# Qavi Khan

Muhammad Qavi Khan (Urdu: محمد قوی خان; 13 November 1942 – 5 March 2023) was a Pakistani film, radio, theatre and television actor, director and playwright.
Khan acted in over 200 films and some 1,000 television plays.
Khan is best known for his police drama serial Andhera Ujala, which launched him to stardom alongside his fellow actors Irfan Khoosat and Jameel Fakhri. Some of his other notable works in television include roles in Khaani (2017) and Meri Shehzadi (2022–2023).
He was also a playwright, having written the autobiographical one-man stage play Action and Reaction in 2011.
In March 2011, Qavi Khan's achievements were honored at an event at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts auditorium in Islamabad.
The Government of Pakistan honoured Khan with the Pride of Performance in 1980 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2012 for his contribution to the field of arts.

## Early and personal life

Khan was born on 13 November 1942 in Badaun, now located in India's Uttar Pradesh, to a father who was in the British Indian Army. Following the 1947 Partition of India, the family moved to Pakistan, settling down in Khokropar, Sindh, before moving to Peshawar, where they would live opposite the Mahabat Khan mosque. Khan would get his early education there and later work as a front desk officer in a Grindlays Bank branch before going to Lahore to pursue his passion of acting more seriously.
Khan belonged to a Pashtun family of the Yusufzai tribe.
He married in 1968 and had four children.

## Career
### Radio

In 1952, he began his career as a child artist by joining Radio Pakistan Peshawar.

### Theatre

In 1961, he was cast in Dagha Baz, a play written by Envar Sajjad and directed by Kamal Ahmed Rizvi.

### Television

In 1964, he started his television career by being the lead in PTV's first-ever play, Nazrana, in his career being part of some 1,000 serials.
In 1966, he appeared in PTV's black-and-white hit drama Lakhon Main Teen (transl. Three in a million) along with Ali Ejaz and Athar Shah Khan Jaidi.

### Films

In 1964, he worked in his first movie, Diljeet Mirza's Riwaj.
In 1971, he started producing films, Mr Buddhu being the first of some 13 film productions, while he would eventually act in over 200 films.

## Death

Khan died of cancer on 5 March 2023, at the age of 80 in Canada and was laid to rest at Meadowvale Cemetery, Brampton.

## Selected filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Language |
| 1964 | Riwaj | | Urdu |
| 1971 | Charagh Kahan Roshni Kahan | | Urdu |
| 1971 | Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare | | Urdu |
| 1971 | Tiger Gang | Hassan | English/Urdu |
| 1972 | Khalish | | Urdu |
| 1972 | Suhag | | Urdu |
| 1972 | Naag Muni | | Urdu |
| 1972 | Pazeb | | Urdu |
| 1972 | Mohabbat | | Urdu |
| 1972 | Meh Jabeenay | | Pashto |
| 1973 | Mr. Budhu | | Urdu |
| 1973 | Farz | | Urdu |
| 1973 | Be-Imaan | | Urdu |
| 1973 | Aas | | Urdu |
| 1974 | Intezar | | Urdu |
| 1974 | Mitti Ke Putlay | | Urdu |
| 1974 | Manji Kithay Dahwan | | Punjabi |
| 1974 | Neelaam | | Urdu |
| 1975 | Mohabbat Zindagi Hai | | Urdu |
| 1975 | Ajnabi | | Urdu |
| 1975 | Roshni | | Urdu |
| 1976 | Badtameez | Akhtar | Punjabi |
| 1976 | Society Girl | | Urdu |
| 1976 | Mujhay Galay Laga Lo | | Urdu |
| 1977 | Aaina | | Urdu |
| 1977 | Begum Jaan | Amjad | Urdu |
| 1977 | Jawani Deevani | | Urdu |
| 1978 | Seeta Maryam Margaret | Baqir | Urdu |
| 1979 | Chori Chori | | Urdu |
| 1979 | Main Chup Rahun Gi | | Urdu |
| 1979 | Pakeeza | | Urdu |
| 1980 | Nahin Abhi Nahin | | Urdu |
| 1981 | Chan Suraj | Shaukat Ali | Punjabi |
| 1982 | Pasban | | Urdu |
| 1988 | Maa Bani Dulhan | | Urdu |
| 1989 | Sarfarosh | | Punjabi |
| 1991 | Kalay Chor | Press reporter | Punjabi/Urdu |
| 1994 | Zameen Aasman | Farrukh | Punjabi/Urdu |
| 1994 | International Luteray | Rahim Sahab | Punjabi/Urdu |
| 1994 | Sarkata Insaan | | Urdu |
| 2014 | Main Kukkoo Aur Woh | Kukkoo | Urdu (Telefilm) |
| 2015 | Wrong No. | Nawab | Urdu |
| 2017 | Mehrunisa V Lub U | Bunty (Ali's grandfather) | Urdu |
| 2018 | Pari | | Urdu |
| 2020 | I'll Meet You There | Baba | Urdu |
| 2021 | Tameez Uddin Ki Badtameez Family | Tameez Uddin | Urdu (telefilm) |
| 2022 | Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad | Munir Mughal | Urdu |
| 2022 | Tich Button | Dada | Urdu |

