KARACHI: Pakistani celebrities paid tribute to iconic actor Qavi Khan on Monday, who passed away in Canada after suffering from a prolonged kidney disease late Sunday, remembering him as a “brilliant” actor and an “institute” in himself.
Khan, 80, was forced to leave his last TV project titled ‘Meri Shehzadi’ midway in September 2022 owing to health complications and was under treatment in Canada since then. On Sunday, local media reported Khan had passed away from the illness.
Khan began his acting career as a child artist on Radio Pakistan in the northwestern city of Peshawar--the country’s national radio public broadcaster— in 1964 as a TV actor and a year later, made his debut in films. Throughout his career, he worked in over 200 films. His performance in the critically acclaimed 1984 TV show “Andhera Ujala” made him a household name across the country.
In 1980, the government awarded him with the Pride of Performance award for his services to the country and the entertainment industry. Recalling his talents, Khan’s peers described him as an “institution” who taught several artists the art and craft of acting.
“Qavi sahab was not just a brilliant actor, he was an institution that shows you, teaches you with his acts, his behavior on how to become a legend,” Pakistani singer and actor Farhan Saeed told Arab News on Monday.
“He was the most energetic, the most disciplined, the most punctual, and the most non-problematic on set. Looking at him, one can tell what it takes to be a legend,” he added.
Saeed worked with Khan in a couple of projects, including last year’s film “Tich Button” and “Meri Shehzadi.”
“Apart from the acting and the craft, these values, the standards he has set, I don’t know if anyone can meet that,” Saeed said, adding that Khan “left his mark on the industry like nobody else.”
“He was witty, intelligent, and hardworking. He was everything that one man should be,” he added.
Qasim Ali Mureed, director of “Meri Shehzadi,” shared that Khan was above the words “legend” and “inspiration” that were being used to describe him.
“For him, his work was very important. He didn’t value anything more than his work,” Mureed told Arab News on Monday. “His health had gotten serious when I spoke to him in Canada. He used to say ‘I am turning old’,” the director recalled.
Mureed first met Khan in Lahore, almost two decades ago. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Khan used to work with a mask on. “He didn’t stop until he lost his battle to life,” he added.
Khan was nominated in the Best Actor category at the Lux Style Awards for his performance in the 2017 acclaimed drama serial “Aangan.”
“He played a Punjabi in many of my projects but he wasn’t one. He was a Pathan belonging to Peshawar. He would do scenes with so much energy that everyone would be in fits of laughter on the set,” Mureed added.
Former prime minister Imran Khan also grieved over the actor’s passing.
“Saddened to learn of the passing of famous actor Qavi Khan. My prayers & condolences go to his family,” he wrote on Twitter.
Pakistani acting powerhouse Humayun Saeed described Khan as an “institute.”
“Qavi sahab taught so many of us not just how to act but also how to embrace our passion by dedicating his own entire life to his one true love — acting,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Qavi Khan sahib’s stature in the industry will remain unmatched,” another veteran actor, Adnan Siddiqui, wrote on Twitter.
