Pakistan has had many comedians, all rounder and multi faced stars in its film / TV and stage history, but none has ever been able to match the class of Moeen Akhtar. Born in 1950 in the city of Karachi, he initially started as a child star in newly established PTV, Moeen quickly rose to the heights of fame and glory. Besides acting, he also started compeering, using his humorist approach and spontaneity. He is everything, a stage actor, comedian, impersonator, host and singer. He is rated among top artists in Pakistan. To the Karachi based audience, especially those who watched stage shows with the Omar Sharif & Moeen Akhtar duo in the mid-eighties, he is a legend. His TV debut was on September 6, 1966, in a variety show held to celebrate first defense day of Pakistan‎. Moeen Akhtar thereafter starred in many television dramas and live comedy events. The TV audience from the 80’s and 90’s still distinctly remembers the trio of Moeen Akhtar, Anwar Maqsood and Bushra Ansari that brought laughter and smile to many a household. The stage shows have simply not been the same since he left the circuit to pursue other aspirations.

One of Moeen Akhtar’s most memorable roles was as Rozi, where he cross-dressed and played the counterpart of Dustin Hoffman (from American movie Tootsie (1982). Not to be left behind, Moeen Akhtar also did films (e.g. Taaj Daar) and songs. For some of the uninitiated, the image of Mehdi Hasan engraved on their minds is actually that of impersonating Moeen Akhtar twisting his mouth and rolling his eyes to make the notes come out!

Left: Moeen Akhtar in "Loose Talk" with Anwar Maqsood - Right: Moeen Akhtar's Masterpiece role Bebiya

He has parodied in several languages, including English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Memon, Pushto, Gujarati, Bengali and others, while in the Urdu-speaking world, he is beloved for providing great humor for people of all ages, and with an etiquette that remains unmatched. He hosted "The Moin Akhtar Show" on PTV where he used to have celebrities come on the show with their spouses and have them answer questions. In 2005 he started work on talk show Loose Talk, in which he appears as a disguised guest every time and is interviewed humorously by writer Anwar Maqsood. Loose Talk is a show in which Moin Akhtar and Anwar Maqsood discuss real life situations in Pakistan along with a little humor.

In an interview, Moeen once remarked, “I want to stay alive in the hearts and minds of the people, even after I am gone.” And no wonder, he is matchless and irreparable since so far despite presence of many comedians and humorists, he stands above all and has a class of his very own - matchless, different and laudable.

 Related Sites: | Guest Post: Moeen Akhtar - A legend |

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