of Shambhu Mahato, a poor farmer struggling to save his land, showcased his acting prowess and earned him accolades. The film won the International Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Balraj Sahni delivered memorable performances in films such as "Kabuliwala" (1961), "Waqt" (1965), and "Neel Kamal" (1968). He often played roles that reflected the socio-economic realities of the time, and his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters set him apart as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema.
Balraj Sahni's filmography includes a diverse range of roles, from intense and dramatic characters to light-hearted and comedic ones. He collaborated with renowned filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, and Yash Chopra, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
Apart from his acting career, Balraj Sahni was also a noted writer and penned several books, including his autobiography "Meri Filmi Aatmakatha" (My Filmy Autobiography).
Balraj Sahni's contribution to Indian cinema was not only recognized within the industry but also by the government. He received the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India, in 1969. Unfortunately, Balraj Sahni's life was cut short, and he passed away on April 13, 1973, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable performances and a lasting impact on Indian cinema.- Shayaan Rasul was born on 8 November 1995 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Shayaan is an actor, known for The Billionaire CEO's Runaway Wife (2024).
- Music Department
- Writer
- Actor
Anand Bakshi was one of the greatest and popular lyricists of his time. He was the only lyricist, besides his associate Majrooh Sultanpuri, who enjoyed such a long and illustrious career in Bollywood lyricism and was still going strong after more than 40 years. Like Sultanpuri, Bakshi wrote simple poetry that could be understood by all, and he was in wide demand by all filmmakers.
Born in Rawalpindi, 1930, Bakshi was an avid film buff and always dreamt of coming to Bombay and join Bollywood. As his family was against the idea, being composed of mainly bank/military officials, he ran away from home and joined the Navy with the hope of reaching Bombay. But his naval career was cut short with the naval mutiny that occurred in Karachi, and the subsequent partition of India forced him to rejoin his family in Lucknow and take a job as a telephone operator. But he was still determined to go to Bombay, and soon fulfilled his dream.
Initially, he could make no headway. Disillusioned and dejected, he worked in Delhi as a motor mechanic. But Bakshi was persistent and kept coming back to Bombay, and in 1958 he got a chance meeting with the actor Bhagwan Palav, who offered him a job to write the lyrics for his film Bhala Aadmi (1958). Then followed more long periods of struggle until he got his big break in Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath (1962) and Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), both films by Suraj Prakash. Their success, particularly the latter film with its Kashmiri love story, brought Bakshi to the fore. However it was only with the blockbuster Milan (1967) that he was recognized as a lyricist par excellence, with tunes from the film being hummed all over the country. Anand Bakshi had arrived, and from then there was no looking back for him.
A golden age followed for Bakshi, during which he wrote lyrics for box-office hits like Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), Sholay (1975) and his favourite film, Amar Prem (1972) - the first two having been composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the last two by Rahul Dev Burman. He also worked with renowned directors like Raj Kapoor, Subhash Ghai and his close friend Yash Chopra, and composed lyrics for all their successes, notably Bobby (1973) for the socialist Kapoor, Taal (1999) for masala director Ghai and Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) for the romantic Chopra. Indeed, it seemed that for a film to be a box-office success all it needed was great music - and lyrics by Anand Bakshi!
Bakshi's career kept at an all-time high until 30 March 2002, when he passed away in Bombay. He had been quite ill for a few months and had been undergoing treatment for cardiac-related problems. His death was a tragic loss to Bollywood Cinema, especially for those connoisseurs of great music and lyricism. However, even after his death, directors continued to use lyrics he compiled before his death. Such dedication and trust in a lyricist already gone proved why Anand Baskhi was truly one of the elite lyricists of all time...- Indira Bansal was born on 3 December 1932 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. She is an actress, known for Shrimati Ji (1952), Victoria No. 203 (1972) and Abhimaan (1957).
- Actor
- Producer
Saleem Sheikh was born on 15 March 1967 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. He is an actor and producer, known for Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa (2002), Chief Sahib (1996) and Sangam (1997).- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
- Director
Asad Qureshi was born on 20 November 1957 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He is an assistant director and producer, known for 165 Days, Defusing Human Bombs (2011) and Mad Dogs (2002).- Iggy Rose was a model and actress who was immortalized by Mick Rock at Syd Barrett's "The Madcap Laughs", his first solo album after Pink Floyd, released in 1969. She was known as Iggy the Eskimo back then as it was rumored she was part Inuit.
She was born Evelyn Laldawngliani Joyce on the 14th of December 1947 in Rawalpindi (Pakistan) to a British father, major Harry Charlton Joyce, an officer in the British army, and a Mizo woman, Chawngpuii (known as Angela in English).
