Veteran actor Farooq Zafar passes away at the age of 89
Veteran actor Farooq Zafar, known for his performances in the films “Gulabo Sitabo” and “Sultan”, died at a Lucknow hospital on Friday. She was 89 years old. His elder daughter Mehru Jaffer said that her mother was unwell and was admitted to Sahara Hospital earlier this month. “He was admitted to the hospital on October 4 due to breathing problems. She was not well. His lungs were unable to take in the oxygen that was given to him. He passed away around 6 pm.
Zafar’s grandson Shaj Ahmed also shared the news of his demise on Twitter. He wrote, “My grandmother and freedom fighter’s wife, former MLC Mr. SM Zafar and veteran actress Mrs. Farooq Zafar passed away today at 7 pm in Lucknow.”
His last rites will be performed on Saturday morning.
Jaffer, who was one of the first radio announcers of Vividh Bharati Lucknow in 1963, began her journey on screen with the 1981 classic “Umrao Jaan”, in which she played Rekha’s mother.
She later appeared in a few TV shows but with 2004 she received further acclaim. Shah Rukh Khan-Starer “Swadesh”.
Some of his other notable performances were Aamir Khan-backed “Peepli Live”, in which she played a beedi-smoking mother-in-law and Salman KhanLed by “Sultan”, in which she starred as the superstar’s uber-cool grandmother. he also played Nawazuddin SiddiquiGrandmother in “Photos”.
But his most memorable performance was as the megastar’s wife Fatima Begum. Amitabh BachchanHer character in “Gulabo Sitabo” directed by Shoojit Sircar. In his interview with PTI, the actor expressed happiness over the praise for his scene-stealing performance in the film.
“I heard that Begum baazi maar le jaye hai picture mein. (I have heard that Begum beats everyone in the film. This kind of praise about my character makes me happy,” she said in a June 2020 interview .
In the film, she played the 95-year-old wife of Bachchan’s 78-year-old Mirza, who awaits her begum’s death to own the abandoned mansion Fatima Mahal at the center of the conflict. But in the final moments of the film, Begum manages to unite Mirza in her own game.
Screenwriter Juhi Chaturvedi, who wrote “Gulabo Sitabo”, paid tribute to Zafar.
“Begum has gone Farooq ji, there was no one, there will be no one like you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to connect with you. Please be safe in the other world of Allah. RIP #FarrukhJaffar #Begum #FattoBi #FatimaBegum #GulaboSitabo,” he wrote on Instagram along with a picture of the actor.
Zafar was married to journalist-politician Syed Muhammad Zafar and is survived by daughters – Mehru and Shaheen.
.