// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Iftekhar say to his cat? Purr-tekar.
Iftekhar | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | Syedna Iftekhar Ahmed Sharif 26 February 1922 |
| Died | 1 March 1995 (aged 73) |
| Other name | Iftikhar |
| Occupation | Film actor |
| Years active | 1944–1994 |
| Spouse | Rehana Ahmad |
| Children | Salma (daughter) Saeeda (daughter) |
Syedna Iftekhar Ahmed Sharif (26 February 1922 – 1 March 1995), often mononym as Iftekhar or Iftikhar, was an Indian actor who mainly worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for his film roles as a police officer.[1]
Early life
[edit]Iftekhar was born in Jalandhar on 26 February 1922 and was the eldest among four brothers and a sister. After completing his matriculation, Iftekhar did a diploma course in painting from Lucknow College Of Arts. Iftekhar had a passion for singing and was impressed with the famous singer K. L. Saigal, besides intending to become a singer like him.
Career
[edit]At the age of 20, Iftekhar travelled to Kolkata for an audition conducted by the music composer Kamal Dasgupta, who was then serving for His Master's Voice. Dasgupta took an audition test of Iftekhar for HMV which, Iftekhar successfully passed. HMV thereby released a private album featuring 2 songs sung by Iftekhar following which, he returned to Kanpur. However, after a few days of returning to Kanpur, he got a telegram from M. P. Production, insisting him to return back to Kolkata. Dasgupta was so impressed by Iftekhar's personality that he recommended his name to M. P. Production as an actor.[2] However, despite his return to Kolkata upon being called by M. P. Production, no film with him in it could launch soon.
Ultimately, amidst a long gap, Iftekhar finally made his debut as an actor with a leading role in the film Taqraar (1944), which was made under the banner of Art Films-Kolkata.[3] He then appeared in Ghar and Rajlaxmi (both 1945). In Taqraar and Ghar, he was cast opposite Jamuna Barua while in the latter, he appeared alongside Kanan Devi. This was followed by Aisa Kyun and Tum Aur Mai (both 1947).
Many of Iftekhar's close relatives, including his parents and siblings, migrated to Pakistan during the partition.[2] He would have preferred to stay in Calcutta, but rioting forced him to leave Calcutta. Along with his wife and daughters, he moved to Bombay and arrived in 1948, where they struggled to make ends meet. Being unable to find work immediately, Jamuna Barua volunteered to work as a certain Mr. Patanwala's secretary to fulfil the basic household needs while Iftekhar himself continued to do whatever insignificant roles he was being offered then. Iftekhar had been introduced to actor Ashok Kumar during his time in Calcutta and contacted him in Bombay, gaining a role in the Bombay Talkies movie Muqaddar (1950). Iftekhar acted in over 400 films in a career that spanned from the 1940s through to the early 1990s.[2]
His brother, Imtiaz Ahmed, was a famous TV character actor of PTV (Pakistan Television), especially Afshan and Tanhaiyan. Like many of the older character actors who populated the Bollywood universe of the 1960s and 1970s, Iftekhar had been a lead actor in his youth during the "golden age" of Bollywood, in the 1940s and 1950s. His roles ranged from father, uncle, great-uncle, grandfather, police officer, police commissioner, courtroom judge and doctor. He also did negative roles in Bandini, Sawan Bhadon, Call Girl, Khel Khel Mein and Agent Vinod.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Iftekhar graduated to playing uncle, father, and what came to be his speciality: police inspector roles, doctor or senior advocate. Generally he played "sympathetic" characters but, on occasion, he played the heavy. One of his most memorable roles as a heavy was as Amitabh Bachchan's corrupt industrialist mentor in Yash Chopra's classic Deewaar (1975). Another of Iftekhar's classic roles was as the police inspector in Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer. It was a small part, but the scene where Iftekhar reprimands the near-hysteric Amitabh Bachchan for taking the law into his own hands is incredibly powerful. Another important role as a police officer was played by him in the 1978 hit film Don. Some of his major roles came in Rajesh Khanna films such as Joroo Ka Ghulam, Mehboob Ki Mehndi, The Train, Khamoshi, Safar, Raja Rani, Ittefaq, Rajput and Awam.
