Agha Talish

November 10, 1927

Legendary actor Talish was Pakistan's best character actor, who played some unforgettable roles in some big films. Talish was introduced in a pre-partition film Saraey Kay Baher in 1947. He was seen as supporting actor in his first film Nath in 1950. He acted as hero in two Islamic films with Yasmin in Darbar-e-Habib (1956) and with Nayyar Sultana in Touheed in 1958. He was second hero in Punjabi film Guddi Gudda (1956) with Musarrat Nazir and Sudhir. His comedy roles in films like Jabroo (1956) and Aadmi (1958) were some big hits. He got more fame from a drunk role in film 700.000 (1957) with the sang Yaro, Mujhay Muaf Rakho, Main Nashay Mein Hun.. (sung by Saleem Raza, poet Saifuddin Saif, music Rasheed Attray). Talish played some unmatchable roles in Pakistani films. His remarkable role as Ajnabi - The Stranger (an Englishman who discovered oil in the Arabian dessert) in director Khalil Kaisar and writer Riaz Shahid's film Shaheed from 1962. Talish also played a unique role as an Israeli officer in writer and director Riaz Shahid's record breaker box office hit film Zarqa (1969). His roles as Nawab in Umrao Jan Ada (1972) and Zeenat (1975) were all time best roles in social films. He also played a fantastic comedy and title role in Barey Mian Deevaney (1977). Talish appeared in more than 450 films. Agha Ali Abbas Qazalbash (Agha Talish) was born on November 1927 at Ludhiana, Indian Punjab and died on February 19, 1998 at Lahore.