Waheed Murad (1938 –1983) was a famous Pakistani film actor, producer and scriptwriter. Born in Sialkot, all his schooling took place at Karachi. He is well known for his charming expressions, attractive personality, tender voice and unusual talent for acting in films. His hair cut, dressing and even his conversation style were very popular among the youth, particularly girls. He once said that a ‘kiss’ was something which was lacking in Pakistani film and one onscreen kiss can replace three songs. This comment brought the wrath of many including Mohammad Ali and Zeba who retorted by saying: ‘Why should we open our bedrooms to the public.’
The successful combination of Waheed Murad, Pervaiz Malik,the director, Masroor Anwar,the lyricist,and Sohail Rana, the music director created a number of successful films like Heera aur pathar, Armaan, Ehsaan, Doraha and Jahan tum wahan hum. However, the team broke, as reportedly Waheed Murad would take all the credit for the success of the films while never recognizing the contribution by others in media. Critics are also unanimous that singer Ahmed Rushdi had a significant role in the success of Waheed Murad, and that Rushdi's voice was tailor made for him.
Waheed Murad had a sort of liking towards Salma, daughter of Karachi based Memon industrialist Ibrahim Maker, when both were in grade nine in Karachi Grammar School. Their marriage took place on 17 September 1964. The wedding ceremony was arranged at Nisar Murad's house at Tariq Road, Karachi.
Those who know him personally told me that he would start flirting with his heroines and make highly intimate gestures, especially during song picturization. By early 70’s all the husbands of prominent film actors like Zeba, Shabnam and even Nisho debarred them from acting opposite Waheed Murad.
He was the son of Nisar Murad, a top film distributor from Karachi with an MA in English, well-dressed and self conscious, a kind of a spoiled brat; he was arrogant and remained a victim of superiority complex in an industry where most would come from a humble background.
By late 70s, Waheed was being cast in supporting roles either with Nadeem or with Mohammad Ali, or being offered by 'B class' film directors.
His close friends revealed that he was becoming addicted to alcohol, oral tobacco and sleeping pills. Even his domestic life suffered and his wife Salma left for the United States. A combination of bad habits and stress caused ulceration in Waheed's stomach in 1981. He suffered from bleeding and had to undergo stomach removal to save his life.
After relations with wife deteriorated, he left his house to live at the house of Mumtaz Ayub, the mother of actor Anita Ayub.
On November 22, 1983, he returned late to spend the night at Mumtaz Ayub's home. When Waheed did not wake up until late, the door had to be forced open and Waheed was found lying on the floor, dead for several hours. A paan leaf with 'something' in it was found in his mouth. Nobody knows for sure if it was a heart attack or suicide. Waheed was buried near his father's grave in Gulberg Graveyard, Ali Zeb Road, Lahore.
In November 2010, 27 years after his death, Pakistani president Asif Zardari awarded him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the "star of excellence,"
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