Munawar Zarif

Munawar Zarif (Urdu: منور ظریف‎) ( December 25, 1940 - April 29, 1976) was a Pakistani comedian and film actor. He was a versatile actor and comedian best known for his work in the Pakistani cinema of the seventies. Zarif is one of the most famous comedians of south asia and appeared in more than 300 films. His fans named him ‘Shehenshah-i-Zarafat’ or the ‘King of Humor’.

He was born on December 25, 1940 in Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan.He was belonged to a noble family and coste Kumhar/Rehmani(کمہار) and he married in Tehsil Kamoniki(تحصیل کامونہکی) . He started his film career from a Punjabi film Dandian in 1961 and got breakthrough in the film Hath Jori in 1964. After a film career as a comedian, he became a film actor, first as side-hero in film Pardey mein rehney doe and then in the title roles and hero in the same year Banarsi Thugg (1973) and Jeera Blade (1973).He was awarded three times with the Nigar Award on his out-standing performance in Bharo Phool Barsao, Zeenath and Ishaq Deewana.. He appeared in more than 300 films in just 16 years from 1961-76. He was also famous for his Ad-Lib dialogue delivery. Often he would improvise so much that his fellow actors would have trouble keeping pace His nephew Mr. Qadeer Zareef works in Pakistan Customs at Karachi Airport as Inspector Preventive Service.

On 29 April 1976 he died in Shalimar Hospital, Lahore due to Cirhosis.

His films include: