Iqbal Kashmiri

Kashmiri's father, Karim Bakhsh, ran a hotel near Delhi Darwaza, Lahore, Pakistan. His first foray in film was as an extra in the 1954 movie Deewar. Taxi Driver was his first film as a director, in 1970 followed by Babul (1971) and Banarsi Thag (1973).[1][2]

As a young man, he was fond of movies, and was introduced to the Pakistani actor Ilyas Kashmiri who used to live in his neighborhood in Lahore. He later started living with this actor and felt honored to become his assistant of sorts.[2] With Ilyas Kashmiri's help, he was able to play a small role in a Punjabi-language film Yakke Wali (1957). He later worked as an assistant to many veteran Pakistani film directors Amin Malik, M. J. Rana, Khalil Qaiser, Aslam Irani and Aziz Meeruthi.[2]

Iqbal Kashmiri played a key role in developing the film career and popularizing two major actors of Pakistani film industry – Sultan Rahi and Munawar Zarif.[1] He is also credited with introducing actress Neeli in his film Choron Ki Baraat in 1987.[3]

Iqbal Kashmiri was suffering from chronic kidney disease for some time. He was hospitalized in critical condition in the first week of November 2020. He was treated in the hospital's intensive care unit but he died on 15 November 2020. His survivors include two sons and four daughters.[4]

Selected Filmography

• Nigar Awards for Best Director in 1971 for Babul (1971 film)[5]