Ejaz Durrani

Ejaz Durrani
اعجاز درانی
Born Ejaz Durrani
Jalalpur Jattan
Occupation film actor
film director
film producer
Years active 1956-1984
Religion Islam
Spouse(s) Noor Jehan(1959-1979)
Firdous(divorced)

Ejaz Durrani (Punjabi, Urdu: اعجاز درانی; born 1935) known by his name Ejaz, was a Pakistani film actor, director and producer. He was the first hero of Pakistani cinema have a diamond jubilee. He married famous actress and singer Noor Jehan but later they divorced.He is most popularly known for the portrayal of Ranjha in the film Heer Ranjha. He was the most successful hero in 60s. He is also for portraying for folk heroes.[1]

Biography

He was born in a village in Jalalpur Jattan, Gujrat District. He received his B.A. degree from Jhelum. After becoming a popular film actor he married Noor Jehan. He has three daughters from her.[2] They divorced and he later married film actress Firdous.His 3 daughters with Noor Jehan are Hina,Shazia and Nazia.Noor Jehan got the custody of the daughters from the divorce court and raised them.[3]

Controversy

He was in jail from 1978-83 due to a case in heroin, he was arrested at the London Heathrow Airport.[4][5]

[6] CAREER

As an actor

He began his film career with Hameeda in 1956. He is most popularly known for the portrayal of Ranjha in the 1970 film Heer Ranjha. He became a superstar in the Punjabi cinema after playing Mirza in the 1967 film Mirza Jatt.Bauji (1968), Dillan De Soudey (1969), Naajo(1969), Sheran Di Jori, Lachhi (1969), Ishq Na Puchhe Zaat (1969), Tere Ishq Nachaya (1969), Anwara (1970), Sajna Door Diya (1970), Heer Ranjha (1970), Aasoo Billa (1971), Ishq Bina Ki Jeena, Khan Chacha (1972), Do Pattar Annaran De (1972), Ishtahari Mulzim, Sultan (1972), Ziddi (1973), Banarsi Thug (1973) and Sholay (1984) are his famous Punjabi films. His famous Urdu films are Bara Admi (1957), Sola Aanay (1959) , Raaz (1960), Gulbadan (1959), Salma (1960), Daku Ki Larki (1960), Shaheed (1962), Azra (1962), Barsat Mein (1962), Gehra Daagh, Beti, Deewana (1964), Chingari (1964), Sawaal(1966), Sarhad (1966), Badnaam (1966), Lakhoon Main Aik (1967), Behan Bhai (1968), Main Zinda Hun (1968), Beti Beta (1968), Buzdil (1969), Dia Aur Toofan (1969), Dard (1969), Pak Daman (1969), Zarqa (1969), Shama Aur Parwana (1970) and Dosti (1971). His last performance as a hero was in the film Kaliyar in 1984.

As a producer

Some of his mega hits as a producer are Heer Ranjha (1970), Dosti (1971), Sholay (1984) and Maula Bakhsh (1988)

Others

He was elected as the vice president of the Pakistan Film Producers Association in Pakistan.[7]

References

  1. "Pakistan FilmStars Pakistan's first diamond jubilee hero". Pakistan Film Magazine. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  2. Bapsi Sidhwa (1 October 2005). City of sin and splendour: writings on Lahore. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-303166-6. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  3. Academy of the Punjab in North America website http://www.apnaorg.com/articles/nur_jehan.html
  4. Qutubuddin Aziz (1 December 1989). Pakistan and the British media. Royal Book Co. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  5. Pakistan economist. Published by S. Akhtar Ali, for and on behalf of Finance and Industry Publications. January 1978. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  6. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0244333/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1
  7. V. T. Joshi (1 August 1995). Pakistan, Zia to Benazir. Konark Publishers. Retrieved 10 August 2012.

Internet Movie Data Base website (Ejaz Durrani Filmography per IMDb website.Reference No.6 shown above)