Waheed Murad (Urdu: وحید مراد; 2 October 1938 – 23 November 1983), also known as Chocolate Hero, was a Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Famous for his charming expressions, attractive personality, tender voice and unusual talent for acting, Murad was considered one of the most famous and influential actors of Pakistan and South Asia.
Murad was born in Sialkot, Pakistan. He graduated from the S. M. Arts College Karachi, and then earned a master's degree in English literature from University of Karachi. He started his film career in a cameo in 1959 in the film Saathi when he was 21 years old. The film, Armaan, which was produced by him, was the first Pakistani film to complete 75 weeks in cinemas. Murad is the only actor of film industry to secure the highest number of platinum, diamond, golden and silver jubilees. He mesmerized Pakistani nation during 1960s and 1970s more than anyone before or after and is considered to be evergreen chocolate hero of Pakistan's silver screen history. He acted in 125 feature films and earned 32 film awards.
In November 2010, 27 years after his death, the Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari posthumously awarded him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the third highest honour and civilian award by the State of Pakistan, given in the fields of literature, arts, sports, medicine, or science.
On 2 October 2019, Google celebrated Murad's 81st birthday with a doodle on its homepage for Pakistan, India and several other countries.
Murad was an only child who was born in Sialkot and grew up in Karachi. His mother was Shireen Murad (a Christian from Bikaner who had converted to Islam), and his father was Nisar Murad, a film distributor in Bombay, both of whom had migrated to Karachi before the partition of India (1947). He did graduation from S. M. Arts College, Karachi, and then masters in English literature from University of Karachi. His father's family belonged to the cultural elite of Sialkot.
Murad's ancestors had migrated from the Bahmani Sultanate in southern India to Kashmir and eventually settled in Sialkot in the 18th-century. Where Murad's grandfather Zahoor Murad, an advocate and a social activist, adopted the surname "Murad" in 1887. The Murads also claimed Turkish ancestry; claiming that one of their ancestors, Murat, was a soldier of Ottoman-origin serving in the Mughal Army who settled in Punjab.
Waheed Murad started his film career by playing a cameo in 1959 in Al-Hamid's Saathi. He then his father's established 'Film Art' in 1961 as a producer of the film Insan Badalta Hai. His second film as producer, Jab Se Dakha Hai Tumhein starring Darpan and Zeba, was commercially unsuccessful. Afterwards, Darpan most of the time started coming late at studio. Zeba suggested Waheed to cast himself as hero in his next film. Waheed was not ready to sign himself in his own movies. But when the same suggestion came from his old good friend Pervaiz Malik, he accepted it on the condition that if Zeba would be his co-star, Zeba accepted in return (according to Zeba). As a result, he debuted in a starring role in 1962's Aulad, where he played a support role. The film was directed by S.M. Yousuf. Murad's rise to fame came with Heera Aur Pathar, released in 1964. This film marked a significant milestone in his career as both a producer and actor. Notably, his childhood friend Pervez Malik made his directorial debut with this movie. He got the Nigar award in the Best Actor category for the same film.
In 1966, Murad produced and acted in Armaan, whose story was also written by him and directed by Pervaiz Malik. Nasir, the carefree son of a tycoon who switches place with his friend on their tour to Muree. Surpassing all the former box office records at that time by completing 75 weeks in the theaters, Armaan became the first film to celebrate its platinum jubilee at the box office. The film achieved cult status due to its music, composed by Sohail Rana, especially the song "Ko Ko Korina", the first popsong of South Asia. For the film, Murad received two Nigar awards in the categories of best producer and best actor.
Following the success of Armaan, Murad reunited the team for his next production Ehsaan, released in 1967, which was directed by Pervaiz Malik, and featured music by Sohail Rana. In the film, Murad played a psychiatrist who falls for a widow played by Zeba.
In 1967, he appeared as the leading actor in films like Devar Bhabi, Doraha, Insaaniyat and Maan baap.
From 1964 to 1968, Murad and Pervaiz Malik made Heera Aur Pathar, Armaan, Ehsaan, Doraha and Jahan tum wahan hum. The combination of Waheed Murad, Pervaiz Malik, Masroor Anwar, Sohail Rana, Ahmed Rushdi and Zeba created a number of films. Waheed Murad brought Malik, Anwar and Rana under the umbrella of 'Film Arts'. Film Arts broke up and Pervaiz Malik started creating his own projects with new actors. A total of seven films, including two films, i.e., Usey dekha usey chaha and Dushman released after a long gap of 6 years in 1974, were produced with the combination of Waheed and Pervaiz (but not under 'Film Art' Production).
In 1968, Murad started in his production Samandar, co-starring Shabnam. Set in a fishing colony, Samandar explores themes of power struggles, foreign intrusion, and the complexities of relationships between different groups, marking a significant departure from Murad's earlier films. Murad made his debut as a singer in the film by singing "Saathi Tera Mera Saathi Hai" with Masood Rana. The film was a mediocre success at the box office.
In 1969, Murad made his directorial debut with Ishaara, for which he wrote the story and also produced. In the film, Murad played the role of a struggling artist, and sang the song "Jaise Taise Beet Gaya Din" with Deeba. The film also starring Rozina, Aliya and Talish, was commercially unsuccessful. Murad received another Nigar award in the best actor category for the film.
In his 25-year career, Murad paired with many actresses like Zeba, Shamim Ara, Rani, Naghma, Aaliya, Sangeeta, Kaveeta, Aasia, Shabnam, Deeba, Babra Sharif, Rukhsana, Bahar Begum and Neelo. He acted in a total of 124 films (two were released after his death), of which 38 were black and white and 86 were in colour. He also appeared in six films as a guest star including his first and shortest appearance in 1959's Saathi. He acted in 115 Urdu films, 8 Punjabi films and 1 Pushto film, and earned 32 film awards including ones for best producer and for best actor.
In 1986, Zalzala, co-starring Rani, was released, marking Murad's last film as an actor.
Waheed Murad produced eleven films under his father's company Film Art. He was the youngest film producer in the Pakistani film industry at that time. Most of his produced films were either Golden Jubilee or Silver Jubilee. During the 1960s and early 1970s, he produced films like Insaan Badalta Hai (1961) (his first film as producer), Armaan (1966), Ehsaan (1967), Naseeb Apna Apna (1970) and Mastana Mahi (Punjabi film of 1971). However, after Mastana Mahi, he produced no film except Hero which was produced in the 1980s and was released after his death.
As a director, he had directed as well as produced Ishaara (1969) with co-star Deeba.
In Waheed's career, most of the songs picturised by him were sung by Ahmed Rushdi. He sang more than 200 duet and solo songs for him. Other playback singers who provided voice for him were Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Saleem Raza, Akhlaq Ahmed, Mujeeb Aalam, Asad Amanat Ali Khan, Bashir Ahmad, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and A Nayyar.