by NADEEM F. PARACHA
Moin Akhtar’s rise was not rapid. His fame grew through word-of-mouth, especially on his home turf in Karachi. PHOTO/White Star
Moin Akhtar, who passed away in Karachi on April 22, was perhaps one of the best known names in comic acting in the subcontinent.
I say this because even the great Indian film legend, Dilip Kumar, once remarked that ‘Moin Akhtar’s great artistry is worth copying.’
But Moin Akhtar was a lot more than just a comic. Beginning his long career as an impersonator, he went on to become a much appreciated stand-up comedian, TV, film and stage actor, talk-show host and then ultimately, going back to doing impersonations.
Surprisingly, not much is available on the man’s life in terms of a biography or a detailed study of this prolific artiste, even though he remained to be the country’s leading comic talent ever since the 1970s.
But Moin Akhtar’s gradual ascend towards stardom and legendary status was also wrought with some devastating failures that took a toll on the man’s health.
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He had been impersonating his teachers and famous Pakistani film actors in school when all of a sudden he was called up by the organisers of a Pakistan Day event at a club in Karachi in 1966. He was just 16 years old.
When his turn came to perform on stage, he did what he was already doing in school. But this time, he added a new act to his impersonation repertoire – that of the famous Pakistani film actor, Mohammad Ali.
Ali had been popular for his loud emotional scenes and a booming voice, and when Moin Akhtar impersonated and mimicked all this to perfection (also adding his own twists and bits), the crowd at the event is said to have erupted in laughter. They had never seen or heard anything like this.
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