Akmal, born Mohammad Asif
Khan in Lahore in 1929, began his journey in the film industry as a makeup
artist, occasionally taking on minor roles as an extra. With his tall stature
and handsome looks, he had the makings of a film hero, but it wasn't until 1956,
with the release of “Jabroo”, that he secured his first leading role. Despite
this, Akmal faced years of struggle before he could establish himself as a
successful hero. During this time, he also played villainous roles, notably in
the 1963 film “Baghawat”, where he starred opposite Sudhir, a dominant Punjabi
film hero of the 1950s.
Akmal's big break came with the
1963 Punjabi blockbuster “Choorian”. Over the next four years, he became a
dominant figure in Punjabi cinema, with his most celebrated film being “Malangi”
(1965), which enjoyed an extended run of double golden jubilee at Odeon Cinema
in Lahore.
Akmal's on-screen pairings with
actresses like Shirin, Naghma, Firdous, and Mazhar Shah were immensely popular,
and he eventually married Firdous. Tragically, Akmal's life was cut short when
he passed away suddenly on June 11, 1967, leaving his fans in shock. His son,
Shehbaz Akmal, attempted to follow in his footsteps during the 1980s but did
not find the same success. Akmal's elder brother, Ajmal Khan, was a legendary
character actor in Pakistani films. The family was large, with four brothers
and eight sisters.
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