Besides Deewaar and Zanjeer, Iftekhar had character roles in many of the classics of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Bollywood cinema: Bimal Roy's Bandini, Raj Kapoor's Sangam, Manoj Kumar's Shaheed, Teesri Manzil, Teesri Kasam, Johny Mera Naam, Haré Rama Haré Krishna, Don, The Gambler (1971 film), Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978) and Sholay, to name but a few.
Apart from Hindi films, he appeared in two episodes of the American TV series Maya in 1967 as well the English language films Bombay Talkie (1970) and City of Joy (1992).
Personal life
[edit]During his Kanpur days, he was engaged with a girl named Saeeda. However, upon reaching Kolkata, he fell for a Jewish woman named Hannah Joseph, who shared the same building he was living in. Ultimately, he severed ties with Saeeda and married Hannah towards the early 1940s. Post marriage, Hannah Joseph was renamed Rehana Ahmad. Together, they had 2 daughters Salma (born 1946) and Saeeda (1947 - 7 February 1995), probably named after his ex-girlfriend.[2][4]. Rehana herself died on 27 May 2013 when she was in her early 90s.
Being a painter as well, Iftekhar taught painting to Ashok Kumar for which, Kumar always addressed Iftekhar as hid Painting Guru. ftekhar's calibre as a painter was shown through the background paintings shown during the credit sequence of Kishore Kumar's film Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964).
Salma had a love marriage to Vipin Chandra Jain in 1964, who in turn came from a very rich family of Dehradun and who arrived in Mumbai to become a Hindi film actor. Jain's grandfather Rai Bahadur Ugrasen Jain had been a renowned entrepreneur and was the chairman of Dehradun Municipal Corporation. Post marriage, Salma went to Dehradun too where she taught English in a college. They had a son and a daughter but she eventually returned back to Mumbai in 1979. For the next 20 years, she worked as the secretary and manager of producer N. C. Sippy at his office. During one of her journeys to Pakistan where her father's family resided, she came across Saeeda, the woman Iftekhar was earlier engaged to during his Kanpur days. Through their warm conversation, it was revealed Saeeda ultimately remained unmarried.
Saeeda was married to M. I. Sheikh stayed at Juhu, Mumbai. He was a manager of CIAT Tyres and they had 2 children. Later, Saeeda was diagnosed with cancer and after 5 years of being diagnosed, she succumbed to the disease on 1 March 1995.
Unable to bear the loss of his younger daughter, his diabetes suddenly shot up high. He was admitted to Suchak Hospital, Malad (East) but his condition worsened and he died on 1 March 1995, 24 days after Saeeda's demise.[2]
Selected filmography
[edit]Hindi
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Taqrar | Debut film & role | |
| 1945 | Ghar | ||
| Rajlaxmi | |||
| 1949 | Patanga[2] | Gardener | |
| 1950 | Lajawab | ||
| Muqaddar[2] | |||
| 1951 | Sagai | Chandni's father | |
| 1952 | Ashiana[1] | Jeevan | |
| Saqi | Abdul | ||
| 1953 | Aabshar | ||
