"Habib: The Versatile Icon of Pakistani Cinema with a 59-Year Legacy in Urdu and Punjabi Films"

Habib was a versatile and iconic film hero in Pakistani cinema, known for his roles in both Urdu and Punjabi films. His remarkable ability to transition from playing youthful characters to older roles marked the peak of his career. Habib's journey in the film industry began with his debut in “Lakht-e-Jiggar” in 1956, and his final appearance was in the film “Teacher” in 2015, giving him an extraordinary career that spanned 59 years.

 As the first film hero in Pakistan to complete 100 films, Habib achieved significant milestones throughout his career. He was the third most successful film hero in both Urdu and Punjabi cinema, following in the footsteps of legends like Sudhir and Ejaz. He also belonged to the second generation of top film heroes from the 1950s, after the era of Nazir, Sudhir, Santosh, and Aslam Pervez.

 

Habib's Career in Urdu Films

Habib was introduced to the silver screen by director Luqman in the Urdu film “Lakht-e-Jiggar” in 1956, where he played the role of Noorjahan's younger brother. Although many of his early films did not perform well, Habib's persistence kept him in the spotlight throughout the 1960s. Within his first decade as a film hero, he appeared in over 100 Urdu films, although only a few were commercially successful. He gained recognition with the film “Admi” in 1958, and his other notable Urdu films included “Zehr-e-Ishq” (1958), “Ayaz” (1960), “Surayya”, “Speran”, “Aulad”, “Mehtab” (1962), “Maa kay Aansoo” (1963), “Khandan”, “Aashiyana” (1964), “Fashion”, “Dil kay Tukrey”, “Eid Mubarak”, “Devdas” (1965), “Dil aur Duniya” (1971), “Pardes” (1972), “Haar Geya Insan”, and “Waqt” (1976). However, Habib's dominance as an Urdu film hero began to wane in the mid-1960s with the rise of Mohammad Ali, Waheed Murad, and Nadeem.

 

 Habib's Career in Punjabi Films

Habib's first Punjabi film, “Shera” (1959), was a flop, but he found success with his third film, “Mouj Mela” (1963), which became a super hit musical. Although he played the second lead in Pakistan's first platinum jubilee film, “Jeedar” (1965), true success eluded him until 1967 with the box office hit “Dil da Jani”. That same year, the passing of Punjabi film hero Akmal opened the door for Habib (alongside Ejaz) to rise as a superstar in Punjabi cinema, a position he maintained until the mid-1970s. Some of his most famous Punjabi films include “Lado” (1966), “Babul da Vehra”, “Chann 14vin da” (1968), “Chann Veer”, “Veryam”, “Mukhra Chann Varga”, “Gabhru Putt Punjab Day”, “Gentleman” (1969), “Taxi Driver”, “Att Khuda da Vair”, “Chann Puttar” (1970), “Dunya Paisay Di” (1971), “Zaildar”, “Sajjan Be-Parwah”, “Basheera” (1972), and “Sher Khan” (1981).

 

 The Parallels Between Habib and Ejaz

There are some intriguing similarities between Habib and his contemporary, Ejaz. Both began their film careers in 1956 with “Lakht-e-Jiggar” and “Hameeda”, respectively, both of which were adaptations of the Indian film “Vachan”. Interestingly, Santosh played the hero in both films, while Noorjahan and Sabiha Khanum were the leading ladies. Habib's first major success came with the film “Aadmi”, while Ejaz's breakthrough was with “Bara Aadmi”. Their first Punjabi films, “Shera” and “Suchey Moti”, were released on the same day, September 11, 1960, with Neelo as the heroine in both. Both actors reached new heights in their careers in 1967, with Habib's “Dil da Jani” and Ejaz's “Mirza Jatt”. They were also paired with the leading Punjabi actresses of the time, Naghma and Firdous, and both eventually married and later separated from these actresses. Additionally, Ejaz produced the film “Dosti”, shot in London, while Habib's “Pardes” was also filmed in the UK.

 

 Habib's Personal Life

Habib-ur-Rehman was not only a distinguished actor but also a highly educated individual, holding three master's degrees in English, Urdu, and Persian. Known for his good looks and stylish demeanor, he was an ideal film hero. Habib married three times; his first wife passed away, and his second marriage to superstar Naghma ended in separation in the late 1970s. He spent the later years of his life with his third wife and two sons. Habib passed away on February 25, 2016, in Lahore, at the age of 76.