Khalid Abbas Dar, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance is a cultural icon, as well as a versatile actor, entertainer, mimic, one-man show, filmstar, host, playwright, director & theatre producer. He is the only performer in Pakistan with the ability to carry a one-man show for over two hours.
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Khalid Abbas Dar started his broadcasting career in a children's programs as a child prodigy in 1955, and the Punjabi Radio programme 'Sohni Dharti'. The programme is also loved by the Punjabis across the border. In it, he portrays an innocent villager Mehtab Din, now a household name of Punjabi listeners.
Mr. Dar is the progenitor of the "one-man show" and the art of mimicry in the country. For his natural aptitude for mimicry and one-man show, he was awarded 'Role of Honour'(1966) by the Government College Lahore, the first and last to be so honoured during the one & a half centuries. He won the best entertainer's award from PTV. He is the only artist to do so. He was also awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Presidential Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan. Mr. Dar has written for theatre and TV. He has taken his drama production practically to all the major cities of USA, Canada and Europe where he enjoys an excellent reputation. He has been practically an Ambassador of Culture by projecting culture, hopes, aspirations, feelings for fraternity amongst nations and projecting a soft image of Pakistan.
Dar started his professional career in 1955 as child performer (singing & acting), becoming famous overnight.
After he continued with radio, he was known as a well recognized adult voice in dramas. His special accomplishment on radio being associated with Nizam Din daily for 14 years as an extempore companion and alter ego Mehtab Din.
He was sent by the radio to the cities and towns to listen to the people's problems and tried to resolve the problems highlighted in his programme.
His reputation from radio and theatre led to a career in television, where he performed leads in innumerable independent plays and serials, such as Sadhran, Jazeera, Kahani Ki Talash, Zanjeer, Jheel, Fifty Fifty, Panchoon Ghee Mein, Shaadi Key Saath Saath, Parchi and many more.
1. Nawab Ameer Mohammad Khan of Kala Bagh, Governor of West Pakistan.
2. Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan.
3. General Musa Khan, Governor of West Pakistan.
4. General Yahya Khan, President of Pakistan
5. Ch. Fazal Elahi, President of Pakistan
6. Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
7. His Majesty, The Shah of Iran.
8. General Mohammad Zia ul Haq, President of Pakistan
9. His Royal Highness, Prince Hassan Bin Talal & Her Royal Highness Princess Sarwat Talal.
10. Mr. Mohammad Khan Junejo, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
11. Mr. Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
12. Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Mr. Balkh Sher Mazari, Mr. Meraaj Khalid (Care Taker Prime Ministers of Pakistan).
Mr. Dar was responsible for the production of cultural show presented to 45 Heads of Islamic States during Islamic Summit Conference in February 1974 at Lahore Fort.
In late teens, he also started performing in theatre, later becoming a writer, director and producer. His excellent reputation was pre-assured by his one-man shows and his art of mimicry.
He continues to be a dominant force with his versatile performance in comedies as well as serious plays, writing on various themes and directing with innovations. He has been one of the vanguards in the establishment of theatre in Pakistan. His admirers are found both among intellectuals and the masses who love popular entertainment. His ability to sustain the interest of his audience over long periods is remarkable.
Khalid Abbas Dar has performed in 33 films, which was highly adored by the masses.
After ceasefire of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, he was asked by the GHQ authorities with cooperation of All Pakistan Music Conference to go to the front lines with country's best singers like Mehdi Hassan,ustad Amanat Ali Khan & Fateh Ali khan, Masood Rana,Ustad Salamat Ali Khan,Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan, Tufail Niazi, Naseem Begum,Malika Moseeqi Roshan Ara Begum,Shahjahan Begum and many others,to entertain the brave defenders of the country. The first two concerts were held in hospitals for wounded soldiers. These were followed by 33 more, mostly under field conditions where pitched battles had been fought. One of these witnessed by General Musa Khan and the last by the President of Pakistan Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan at Ayyub National Park on 20-Sep-1966. He entertained more than half a million soldiers of Pakistan Army, Airforce & Navy with his brilliant performance. One memorable concert was held on INS Sarswati(captured by Pakistan Navy) where Admiral A.R Khan Head of The Pak Navy witnessed the show.
In 2005 Mr. Kalid Abbas Dar established his own production house 'Retreat' and started to produce info & edutainment plays with cooperation of Pakistan Health Ministry. PTV's drama serial 'SHAADI KAY SAATH SAATH' which could be called a didactic comedy, he achieved its target if you go by its popularity graph and the fact that it has been able to get its message across to common people of the country. The purpose of the said drama serial is to make people know how to deal with a dangerous disease like Polio. In other words, it's a play that educates and also gives a moral lesson. 'SHAADI KAY SAATH SAATH' created an awareness among the married couples that they can save the future of the country by administering their children with the advised Polio drops. It will be interesting to note that the Government of India had assigned a similar task to mega Bollywood Star Amitabh Bachhan. Mr. dar said that his production house had achieved a hard target by producing this drama serial. His company had tried to use a contemporary propaganda style to put its message across most effectively.
Mr Dar's another big production was a motivational stage play 'ZARA SI BHOOL' which was presented on theaters across the country with also the cooperation of Pakistan Health Ministry. More than 100 shows of this drama was presented in al districts of Punjab,Sindh,Baluchistan, NWFP & AJK.
The most famous artists of country like Qavi Khan, Hamid Rana(Sona),Abid Kashmiri,Krishma Mughal,Mumtaz Zareef and others with Mr. Dar outstandingly and very effectively delivered preventive messages without allowing people to lose interest in the play. Theater performance was a rich mix of entertainment and education. The event attracted a large number of participants ranging from youth to representatives of NGO's working on the issued of HIV & AIDS. In each city almost 4,000 to 7,000 people attended the show, which included Nazims, district health management teams as well as stakeholders.
The MPA's and Ministers of Honourable Baluchistan Provincial Assembly watched the play and admired the performance of actors and the theme of the drama.
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