| Ek Do Teen[1] | Shekhar | ||
| 1954 | Biraj Bahu | Kishorilal | |
| Mirza Ghalib[1] | Badshah | ||
| Naukri | |||
| 1955 | Devdas | Dwijdas Mukherjee | |
| Flying Man | |||
| Shree 420 | Police Inspector | ||
| Society | |||
| 1956 | Jagte Raho | Chandu | |
| Samundari Daku | |||
| Taksaal | |||
| 1957 | Ab Dilli Dur Nahin | Police Inspector | |
| Bandi | Ramesh Sharma | Uncredited guest appearence | |
| 1958 | Dilli Ka Thug | Dilip Singh | |
| Night Club | Police Inspector | ||
| Raagini | Villager | ||
| Sitaron Se Agey | Mohan | ||
| 1959 | Bedard Zamana Kya Jane | Public Prosecutor | |
| Fashionable Wife | Girdharilal | ||
| Kangan | Ramesh Bhatia | ||
| Mr. John | |||
| Naach Ghar | |||
| Raat Ke Rahi | Watson | ||
| 1960 | Aanchal | Mohan | |
| Chhabili | |||
| Kalpana | Johar | ||
| Kanoon | Savarkar | ||
| 1961 | Dark Street | ||
| Kanch Ki Gudiya | Ghosh | ||
| Kismet Palat Ke Dekh | |||
| Modern Girl | Pharmacist | ||
| Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja | fellow traveller | Uncredited guest appearence | |
| Zamana Badal Gaya | |||
| 1962 | Pathan | ||
| Professor | Artist | ||
| Rangoli | Police Inspector | ||
| Soorat Aur Seerat | |||
| 1963 | Bandini[1] | Chutti | |
| Gharni Shobha | |||
| Grahasti | Harish Chandra Khanna's brother-in-law | ||
| Meri Surat Teri Ankhen | Prakash | ||
| Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke | Byomkesh Mukherjee's junior lawyer | ||
| 1964 | Apne Huye Paraye | Public Prosecutor | |
| Awara Badal | Darshan Singh | ||
| Cha Cha Cha | Family doctor | ||
| Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein[2] | Jagga | Also drew the background paintings shown during the credit sequence of this film. | |
| Sangam | Indian Air Force Officer | ||
| Shehnai | Amarjeet's friend | ||
| 1965 | Guide[2] | Police Inspector | |
| Shaheed | Public Prosecutor, Lahore | ||
| 1966 | Ajnabi | ||
| Phool Aur Patthar | Babu | ||
| Pinjre Ke Panchhi | Police Inspector | ||
| Sagaai | Hospital doctor | ||
| Teesri Kasam[1] | Vikram Singh | ||
| Teesri Manzil[1] | Police Inspector | ||
| 1967 | Duniya Nachegi | Jagdish | |
| Hamraaz | Jagmohan Kumar | ||
| 1968 | Do Dooni Char | Bukhari | |
| Sunghursh | Shankar Prasad | ||
| 1969 | Aadmi Aur Insaan | Saxena | |
| Intaquam | Police Inspector | ||
| Ittefaq[1] | Karwe | ||
| Khamoshi | Doctor | ||
| Pyar Ka Mausam | Keshav | ||
| Rahgir | |||
| Sajan | Police Inspector | ||
| 1970 | Bhai-Bhai | Police Inspector | |
| Insaan Aur Shaitan | Barna | ||
| Johny Mera Naam | Mehta | ||
| My Love | Doctor | ||
| Prem Pujari | Indian army | ||
| Safar | Prosecutor | ||
| Sau Saal Beet Gaye | Indrajeet Singh | ||
| Sawan Bhadon | Gauri Shankar | ||
| The Train | Police Commissioner | ||
| Tum Haseen Main Jawaan | Anuradha's father | ||
| 1971 | Do Raha | Geeta's father | |
| Door Ka Raahi | John | ||
| Elaan | Police Chief | ||
| Gambler | |||
| Hare Rama Hare Krishna | IGP | ||
| Irada | Police Inspector | ||
| Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli | Dr. Verma | ||
| Kal Aaj Aur Kal | Ram's friend | ||
