Syed Ishrat Abbas ( ur, ), (1928 – 8 November 1980) better known by his stage name Darpan
( ur, ), was one of the original romantic heroes of the "Golden Age" of
Pakistan's
film industry (also commonly known as
Lollywood).
Early life
Syed Ishrat Abbas was born into a middle-class family originally from the
United Provinces of
India, where he was born in 1928. His older brother,
Santosh Kumar, was also a film actor. Another brother,
S. Suleman, is a film director.
[
]
Career
Darpan was introduced in the film ''Amanat'' in 1950 and went on to feature in the Pakistani Punjabi film ''Billo'' in 1951. After starring in a few more films produced in Lahore, he decided to try his luck in India, where he only had moderate level of success. Notable films from this period include '' Barati'' (1954), and ''Adl-e-Jehangir
''Adl-E-Jehangir'' (The Justice of Jehangir) also referred to as ''Adil-E-Jehangir'', is a 1955 black and white Bollywood Hindi language historical drama film directed by G. P. Sippy. According to Sippy in an interview, it was the first film ...
'' (1955) opposite Meena Kumari.
Darpan came back to Lahore after a few years, where the film industry was then booming, and he acted in ''Baap Ka Gunah (1957)''. He had a breakthrough with his self-produced film ''Sathi''. ''Raat Ke Rahi
''Raat Ke Rahi'' is a 1959 Indian Hindi drama film written and directed by Naseem. It was a Pushpanjali production with music by Bipin Babul and lyrics by Vishwamitra Adil. The cast included Shammi Kapoor, Jabeen Jalil, Nazir Hussain, Achal ...
(1960)'', ''Saheli'', ''Gulfam'', ''Qaidi'', ''Anchal'', ''Baji'', ''Shikwa'', ''Ik Tera Sahara'' and ''Naela (1965)'' were some big films in which he played vital roles. Critics applauded his lead role performance back in Pakistan's film ''Saheli (1960)'' in which he starred alongside Nayyar Sultana and Shamim Ara.[ His last big film as hero was ''Payal Ki Jhankar'' in 1966. He was the hero in two of ]Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad ( ur, ; 2 October 1938 – 23 November 1983), also known as Chocolate Hero, was a Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Famous for his charming expressions, attractive personality, tender voice and unusual talent for a ...
's produced films ''Insaan Badalta Hai'' and ''Jab Se Dekha Hai Tumhen''. He played the villain in ''Ik Gunah Aur Sahi'', and was a supporting actor in ''Khuda Te Maan'', ''Jub Jub Phool Khile
Jub Jub Phool Khiley was a Pakistani film in Urdu language, released on 21 November 1975. It starred Zeba, Mumtaz, Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali and Nadeem.
The film went on to be a super-hit at the cinemas all over Pakistan and completed 50 w ...
(1975)'' and a few other films.
Personal life
Darpan was a good-looking and attractive man with hazel eyes and a rich playboy's smile.[ At first glance, he seemed like a non-serious flirt and a 'lady killer'. At least, that was his 'professional image as an actor'. He used to play non-serious fun-loving roles in the movies quite unlike his older actor brother Santosh Kumar who used to take serious romantic roles in the Pakistani movies of the 1950s and 1960s.][
When it came to marriage, Darpan fell for a shy, typically eastern and a lady-like fellow actress, Nayyar Sultana. They had been paired together earlier in a super-hit Pakistani film ''Saheli'' (1960) which also starred Shamim Ara and was directed by veteran film director ]S. M. Yusuf
Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf ( 17 August 1994), known professionally as S. M. Yusuf, was a Pakistani film director and producer. He made fourteen films in British India and later after the split of India subcontinent, he worked in Pakistani cinema a ...
.[
]
Death
He died in Lahore on 8 November 1980 at age 52.[Darpan's 32nd death anniversary today]
Geo News (TV channel), Published 8 November 2012, Retrieved 16 July 2022[
]
Filmography
Darpan did a total of 70 films - 58 films in Urdu language, 2 in Hindi language, 8 in Punjabi language and 2 films in Pashto language.
Film
In India
In Pakistan
Awards and recognition
See also
* List of Lollywood actors
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darpan
1928 births
1980 deaths
Pakistani male film actors
Nigar Award winners
20th-century Pakistani male actors
Male actors from Lahore
Male actors in Urdu cinema
Male actors from Uttar Pradesh
Male actors in Pashto cinema
Pakistani people of Hyderabadi descent
Male actors in Punjabi cinema
20th-century Indian male actors
Indian male film actors
Male actors in Hindi cinema