Rahi vs Qureishi - The Opposite Effect!

Just as I promised, here is Rahi’s career analysis!

Last week, I wrote about how Mustafa Qureishi started his screen life as a melodramatic actor, but ended up almost underperforming opposite Sultan Rahi! Now, I’ll tell you how Rahi started as a natural actor, but ended up becoming almost the biggest superstar of the Punjabi screen, with a loud delivery in action films!

I remember I saw him in films of the Fifties, like Baghawat (a Roman soldier), Noor-e-Islam (a royal guard of the Romans, Shahi Mehel (Mohammad Ali’s body guard) etc. His first film was a Punjabi movie, Janj that was screened in 1966. From then onwards, revving up to Bashira in 1972, Rahi hit the right buttons. But, the success of Rahi as Bashira meant his loud delivery was winning. Before this, Rahi acted normally, and did many old roles too. But, what the heck! If an ‘Angry Young Man’ was conquering the silver screen across the border in the 70’s, why not in Pakistan, then?

That’s not to say Rahi imploded as an actor. For instance, in Rangila’s Dil Aur Dunya, his short but brilliant role of a Hindko speaking chap in jail will always be remembered. Diljeet Mirza, a superb director, brought out the best in Rahi. In his Wardat, Rahi played a very different villain, who loves to get together with his old friends, after every once in a while. But, one notes his dialogue delivery in this film. It’s a fact that Rahi could never make his name in Urdu films, though he did quite a few of those!

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