Zia Mohideen, the first Pakistani to work in Hollywood, died on Monday after a brief illness. He was 91 years old. The veteran actor, director and TV host was admitted to a hospital in Karachi, where he lived, after he complained of abdominal pain and fever. Later, after some surgical procedures, he was shifted to the life support system. According to his relatives, he breathed his last at 6:30 in the morning. The funeral prayer will be offered in the Defense area of Karachi.
Mohiddin was born in 1931 in Faisalabad, Punjab province of Pakistan, and made a name for himself in acting, broadcasting and reciting poetry. He was also the President Emeritus of the National Institute of Performing Arts in Karachi and trained a host of budding artistes. He also wrote columns for various newspapers.
Mohiddin has appeared in both Pakistani cinema and television throughout his career, in addition to appearances in British cinema and television. Her memorable performances include ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962) by director David Lean, followed by ‘Behold the Pale Horsein’ (1964) by director Fred Zinnemann and ‘Immaculate Conception’ (1992) by director Jamil Dehlavi.
The veteran actor was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second highest civilian award in 2012 for his contribution to the arts. He also wrote three books ‘A Carrot is a Carrot’, ‘Theatrics’ and ‘The God of My Idolatry Memories and Reflections’.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of the veteran artist. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister said Mohyeddin’s art is “one of a kind” and his unique style is admired not only in Pakistan but across the world, Dawn newspaper reported. He said, ‘It is sad that a person with many beautiful qualities has left the society. Zia Mohideen’s voice will continue to resonate in our hearts and minds.
Expressing grief over the demise of the veteran actor, President Arif Alvi said in a tweet, “It is a personal loss for me. He was a giant in the arts, an actor, producer, director, and all-time excellent reciter of prose and poetry, usually accompanied by music inspired by a pause. “One day in the 90s, a worried Zia came to me and asked me why she was stressed? He said that I have known Shakespeare from the beginning but now I tend to forget. A huge one indeed. May Allah give strength to the world of art, Azra, his wife, family and children to bear this loss, Alvi said in the following tweet.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed condolences to the bereaved family. “Saddened to learn about the passing away of Zia Mohideen. I knew him for decades. He was a very cultured man, highly educated especially in Urdu literature and an institution in the world of entertainment. he will be missed. My condolences and prayers are with his family.