ISLAMABAD: The birth anniversary of famous comedy actor Safeerullah Siddiqui popularly known as Lehri was observed on January 2.
Born in British India in 1929, Safeerullah Siddiqui moved to Karachi after partition and began working as a stenotypist during his teenage years.
Side by side after completing his hours at the office he would make ends meet by selling hosiery items in Saddar. His big break came in the 1950s when director Sheikh Lateef cost him in his film Anokhi.
After bagging the role of a comedian in the film Siddiqui was christened Lehri the name that became his identity during his 38 years in the film industry.
Out of the 225 films that Lehri acted in his career his comic roles in Mera Ghar Meri Jannat, Tasvir, Tum Salamat Raho, Ishara, Nai Laila Naya Majnon, Tum Milay Pyaar Mila, Bahadur, Saiqa, Naukar and Zameer won him outstanding appreciation and fame.
While the vast majority of Lehri's roles were in Urdu films the actor also worked on some Punjabi productions. Despite not having played the lead role as a film's hero, "since the comedian's role is usually a smaller one" Lehri found his place in the hearts of his millions of admirers.
While his last film Dhanak was released in 1986 his contributions to Pakistani cinema earned him an award from the film industry in 1993.
He won the Nigar Award 11 times for various films between 1964 and 1986. Lehri died on 13 September 2012 in Karachi at the age of 83 years.
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