Evelyn's parents had met at the end of the Second World War, when he was stationed in Mizoram - then, the the Lushai Hills (northeastern India, then still ruled by the British). Evelyn's middle name, Laldawngliani, means gift of the gods, in mizo, a language Iggy never spoke.
Evelyn had two younger siblings, Stephen Lalungmuana, who was born in Dhaka (Bangladesh) in January 1949; and Elizabeth, who was born in Worthing, Sussex, around 1959.
For decades there were political and military troubles in Mizoram, located in the North-Eastern part of India, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. Evelyn and family lived a luxurious and protected life in one of the British enclaves, politely ignoring that a civil war was raging around them. One day a mob invaded their house and burned it down.
The family flew to Aden, Yemen, another melting pot of colonial and religious problems. This was only a temporary solution as the family returned to England where they lived the upstairs life.
The Mizo branch had lost contact with the English family members in the sixties, when there had been a military conflict between India and Mizoram freedom fighters. In the aftermath of the conflict the Indian government censored all letters to and from Mizoram, and communication was lost between Chawngpuii and her family in north-east India.
For an unknown reason, Evelyn was nicknamed Iggy or Ig. After moving to England Iggy was briefly an art student. She lived in Brighton but she ranaway from home in 1961, when she was fourteen, discovering boys, girls, booze, and speed. Iggy danced through life, her pretty looks and free spirit mostly assured her some food and a place to stay.
She worked at Granny Takes a Trip, the "first psychedelic boutique in Groovy London of the 1960s", as a shop assistant, and was a regular at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley between 1963 and 1967. DJ Jeff Dexter, who regularly played at the Orchid, vividly remembers the beautiful girl who used to talk to him while he played his set. He first noticed her in 1963. He said: "Iggy was part of a group of very wonderful looking south London girls. She was very mysterious, she was unusual because she did not look like anyone else at the time."
Iggy spent a brief part of the 60s living in Croydon with Dexter. She said: "The Orchid Ballroom was the place to be, the atmosphere was fantastic. I loved going there, I loved to dance. Jeff wanted to turn me and two other lovely girls into the English version of the Supremes, but that never happened."
When her mixed-race appearance was exoticised in the London of the 1960s, she gave the name "Eskimo" to an NME photographer as a joke, although she always said she was "from the Himalayas".
In the 1960s, she met The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, The Yardbirds, Rod Stewart... She recalled: "I met so many people in the 60s - ... I was a free spirit."
In the Swinging 1960s she was an iconic model.
In 1967 she became involved with film director Anthony Stern, who took many pictures of the model and also made a film of her called "Iggy the Eskimo Girl". Stern said: "Iggy was my muse. I met her at a Hendrix gig at the Speakeasy. She was a lovely inspiration and free spirit. I never knew her real name. We used to hang out together, occasionally dropping acid, staying up all night, going for walks at dawn in Battersea Park. She entirely captures the spirit of the Sixties, living for the moment, completely carefree."
The most iconic images of her appear on Syd Barrett's solo album The Madcap Laughs, where she poses naked in the background, and were took by Mick Rock on the spring of 1969.
Iggy and artist Jenny Spires, ex-girlfriend and lifelong friend of Syd Barrett, met in the summer of 1966, and they met again at Biba's in the spring of 1967. From then, they went clubbing in many occasions, and Iggy invited Jenny to a Dusty Springfield après-event. Jenny returned the favor and introduced her to Syd Barrett in January or February 1969.
Photographer Mick Rock recalls: "Syd was still in his underpants when he opened the door. He'd totally forgotten about the session and fell about laughing. Iggy the Eskimo was naked in the kitchen making coffee. She didn't mind either. They both laughed a lot and it was a magical session."
She stayed for a couple of weeks at Wetherby Mansions and she visited Barrett over the period of a few months.
The legend was that Iggy vanished all of a sudden after she broke with Barrett, but she just wasn't traceable on the Floydian radar any more. In those days it was enough to move a couple of blocks where she frequented other, equally alternative and underground, circles. There were painters, musicians, actors, movie directors... She moved to Brighton soon after and left London in the 1970s.
In 1976 she acted in the experimental film "Central Bazaar" by the provocative avant-garde legend Stephen Dwoski, who gathered together a group of strangers and filmed them as they explored their fantasies over a period of five days. The ceremonial gowns and make-up here not only evoke the eroticism of European horror movies but also highlight the film's interplay between performance and intimacy.
In the mid-seventies psychedelic tomfoolery was over and Iggy had to look for a job. She worked on a horse-farm for a while and met her future husband Andrew there. According to the painter Duggie Fields, Barrett's old flatmate, she got married in 1978 to a rich guy from Chelsea and led a "decent" life after that. They relocated to a small village in the Horsham district of West Sussex, where she worked in a local supermarket.
