# Ismail Tara

Ismail Tara (Urdu: اسماعیل تارا; 16 November 1949 – 24 November 2022), born Muhammad Ismail Merchant, was a Pakistani actor and comedian.
Beginning in 1964, he worked in stage plays, television serials and Lollywood films till his death in 2022.
He was best known for his work in Fifty Fifty, which aired on PTV in the 1980s.
He was a five time Nigar Awards winner for the best comedian in Haathi Mere Saathi (1993), Aakhri Mujra (1994), Munda Bigra Jaye (1995), Chief Sahib (1996) and Deewarein (1998).

## Early life

Tara was born Muhammad Ismail Merchant in Karachi into a Gujarati-speaking Memon business family, and began his career in 1964, at the age of 15, when he got a role in a play staged by a small theatre.

## Career

Tara first rose to prominence when he became a part of the Zia Mohyeddin Show in 1972–1973.
Tara is best known for the popular TV show Fifty Fifty, ending up writing some of its scripts along with fellow TV comedian Majid Jahangir when the original scriptwriter Anwar Maqsood had a fall-out with the show's cast in 1981.

## Personal life and death

Tara had to perform a comedy theater the same day his 8-year-old son died. After his performance, he told the audience about his son's death.
Tara died due to kidney failure in Karachi on 24 November 2022, at the age of 73.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Channel |
| 1978 | Fifty Fifty | PTV |
| 1987 | Gharama | PTV |
| 2005 | Rubber Band | ARY Digital |
| 2007 | Mamoo | PTV |
| 2008 | Choki # 420 | Aaj Entertainment |
| 2008 | Paanch Saheliyan | Geo Entertainment |
| 2008 | Yeh Zindagi Hai | Geo Entertainment |
| 2009 | Nadaaniyaan | Geo Entertainment |
| 2012 | One Way Ticket | Hum TV |
| 2012 | Pak Villa | Geo TV |
| 2012 | Dheeli Colony | Urdu 1 |
| 2013 | Orangi Ki Anwari | TVOne |
| 2013 | Yeh Shadi Nahi Ho Sakti | ARY Digital |
| 2013 | Bulbulay | ARY Digital |
| 2013 | Namak Paray | Hum TV |
| 2015 | Love In Gulshan-e-Bihar | TVOne |
| 2018 | Jinn Ki Aayegi Baraat | BOL Entertainment |
| 2018 | Mirchiyaan | BOL Entertainment |
| 2019 | Barfi Laddu | ARY Digital |
| 2019 | Bhai Bhai | Express Entertainment |
| 2020 | Ulta Seedha | Apna TV |
| 2020 | Shokhiyaan | Geo Entertainment |
| 2022 | Woh Pagal Si | ARY Digital |

### Films

| Year | Movie | Role |
| 1993 | Haathi Mere Saathi | |
| 1994 | Aakhri Mujra | |
| 1995 | Munda Bigra Jaye | |
| 1996 | Chief Sahib | |
| 1997 | Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin | |
| 1997 | Jan Jan Pakistan | |
| 1997 | Raju | |
| 1998 | Deewarein | |
| 1998 | Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa | |
| 1999 | Mujhe Jeene Do | |
| 2000 | Mujhe Chand Chahiye | |
| 2002 | Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa | |
| 2008 | Khulay Aasman Ke Neechay | |
| 2013 | Main Hoon Shahid Afridi | Malick Khalid |
| 2015 | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani | |
| 2015 | Halla Gulla | |
| 2016 | Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka | |
| 2018 | Jackpot | Mr.China |
| 2018 | The Donkey King | Pehalwan Chacha |
| 2019 | Ready Steady No | |

### Stage plays

| Title | Language |
| Soney Ki Chirya | Punjabi |
| Mehndi Lagi Mere Hath | Punjabi |
| Tere Nakhre Hazar | Punjabi |
| Pholay Badshah | Punjabi |
| Wah Wah Moin Akhtar | Urdu |

## Awards and nominations

* Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Haathi Mere Saathi in 1993
* Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Aakhri Mujran 1994
* Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Munda Bigra Jaye in 1995
* Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Chief Sahib in 1996
* Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Deewarein in 1998
* The 1st Indus Drama Awards: Nominated for Best Actor Sitcom in a Leading Role and received Award for TV Comedy Series Fifty Fifty (1980s)
* Pride of Performance from the President of Pakistan 2022