| Mehboob Ki Mehndi | Nawab Safdar Jang | ||
| Sharmeelee | Colonel | ||
| 1972 | Apradh | Police Inspector | |
| Bees Saal Pehle | Lakshman | ||
| Dastaan | Prosecutor | ||
| Ek Bar Mooskura Do | |||
| Jawani Diwani | Thakur | ||
| Joroo Ka Ghulam | Kalpana's uncle | ||
| Kundan | |||
| Parchhaiyan | Choudhary Shyamlal | ||
| Pyaar Diwana | |||
| Rani Mera Naam | |||
| Tanhai | Madanlal Kapoor | ||
| Yeh Gulistan Hamara | Vijay's Captain | ||
| Zindagi Zindagi | Ismail | ||
| 1973 | Achanak | Bakshi | |
| Anamika | Dr. Irshad Hussain | ||
| Black Mail | Mehta | ||
| Daag: A Poem of Love | Singh | ||
| Ek Nari Do Roop | Dinesh | ||
| Gaddar | Professor | ||
| Haathi Ke Daant | |||
| Jheel Ke Us Paar | Diwan | ||
| Joshila | Police Inspector | ||
| Loafer | Police Commissioner | ||
| Nanha Shikari | |||
| Nirdosh | |||
| Raja Rani | Suresh's father | ||
| Sonal | |||
| Zanjeer | Singh | ||
| 1974 | 36 Ghante | Vijay's father | |
| Azad Mohabbat | |||
| Badla | Lobo | ||
| Benaam | |||
| Call Girl | Sonachand | ||
| Chor Chor | Police Commissioner | ||
| Dak Bangla | |||
| Ishq Ishq Ishq | Ghumli | ||
| Jeevan Sangram | Police Inspector | ||
| Majboor | Khurana | ||
| Patthar Aur Payal[1] | B.K. Varma | ||
| Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye | Dhanraj | ||
| Raja Kaka | |||
| Raja Shiv Chhatrapati | |||
| Ujala Hi Ujala | Jamuna Prasad | ||
| Woh Main Nahin | Prosecutor | ||
| Zehreela Insaan | Vishamber Nath | ||
| 1975 | Aakhri Dao[1] | Khurana | |
| Badnaam | |||
| Chori Mera Kaam | Police Commissioner | ||
| Deewaar[1][2] | Mulk Raj Daavar | ||
| Dharmatma | Vikram Singh | ||
| Ek Hans Ka Jora | Tina's father | ||
| Jaan Hazir Hai | |||
| Khel Khel Mein | Bhupendra Singh | ||
| Mazaaq | |||
| Phanda | |||
| Saazish | Mohanlal Saxena | ||
| Sholay | Radha's Father | ||
| Zakhmee | Ashok Ganguly | ||
| 1976 | Ek Se Badhkar Ek | Police Commissioner | Uncredited guest appearence |
| Fakira | Sujit | ||
| Gumrah | Gupta | ||
| Jaaneman | Police Commissioner | ||
| Kabhi Kabhie | Malhotra | Uncredited guest appearence | |
| Laila Majnu | Emir Sharwari | ||
| Zindagi | Verma | ||
| 1977 | Abhi To Jee Lein | Deepak's father | |
| Agent Vinod | Madanlal | ||
| Apnapan | Kishan Agarwal | ||
| Chandi Sona | Police Commissioner | ||
| Dangal | |||
| Do Dilwale | |||
| Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye | Dr. Fareed | ||
| Kali Raat | |||
| Karm | Shyamlal Kumar | ||
| Paapi | Raj Kumar's foster father | ||
| Phir Janam Lenge Hum / Janam Janam Ka Saathi | |||
| Videsh | Prasad Sinha | ||
| 1978 | Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se | Dr. Pradhan | |
| Bandie | Raghuveer Singh | Dubbed in Bengali as well. | |
| Besharam | Police Commissioner | ||
| Don[1][2] | D'Silva | ||
| Ganga Ki Saugand | Gupta | ||
| Khatta Meetha | Cooper | ||
| Khoon Ka Badla Khoon | Commissioner Kotwal | ||
| Khoon Ki Pukaar | Khan | ||
| Phaansi | Mahendra Pratap Singh | ||
| Tere Pyaar Mein | |||
| Trishul | P.L. Verma | ||
| Vishwanath | Mahanta | ||
| 1979 | Do Ladke Dono Kadke | Shinde | |
| Jhoota Kahin Ka | Police Inspector | ||