### Television serials

| Year | Serial | Role | Channel |
| 1966 | Lakhon Main Teen | | PTV |
| 1981 | Dehleez | | PTV |
| 1982 | Alif Noon | | PTV |
| 1983 | Dour-e-Junoon | Sami | PTV |
| 1984–1985 | Andhera Ujala | DSP Tahir Khan | PTV |
| 1992 | Din | Ehsan | PTV |
| 1993 | Fareb | Ameer-ud-Deen | PTV |
| 1994 | Angar Wadi | Professor Shafee | PTV |
| 1995 | Uraan | Nawab Hussain | PTV |
| 1997 | Ashiyana | Wajid Khan | PTV |
| 2005 | Sussar in Law | Malik Khadim | PTV |
| 2007 | Lahori Gate | | PTV Home |
| 2008 | Mutthi Bhar Mitti | | Hum TV |
| 2009 | Mannchalay | Khawaja Sahib | Hum TV |
| 2009 | Mishaal | | PTV |
| 2009 | Baityaan | | Hum TV |
| 2010 | Dastaan | Naseeb Bhai | Hum TV |
| 2011 | Meray Qatil Meray Dildar | Umar's father | Hum TV |
| 2011 | Phir Chand Pe Dastak | | Hum TV |
| 2011 | Zindagi Dhoop Tum Ghana Saya | Akbar | ARY Digital |
| 2011 | Jo Chale To Jaan Se Guzar Gaye | | Geo TV |
| 2012 | Durr-e-Shahwar | Mansoor | Hum TV |
| 2012 | Meri Behan Meri Dewrani | | ARY Digital |
| 2012–2013 | Aik Nayee Cinderella | Shah Baba | Geo TV |
| 2013–2014 | Kalmoohi | | Geo TV |
| | Dr. Duago | | Geo TV |
| 2014 | Do Qadam Door Thay | Zohab's Grandfather | Geo TV |
| 2014–2015 | Sadqay Tumhare | Molvi | Hum TV |
| 2015 | Ishqaaway | | Geo Entertainment |
| 2015 | Bojh | | Geo TV |
| 2016 | Tum Kon Piya | Waqar Ali | Urdu 1 |
| 2016 | Haya Ke Daaman Main | Azeem | Hum TV |
| 2016 | Yeh Ishq | | ARY Digital |
| 2016 | New York Se New Karachi | | |
| 2016 | Saheliyan | | |
| 2016 | Seeta Bagri | | TV One |
| 2017 | Munkir | Mursheed sayi | TVOne Pakistan |
| 2017 | Nazr-e-Bad | | Hum TV |
| 2017 | Alif Allah Aur Insaan | Moulvi | Hum TV |
| 2017 | Khaani | Hamid Malik | Geo Entertainment |
| 2017 | Aangan | Mian Sahab | ARY Digital |
| 2017 | Parchayee | | Hum TV |
| 2017-2018 | Meraas | | Hum TV |
| 2018 | Babban Khala Ki Betiyann | | ARY Digital |
| 2019 | Mujhe Rang De | | LTN Family |
| 2019 | Darr Khuda Say | Mazhar | Geo TV |
| 2019 | Shahrukh Ki Saliyan | Molvi Sahab | Geo TV |
| 2019 | Janbaaz | Tahir Khan | Express Entertainment PTV Home |
| 2020 | Zebaish | Molvi Sahab | Hum TV |
| 2020 | Prem Gali | Dada Jee | ARY Digital |
| 2020 | Mushk | Railway station ghost | Hum TV |
| 2021 | Ishq Jalebi | Muhammad Boota or Bau Jee | GEO Entertainment |
| 2021 | Chupke Chupke | Bare Abba | Hum TV |
| 2022 | Pehchaan | Sharmeen's father | Hum TV |
| 2022 | Meri Shehzadi | Sanaullah | Hum TV |

## Awards and recognition

* 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award by Pakistan Television Corporation
* 2012 Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan
* PTV Award for Best Actor
* Lifetime Achievement Award by PTV in 2007
* 1978 Nigar Award for Best Supporting Actor- Film 'Parakh'
* Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in 2023.