Nazir Ahmed Khan

Nazir was born in 1904 in a Kakazai Pathan family in Lahore, Punjab, British India. He was one of the earliest Muslim entrants in the Indian film industry during the silent era. Nazir had close familial ties to several key figures in South Asian cinema. He was a cousin of acclaimed Indian director K. Asif, best known for directing Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Nazir later married K. Asif's sister, Sikandara Begum, making him Asif's brother-in-law as well. Nazir's brother Akhtar Nazir (also known as Ajmal) and other family members also worked in Pakistani cinema in various capacities. ==Career==

British India In 1929, Nazir moved to Calcutta (now West Bengal, India), where he began his film career. His first film role, as an actor, came from another Lahori friend, veteran film producer/director A. R. Kardar in the 'Silent-era' film Sarfarosh (Brave Heart) in 1929. Nazir then started producing and directing films under the banner of "Hind Pictures' and also established a film studio in Bombay. Pakistan In 1947, Nazir decided to migrate to newly-independent Pakistan and settled in Lahore. After making some mediocre films with meager resources, he made the first silver jubilee film of Pakistani cinema in Punjabi language, Pheray (1949). During his career spanning 55 years, Nazir had done more than 200 films. ==Personal life==

He had at least three wives over the years. He was first married to his cousin Sikandara Begum, who was the sister of K. Asif, the legendary director of the 1960 film Mughal-e-Azam. He later had a very short marriage with Sitara Devi, the legendary Kathak dancer. Nazir's last wife was film actress Swaran Lata. Nazir was the father of several children. One of his daughters married actor Nasir Khan, brother of Dilip Kumar. ==Death==

Nazir Ahmed Khan died on 26 August 1983. ==Awards and recognition==

• Nigar Award 'Special Nigar Award for 30 years of excellence' in Pakistani film industry in 1982. ==Filmography==

• Sawaal (1966) • Khatoon (1952) • Bheegi Palkain (1950) • Anokhi Dastan (1950) • Humari Basti (1950) • Ghalat Fahmi (1950) • Laraay (1949) • Pheray (1949) • Sachchai(1947) • Heer (1946) • Wamaq Azra (1946) • Lal-e-Yaman (1933) • Zarina (1932) • Sarfarosh or (Brave Heart) (1929) (A Silent-era film) (Producer: A. R. Kardar) == See also ==