| Kaala Patthar | Harpal Singh | ||
| Love in Canada | Shatru Khanna | ||
| Mr. Natwarlal | |||
| Noorie | Ghulam Nabi | ||
| Shaayad | Prosecutor | ||
| Shikshaa | Dwarka Das Gupta | ||
| Surakshaa | C. B. I. Head | ||
| The Great Gambler | Deepchand | ||
| 1980 | Bombay 405 Miles | Ranveer Singh | |
| Cobra | |||
| Do Shatru | Karan Singh | ||
| Dostana | Prosecutor | ||
| Ganga Aur Sooraj | |||
| Humkadam | Dr. Fareed | ||
| Insaf Ka Tarazu | Judge | ||
| Jyoti Bane Jwala | |||
| Karz[1] | Dr. Daniel | ||
| Maan Abhiman | Sumer Singh | ||
| Sanjh Ki Bela | |||
| The Burning Train | Jagmohan | ||
| Zalim | Kamat | ||
| 1981 | Agni Pareeksha | Dr. Sen | |
| Baseraa | Dr. B. K. Gokhale | ||
| Chehre Pe Chehra | Diana's father | ||
| Ghungroo Ki Awaaz | Dr. Dixit | ||
| Harjaee | Dr. Gupta | ||
| Khoon Aur Paani | Khan | ||
| Krodhi | Police Commissioner | ||
| Laparwah | Police Inspector | ||
| Naari | Hakeem Noor Ali | ||
| Raaz | Sharma | ||
| Rocky | Dr. Bhagwandas | ||
| Sannata | Verma | ||
| Wardaat[1] | Police Chief | ||
| 1982 | Apradhi Kaun ? | Khanna | |
| Bezubaan | Amarnath | ||
| Dard Ka Rishta | Head of Tata hospital | ||
| Dil Hi Dil Mein | Sahni | ||
| Dulha Bikta Hai | Daulatrai Walia | ||
| Nikaah | Jumman | ||
| Rajput | Ram Avtaar Singh | ||
| Raksha | Head of the Secret Service | ||
| Saath Saath | Gupta | ||
| Sun Sajna | Karim | ||
| Yeh Vaada Raha | Dr. Sahni | ||
| 1983 | Dharti Aakash | Sadanand Chaudhary | Television film |
| Ganga Meri Maa | |||
| Haadsa | Police Inspector | ||
| Jaane Jaan | Kapoor | ||
| Mahaan | Police Commissioner | Uncredited guest appearence | |
| Main Awara Hoon | Dr. Rashid | ||
| Mangal Pandey | R.P. Gupta | Uncredited guest appearence | |
| Mazdoor | Kundan Lal Batra | ||
| Mawaali | Prosecutor | ||
| Qayamat | Sinha | ||
| Rachana | Doctor | ||
| Rishta Kagaz Ka | Bhatnagar | ||
| Sadma | Train Passenger | ||
| Sun Meri Laila | Abid Khan | ||
| 1984 | Aaj Ki Awaaz | V.V. Deshmukh | |
| Awaaz | Police Commissioner | ||
| Boxer | Rushdie | ||
| Dharm Aur Qanoon | Dr. John | ||
| Grahasthi | Karim | ||
| Hanste Khelte | Shanti Prasad Goel | ||
| Inquilaab | Bombay Police Commissioner | ||
| Jagir | Praveen Singh | ||
| Kanoon Kya Karega | Samant | ||
| Maqsad | Doctor | ||
| Mashaal | Doctor | ||
| Mujhe Shakti Do | Jyoti's father | ||
| Phulwari | Chowdhury | ||
| Prarthana | |||
| Ram Tera Desh | Police Commissioner | ||
| Yaadon Ki Zanjeer | C. B. I. Officer | ||
| Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan | Akhtar Mirza | ||
| 1985 | Aaj Ka Daur | ||
| Aakhri Chaal | Television film | ||
| Awara Baap | Bihari | ||
| Bond 303 | Police Commissioner | ||
| Dekha Pyar Tumhara | Target's Managing Partner | ||
| Ek Daku Saher Mein | Shaukat Hussain | ||
| Hum Dono | Mathura Das | ||
| Jaanoo | Dr. Prabha's senior | ||
| Kabhi Ajnabi The | Pappa | ||
| Meri Jung | Garewal | ||
| Misaal | Nath | ||
| Phaansi Ke Baad[1] | Mohammed Riyaz | ||
| Salma | Ustad | ||
| Tawaif | Lala Fakirchand | ||
| Yaar Kasam | |||
| Yudh | Police Commissioner | ||
| 1986 | Angaaray | Khan | |
