Sheikh Mukhtar 61 Views

Born to a Railway Police inspector who had migrated to Delhi from Karachi, Sheikh Mukhtar grew up in the by lanes of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, particularly in Gali Choodi Walan near Jama Masjid. His interest in acting took him to Kolkata. His tall physique, he was 6’ 2’’ tall, made him what many describe as the film industry’s first anti hero. He debuted in a Mehboob Khan film, Ek Hi Raasta in 1939 and went on to play a number of tough guy characters, including Chengiz Khan in the film by the same name and Sher Afghan Kuli Khan in Noor Jehan. According to history, Sher Afghan was Nur Jahan’s first husband.

Sheikh Mukhtar had produced Noor Jehan, directed by Mohd Sadiq, considered an epic by many. It cast Meena Kumari, Pradeep Kumar, Rehman and a host of leading stars of the 60’s. Many thought that it would be another block buster like Mughal e Azam. However, either the timing of the release was wrong or the plot was not correct, the film bombed at the Box Office.It left Sheikh Mukhtar heart broken and he left India and migrated to Karachi, where he died on May 11, 1980. He had carried with him all the prints of Noor Jehan. During his last days he turned blind at the time of his death.