Ismail Tara (; 16 November 1949 – 24 November 2022), born Muhammad Ismail Merchant, was a Pakistani actor and comedian.
He worked in stage plays, television serials and Lollywood films from 1964 until his death in 2022.
He was best known for his work in Fifty Fifty, which aired on Pakistani television's PTV in the 1980s.
He was a five-time Nigar Awards winner for the best comedian in the films Haathi Mere Saathi (1993), Aakhri Mujra (1994), Munda Bigra Jaye (1995), Chief Sahib (1996) and Deewarein (1998).
Early life Tara was born on 16 November 1949 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.
According to a major Pakistani English-language newspaper:
"Ismail Tara, who passed away November 24, 2022, was a master of physical comedy and mimicry. It was the legendary skit show Fifty Fifty that launched him to nationwide fame and it was its presence, first on VCDs and then on YouTube, that sustained it and made him a household name with a whole new generation of viewers".
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.
Ismail Tara died due to kidney failure in Karachi on 24 November 2022, at the age of 73. He was buried in his hometown Karachi, Pakistan.
Filmography Television +YearTitleChannel1978Fifty FiftyPTV1987Ghar Rama1992Haveli2005Rubber BandARY Digital2007MamooPTV2008Choki # 420Aaj EntertainmentPaanch SaheliyanGeo EntertainmentYeh Zindagi Hai2009Nadaaniyaan2012One Way TicketHum TVPak VillaGeo TVDheeli ColonyUrdu 12013Orangi Ki AnwariTVOneYeh Shadi Nahi Ho SaktiARY DigitalBulbulayNamak ParayHum TV2015Love In Gulshan-e-BiharTVOne2018Jinn Ki Aayegi BaraatBOL Entertainment2018Mirchiyaan2019Barfi LadduARY DigitalBhai BhaiExpress Entertainment2020Ulta SeedhaApna TVShokhiyaanGeo Entertainment2022Woh Pagal SiARY 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 Jan Jan Pakistan Raju 1998 Deewarein 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 Halla Gulla 2016 Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka 2018 Jackpot Mr.China The Donkey King Pehalwan Chacha 2019 Ready Steady No
Stage plays +TitleLanguageSoney Ki ChiryaPunjabiMehndi Lagi Mere HathTere Nakhre HazaarPohlay BadshahWah Wah Moin AkhtarUrdu
Awards and nominations Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Haathi Mere Saathi in 1993 Nigar Awards: Winner for best comedian for Aakhri Mujra in 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 award from the President of Pakistan in 2022 for his contributions to Pakistani television and films.
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