| Bhagwaan Dada[1] | Doctor | ||
| Khamosh Nigahen | |||
| Locket | |||
| Peechha Karro | Police Commissioner | ||
| Tan-Badan | Devendra Pratap | Uncredited guest appearence | |
| Zindagani | Sumitra's father | ||
| 1987 | Awam[1] | Ram Kumar | |
| Himmat Aur Mehanat | Doctor | ||
| Insaniyat Ke Dushman | Senior Police Officer | ||
| Itihaas | Senior Police Officer | ||
| Marte Dam Tak | Lal | ||
| Nazrana | Advocate | ||
| 1988 | Commando | Restaurant Manager | Uncredited guest appearence |
| Falak | D'Souza | ||
| Main Tere Liye | Mehta | ||
| Nagin Ke Do Dushman | |||
| Paap Ko Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga | Inspector General of Police | ||
| Razia | |||
| Saaya | |||
| Sherni[5] | Police Chief | ||
| Tamacha | Senior Officer | ||
| Woh Phir Aayegi[1] | Raju's Dad | ||
| 1989 | Akanksha | Employer | Television film |
| Farz Ki Jung | Walia | ||
| Galiyon Ka Badshah[1] | Police Commissioner | ||
| Guru | Dead person (only his photograph is used) | Uncredited | |
| Na-Insaafi | Ravi Khanna's father | ||
| Shiva | Principal | ||
| 1990 | Jaan-E-Wafa | ||
| Kaaranama | Suraj's father | ||
| Kanoon Ki Zanjeer | Jailor | ||
| Karishma Kismat Ka | |||
| Maha-Sangram | Rahim | ||
| Vidrohi | Director General of Police | ||
| 1991 | Iraada | Ali | |
| Lakhpati | |||
| Patthar Ke Phool | Smuggler | ||
| 1992 | Bekhudi | ||
| Hayratt | |||
| Khule-Aam | Pratap Singh Rana | ||
| 1993 | Kala Coat | Khurana | Last role |
| 2008 | Yaar Meri Zindagi | Munim | Delayed posthomous release; completed in 1971. |
English
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | The Guide | Police Inspector | |
| 1967-1968 | Maya | Jang Bahadur | Television series |
| 1970 | Bombay Talkie | Vizarat Khan | |
| The Evil Within | Hanif | ||
| 1984 | The Far Pavilions | Nakshaband Khan | Television mini series |
Bengali
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Ek Din Ratre | Chandu | Bengali version of Jagte Raho (1956) |
| 1978 | Bandie | Raghuveer Singh | Hindi version of the same title. |
| 1982 | Agent Raaj | Avinash Ghoshal |
French
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Nocturne Indien | Theosophy professor | |
| 1992 | City of Joy | Hasari's father |
Punjabi
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Maujaan Dubai Diyaan | Roshan Lal |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Iftekhar filmography". Upperstall.com website. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Roshmila Bhattacharya (5 March 2020). "Remembering Iftekhar: An officer and a gentleman". Mumbai Mirror newspaper. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ↑ Das, Tina (4 March 2020). "Iftekhar, Bollywood's favourite cop, was also an exceptional painter". ThePrint. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ↑ "इफ्तेख़ार ख़ान को गाने का था शौक पर बन गए अभिनेता". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ↑ FilmiClub. "Sherni (1988) Complete Cast & Crew". FilmiClub. Retrieved 22 January 2025.[permanent dead link]
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
