Mohammad Saeed Khan (1 January 1937 – 24 May 2005), better known by his stage name Rangeela, was a Pakistani actor, comedian, director and producer.
He was also a professional bodybuilder, a billboard painter, a writer (both a screenwriter and a lyricist), a film distributor, a singer and a music composer.
He is regarded as one of the finest comedians of the Pakistani film industry.
Beginning in 1956 with the Punjabi film Chann Mahi, he eventually performed in over 550 films in a career spanning over 4 decades.
Early life His birth name was Mohammad Saeed Khan and he was born in Parachinar, a city in the Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His family moved to Peshawar when he was very young, He took a keen interest in bodybuilding and physical exercises as a teenager.
Career He moved to Lahore at a young age and earned his livelihood by painting billboards for the Pakistani film industry. Once, when the shooting of a film was taking place, an actor for a comedic role was needed. The film director asked Mohammad Saeed Khan to play the part which he did. All those present during the shooting were amused by his acting style and he became an actor through sheer luck. Rangeela made his professional cinematic debut in the 1958 Punjabi film Jatti, directed by M. J. Rana.
He started playing humorous roles in movies and became highly popular. In 1969, he formed 'Rangeela Productions' to produce his own movies. He not only produced films but also directed his productions, sang songs, and wrote some scripts as well. His movies, to the surprise of many film industry stalwarts, attracted a large number of viewers. The film Diya Aur Toofan, released on 9 May 1969, was Rangeela's directional debut. He directed numerous movies under the banner of Rangeela Productions. His acting was showcased in the film Rangeela (1970), in which he played the title role. His third consecutive hit film was Dil Aur Dunya (1971), starring Habib, Aasia and Rangeela. He brought to the film Dil Aur Dunya a sobering sense of a director's prowess which is the opposite to his celluloid persona.11th death anniversary of film director Rangeela observed Dunya TV News, Published 24 May 2016, Retrieved 27 June 2021
When Rangeela produced film Dia Aur Toofan, he sang a song Gaa mere manwa gata ja re, janaa hai hamka duur under the music direction of Kamal Ahmed. People of the film industry were taken aback to know Rangeela was producing a film. The film attracted a large number of movie-goers. His song also became very popular.
Family He was married three times and had eight daughters and six sons. One of his daughter, Farah Deeba, is a politician in Lahore, another daughter is a CPA accountant based in the United States, while his son Zamar Khan acted in several TV and theatre dramas, sitcoms, and movies. Another son, Jahanzaib, acted in some movies before he quit showbiz."Children of most veteran artists shun showbiz, find future in other fields" Dunya TV News website, Published 22 March 2017, Retrieved 27 June 2021(Associated Press of Pakistan) 11th death anniversary of legendary comedian Rangeela observed Daily Times (newspaper), Published 24 May 2016, Retrieved 27 June 2021
Death Rangeela died of a cardiac arrest on 24 May 2005 at the age of 68.
Selected filmography Year Film ActorDirectorProducerScreenwriterLyricistSingerLanguage Notes1956Chhan MahiPunjabi1957DaataUrdu Nooran Punjabi1958Jatti1959Shera1960GulbadlanUrdu1960Salma 1964 Gehra Daagh Paigham 1965 Malangi Punjabi Dil Ke Tukre Urdu 1967 Imam Din Gohavia Punjabi 1969 Diya Aur ToofanUrdu 1970 Rangeela 1971 Dil Aur Dunya Dosti 1972 Ehsaas 1973 Rangeela Aur Munawar Zarif Insan Aur Gadha Ziddi Punjabi Kubra Ashiq Urdu Ik Madari Punjabi 1974 Do TasweerainUrdu 1977 Begum Jaan Aj Diyan KurrianPunjabi 1979 Behan BhaiUrdu Aurat Raj Khushboo (1979 film) Maula JattPunjabiCameo appearance 1980 Nahin Abhi NahinUrdu 1980 Aap Ki Khatir 1981 AmanatPunjabi Chan Suraj1982 Ik Doli Charda Suraj 1983 Sher Mama 1984 Teray Ghar Kay SamnayUrdu 1984 Doorian1986 QaidiPunjabi 1987 Disco DancerLady SmugglerUrdu 1988 Bazar-e-Husn 1989 Madam BawriPunjabiDouble role Rangeelay JasoosUrdu/Punjabi 1990 International Guerillas SarmayaPunjabi 1991 Kalay ChorUrdu/Punjabi 1992 Hero Abdullah the GreatDouble role1997Kurri Munda RaziPunjabi1998Nakhra Gori Da1999Eik Aur Love StoryUrdu
Awards Nigar Award for Best Screenwriter, for film Rangeela in 1970 Nigar Award for Best Comedian, in the film Dil Aur Dunya in 1971 Nigar Award for Best Comedian, in the film Insan Aur Gadha in 1973 Special Award from Nigar Awards for simultaneously playing three roles in the film Meri Zindigi Hai Naghma in 1972 Special Award from Nigar Awards for his comic role in the film Naukar tay Maalik in 1982 Nigar Award for Best story- writer, in the film Sona chandi in 1983 Nigar Award for Best director in the film Sona Chandi in 1983 Nigar Award for Best Comedian in the film Miss Colombo in 1984 Nigar Award for Best Comedian in the film Baghi Qaidi in 1986 Nigar Award for Best Comedian in the film Teen yakkay teen chakkay in 1991 Nigar Award Special Awards, Millennium Award in 1999 Pride of Performance Award in 2005 by the President of Pakistan for his contributions to the Pakistan film industry'Remembering legendary Rangeela on his 10th death anniversary' ARY TV News website, Published 24 May 2015, Retrieved 27 June 2021
See also Music of Pakistan List of Lollywood actors
References
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