Nadeem with Shabana

He may have made his debut as Pakistan’s answer to Dilip Kumar but Mirza Nazeer Baig Mughal has evolved from a super-hit actor into a superstar during his 43-year career. The journey that began with Chakori in 1967 is still going strong. Not only has Nadeem outlived his contemporaries but also inspired generations with his charismatic personality and professional ethics.

Born on 19th July, 1941, in Madras (now Chennai), India, to a family with no links to showbiz, he made his debut in Chakori when the intended hero of the film, Azeem, quit days before shooting was to commence. He not only impressed the audience with his acting skills and dashing looks but also belied critics who didn’t consider him a threat in the beginning.

With countless hits to back him, Nadeem achieved iconic status in the ’70s and gave a hard time to Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali and Shahid during the decade that saw him churn out hits with directors Pervez Malik, Nazrul Islam, S. Suleman and many others.

He has so far worked in 200-plus films since Chakori. Although he hasn’t tried his hand at direction but has been active on the scene for the past 43 years, winning fans all over the world and all awards imaginable.

Little Known Facts about Nadeem

1. Nadeem gave playback to Mohammad Qavi Khan in the film Mr Buddho (1973), The song was Kitne Ashq Piye Hain Phir Bhi Zinda Hoon, with the late playback singers Mala and Ahmed Rushdi lending their vocals for Deeba and Rangeela, respectively.

2. Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali and Nadeem actred in three films together. Their first film together was Phool Mere Gulshan Ka (1974) followed by Shama (1974) and Jab Jab Phool Khile (1975). Nadeem also has the distinction of working with great artistes including Santosh Kumar, Darpan, Alauddin, Kamal, Shahid, David, Shashi Kapoor and Raj Babbar during his career.

3. Nadeem played the angry young man Tony in Bollywood’s Doordesh in 1983, where he was pitted against Bangladeshi actress Babita and Indian actors Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Parveen Babi, Raj Babbar and David. The film was directed by Ambrish Sangal and was by the Canadian Production house Friends Film International.
4. His role in the multi-starrer Shama (1974) had shades of grey, but in Samaj and Suhaag he played a full-throttle villain. Mohammad Ali was the good guy in Samaj whereas Zia Mohyuddin played the bespectacled hero in Suhaag.
5. Nadeem was the first actor in Pakistan to play triple roles in a film. He played three roles simultaneously in Jaltay Sooraj Kay Neechay which was released in 1971, and was produced by Afzaal Chaudhry in the then East Pakistan.

6. Both the leading ladies — Aaminah Haq and Nosheen Tariq — in Nadeem’s debut TV serial Bisaat, directed by Ghazanfar Ali were born after Nadeem made his big screen debut in Chakori (1967). Yet he seemed at ease against the youngsters, fitting in as the leading man;

7. Nadeem is the only actor in Pakistan to work with four female directors who have also been his co-stars. The directors of the three films — Shamim Ara (Playboy), Sangeeta (Ishq Ishq) and Samina Peerzada (Inteha) — on numerous occasions played Nadeem’s leading ladies during his career. Shamim Ara in Parai Aag and Suhaag, Sangeeta in countless flicks including Anari and Mutthi Bhar Chawal and Samina Peerzada in Bazaar-i-Husn and Bulandi. The director of Koi Tujh Sa Kahan — Reema Khan — has worked with Nadeem in over a dozen films mostly as his daughter or the son’s love interest.

8. Nadeem never directed a film, but he has produced not one but two films. Mitti Kay Putlay (1974) was his first movie as a producer whereas the Punjabi film Mukhra (1988) once again saw him in the role of the producer;

9. Many believe that Nazrul Islam’s Bandish was the first film in which Nadeem changed his hairstyle, which is incorrect. Pervez Malik’s Pakeeza (1979) was the first flick in which he experimented with his hair. When his character loses his memory, his hairstyle changes… and when he regains his memory it’s back to the ’70s hairdo;

10. Nadeem has worked in not one but three films with the same name – Sangdil, Anari and Talaash. While the first Anari and Sangdil were black and white flicks, and the others were in color, the first Talash was released in 1976 and the other one a decade later. Not only were the stories of all these flicks different but also the directors.

Zahid Khan and Firdous in Aansoo (1971)

Capsule Review: Based on Riaz Arshad’s novel “Andhi Jawani”, Aansoo was one of the best films made during the early period of colored Lollywood films. The film dealt with the sensitive issue of rape and its after effects. Farida (Firdous) gets raped by a stranger Akhtar (Masoud Akhtar) while travelling from Karachi to Rawalpindi by train. The trauma of rape effects her psychologically for the rest of her life. Firdous who was then a popular heroine of Punjabi films gave one of her best performances in Urdu films as a character artiste. Highlights of the film were its songs including Mehdi Hassan’s “Jaan e jaan to jo kahey” – Ummer Siddique

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 1971, Genre – Drama, Country – Pakistan, Language – Urdu, Producer – Masood Khan, Director – S.A.Bokhari, Music Director – Nazir Ali, Cast - Deeba, Nadeem, Shahid, Mahpara, Firdaus

Shabnam and Nadeem

It would be hard to say when Nadeeem first met Shabnam, but the first film he did with her was Suroor Barabankvi’s Tum Mare Ho in 1968. Generally, Nadeem was paired with Shabana, while Rehman was doing movies with Shabnam. There weren’t too many fans of the Nadeem-Shabnam pair in East Pakistan then. Everybody liked Shabana with Nadeem. In fact, Shabnam was already being cast together with Waheed Murad in Lahore more often during that time. So, Nadeem seldom had a chance to seriously consider Shabnam as his screen partner. But his next film with her i.e. Nazneen didn’t do badly, but Shama Aur Parwana was their first real success in 1970.

After that, the two stars consistently snuggled close to each other, with films like Jaley Na Kyun Parwana, Chiragh Kahan Rohni Kahan, Man Kee Jeet and Ehsas, and that made them a star attraction together. Their respect for each other grew over the years as their expressive inputs increased. In the early 1970s, Nadeem was doing more films with Deeba (Sangdil, Aao Pyar Karien, and Ansoo), Shamim Ara (Suhag, Angarey, Aanch) and Nisho (Bazi, Sehrey Ke phool). But as time progressed, by the mid 1970’s, Nadeem had lots of movies with Shabnam, and their pair was established as a symbol of quality work, like Ehsas, Badal Aur Bijli, Society, Do Badan, Dillagi, Sharafat etc

In 1977, Aaina was released and created records of the longest running film and biggest earner of Pakistan history. After 1977, Nadeem and Shabnam attained a phenomenal rise in fortunes. Aaina established them for another decade. In the 1980’s, the pair continued to remain the prime actors of the country, with films like Bandish, Hum Dono, Qurbani, Dehleez, Kamyabi, Naraz etc.

It was always conjectured that Nadeem and Shabnam had soft corners for each other, though each of them had married lives of their own. Nothing concrete is there, in matters of proof that they over-indulged in any romantic overtures off-screen. Of course, tea and sympathy is always on the agenda!

Probably the last film they did together was Javed Fazil’s Faisla, which also featured Javed Sheikh. It was a massive hit and people still remember it as the Maula Jat of Urdu films!