In 2002, Mick Rock's coffee-table book Psychedelic Renegades featured more shots of Syd and Iggy posing outside the Earls Court mansion block, alongside Barrett's abandoned Pontiac. Rock's photos found their way onto most Pink Floyd fan-sites, where Iggy had acquired cult status.
While researching for his Pink Floyd biography (2007's Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story Of Pink Floyd) author Mark Blake quizzed everyone about Iggy's whereabouts.
In September 2008, the Croydon Guardian appealed for information about the model and, more than a year later, they managed to track her down. She inspired artist Anthony Stern, who filmed her dancing in Battersea Park and also took striking photographs of her on a houseboat in Chelsea. They were released at the City Wakes festival - a tribute to Syd Barrett - in October 2008, in Cambridge, in the short documentary "Iggy The Eskimo Girl".
In March 2010, MOJO 196's cover story on Syd Barrett's The Madcap Laughs pondered the whereabouts of 'Iggy The Eskimo', the naked girl on the LP sleeve. It came as a shock to the object of Syd obsessives' fascination; who contacted MOJO after reading the magazine. She was interviewed for Mojo and she learned there was some kind of Iggy fandom on the world wide web.
Iggy passed away aged 69 on December 13th 2017 at the United Kingdom, she was survived by her husband Andrew. Her funeral took place on the 27th of December 2017 at Worthing Crematorium, West Sussex, South East England.
After her passing, Iggy's fan-site "The Holy Church of Iggy The Inuit" (link below) found her Mizo connection, and since then renamed their site to "The Holy Church of Iggy the Mizo". It wasn't until 2021, thanks to social media, that both sides of the family, the Mizo and the British, got in contact again. - Ram Avtar was born in 1911 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India. He is an actor, known for Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Procession of Memories (1973) and Ek Sapera Ek Lutera (1965).
- Actress
- Music Department
- Composer
Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on 11 August 1974. She went on to become a famous singer winning many national and international music awards. She is considered as an icon among the crop of female pop singers to arise from Pakistan. She has released five music albums so far, all of them commercial successes. She lives in Lahore these days with her mother.- Rafi Peerzada was born on 21 March 1898 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. He died on 11 April 1974 in Pakistan.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Dev Kohli was born on 2 November 1942 in Rawalpindi, British India. He was a composer and writer, known for Baazigar (1993), Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001). He died on 26 August 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.- Actress
- Producer
Krishna Kumari was born on 3 October 1934 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India. She is an actress and producer, known for Kan Kan Men Bhagwan (1963), Samrat Chandragupt (1958) and Zabak (1961).- Writer
- Actor
Atif Siddique was born on 10 January 1982 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He is a writer and actor, known for IJ Inspector Jamshed, UmroAyyar - A New Beginning (2024) and Kambakht.- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Hassan Zia was born on 13 June 1992 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. He is a director and writer, known for Sunnyside Up (2012).- Visual Effects
Ahmad Shark Naveed was born on 16 July 1999 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He is known for X-Change (2024), The Girl Inside the Polaroid and The Devil's Deception (2022).- Director
- Actor
- Cinematographer
Aki Nawaz was born in 1961 in Gumpti, near Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He is a director and actor, known for To Gaza with Love (2009), The Southern Death Cult: Fatman (1982) and Religulous (2008).- Actress
- Producer
- Music Department
Swaran Lata was born in 1924 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India. She was an actress and producer, known for Ratan (1944), Heer (1955) and Tasveer (1943). She died on 8 February 2008 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.- Taiba Noorulain Sheheryar, a Pakistani Canadian model and entrepreneur who has blazed trails for countless young girls, businesses in need, and more. Having already left a mark at Mrs. Universe 2017, the world's premier international beauty pageant, She is the only Pakistani model to break through on an international stage. She was born and raised in Pakistan. She completed her degree of Interior Designing from Humber College Toronto, Canada and at the same time she started her own business of Designing consultation. She currently works as a Closet designer and Professional Organizer with a corporate company in Toronto.
As a fashion model, she has featured in multiple fashion magazines with top fashion brands and beauty brands. She was a ramp model and showstopper at the IFFC (International Fashion Festival Canada) and the Toronto Fashion show. With a multi-season set of styles from a variety of top brands, she's developed a reputation as a top ramp model.
As a model and influencer, Taiba has a social media following in the tens of thousands, and uses her platform as a place of positivity and encouragement. In a rare turn, Taiba is a fashionista and model who doesn't capitalize on being overtly sexual, but modestly and effectively builds her own set of styles using fashion forward brands, with innovative photography in various locations within Toronto and beyond.