Shafqat Cheema is a Pakistani actor and producer, known for playing the negative role of Saqa Kanjar in the 2011 Lollywood film Bol, starring Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan. In October 2022, Shafqat appeared in Pakistan’s highest-grossing film, The Legend of Mullah Jat, playing the role of Jiva Nath, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan.
Wiki/Biography
Shafqat Cheema was born on Sunday, November 20, 1955, in Lahore, Pakistan (age 67 years 2022). His zodiac sign is Scorpio. In 1974, Shafqat graduated from Jamia Naeemia Lahore University in Lahore, Pakistan.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′11″
Hair color: black
Eye color: dark brown
family
Parents and siblings
Shafqat’s father Muazzam was an Aalim (scholar). He has two sisters.
wife and children
Shafqat revealed in an interview that his wife had passed away. He has six daughters and one son, Sheharyar Cheema, who is a Pakistani actor.
Shafqat Cheema (right) and his son Sheharyar Cheema
religion
Shafqat Cheema believes in Islam. He considered himself the Hafiz and Qari of the Quran. (Hafiz is the one who recites the Quran, while Qari is the one who reads the Quran by reciting it.)
Profession
Movie
Shafqat revealed in an interview that his father wanted him to become an Aalim (scholar). However, by chance, he went to Shahnoor Studios in Pakistan, whereupon he decided to continue his acting career. Initially, he started working as a stuntman in Hollywood movies. After struggling as a stuntman for about 16 years, he got a chance to play the supporting role of Qasim in the 1989 film Kalka. Shafqat played the role of Afzal in Lollywood films like Parinday (1992), Pajero Group as Haji Rasheed Ahmed (1994), Ishtehari Gujjar as Ghulam-E-Mustafa (2001), Naag aur Nagin as Changez (2005), Kafra as Balwant Singh (2011), Main Hoon Shahid Afridi as Bashir Bhatti (2013), and Geo Sar Utha Kay as Ghulam Rasool (2017).
Shafqat Cheema as Bashir Bhatti in a still from the movie Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013)
Shafqat Cheema as Ghulam Rasool in a still from the movie “Geo Sar Utha Kay” (2017)
In October 2022, he starred in the movie “The Legend of Mullah Jat” and played Jeeva Nath in the film. Within 10 days of its release, the film became the first Pakistani film to enter the 1 billion rupee club.
Lollywood movie “Legend of Maura Jatt” poster
As of 2022, he has appeared in more than 900 movies.
television
In February 2011, Shafqat appeared in Geo Entertainment’s television show Khuda Aur Muhabbat, in which he played the role of Abdul Ghafoor.
Poster of Geo Entertainment TV show “Khuda Aur Muhabbat”
In June 2012, he played Dinga in Geo Entertainment’s TV show Ashk. In February 2013, Shafqat played the role of Kedo in PTV Home’s show Heer Ranjha.
music video
In June 2021, Shafqat appeared in the music video Khat sung by Masuma Anwar.
Facts/Trivia
- Fans of Shafqat call him “Pakistan’s favorite villain” as he plays mostly villain roles in most of his films.
- In an interview, Shafqat discussed his experience playing a villain in a Hollywood film, saying:
The art of being a villain lies in maturity and a willingness to immerse yourself in the character so that the hero can feel your presence. When I started playing villains, my mentor showed me clips from Anthony Quinn movies and I learned the trick was to focus on the eyes. ”
- Shafqat revealed in an interview that in the initial days of his career, his mentor advised him to star in films and effectively play small roles instead of auditioning for lead roles.
- In an interview, Shafqat recalled one of his near-death incidents and revealed that while shooting for the movie “Dil Sambhala Na Jaye” near Rawal Lake in Islamabad, Shafqat fell into the water. He couldn’t swim and started drowning. Shafqat’s cousin, Nadeem Cheema, didn’t know he could swim and jumped into the water to save him. Later, when Shafqat regained consciousness, he saw that his brother was still alive and was told that some locals came to help and saved both of them. He said,
Once upon a time, we were shooting for the movie Dil Sambhala Na Jaye in Rawal Lake in Islamabad, and Saud and I were shooting the fight scenes in the water. While performing the scene, Saudi jumped on me and we both fell into the swamp. I couldn’t swim but Saudi could and I told him to save me or I would drown. I screamed help me! help me! But Saud pushed me away, got out of the water, and saved himself. I was covered in water and lost my voice as my lungs were filled with water, I started giving signals with my hands and saw my brother Naveed Cheema jumping up to save me, he didn’t know how to swim either, he was drowned in front of me. ”
- In November 2019, a fake news about the death of Shafqat Cheema’s son Sheharyar Cheema appeared on social media. It later emerged that it was not the son of actor Shafqat, but information about the director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafqat Ali Cheema, whose son was killed in a car accident. In an interview, actor Shafqat Cheema was shocked by the news of his son’s fake death and expressed his anger at the media for spreading false rumors, saying:
Alhamdulillah, my son is alive. I quickly called my son, but he didn’t answer the phone. What did I do wrong to someone?
- In 2015, Shafqat revealed in an interview that he was obsessed with Pakistani television host, actress and former stage dancer Reema Khan and proposed to her, but she rejected him.
Photos of Pakistani actress, television host and former dancer Reema Khan
- Shafqat revealed in an interview that before starting his career as an actor, he participated in the Mr. Lahore competition.
- In March 2022, Shafqat performed in the play “Munda Bigra Jaye” staged by the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) in Punjab, Pakistan.
Shafqat Cheema still from Munda Bigra Jaye, staged at Rawalpindi Arts Council, Punjab, Pakistan
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education