13th September 2012 was indeed a sad day for our film industry and viewers as our legendary comedian, Safeer Ullah Siddiqui, commonly known as Lehri passed away in Karachi after prolonged illness.
What to say about Lehri. He was one of the super comedians of the industry who proved his metal in the very presence of Munawwar Zareef, Rangeela, Nanha etc. He started his career with the movie Anokhi, and that first ever silver screen appearance was enough to realize the industry that they had an another future star.
He was a decent doer, who never did indecent comedy.
In the movie Dil mera dharkan teri with our chocolate hero Waheed Murad, he played a double role–son and father simultaneously… a young and an old at the same time. Doing it perfectly, as a son he looked a son, and as a father he was a father at all.
As the recession hit the film industry in late 80s, he left working and was found having sugar because of which both of his legs were amputated. He then became the target of financial crisis domestically. Till his death in April last year, Moeen Akhtar—the other legend artist of the country–was supporting Lehri financially, but after Akhtar’s death, Lehri and his family got in trouble once again.
Lehri got dozens of awards; Nigaar, National, Graduate, Bolan etc. many a times. He was conferred upon the Presidential Pride of Performance in 1994 too.
The legend couple of Lollywood, Shabnam and Robin Ghosh especially visited Lehri when they were recently in Pakistan. Wife of late Pakistani superstar Muhammad Ali, and herself a legend artist, Zeba Begum, also visited him during his illness days, his weak condition literally brought tears in their eyes.
He acted in almost 230 movies beside a few stage dramas as well. Insaan badalta hay, Jaisay jantay naheen, Daman, Aag ka darya, Devar bhabi, Tehzeeb and Saaeqa were just a few of his classics.
Lehri was a person who entertained us for decades, made us laugh out loudly, finally left us shedding tears. May he be at peace in heaven.
