Dino Shafeek (born Gholam D. Shafeek, 21 March 1930 – 10 March 1984) was a British Bangladeshi actor specialising in comedy roles. Born and raised in Dhaka, he moved to the United Kingdom in 1958 and appeared in several sitcoms during the 1970s and early 1980s. He is best remembered for playing the part of Chai Wallah Muhammed in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum and the role of Ali Nadim in ITV sitcom Mind Your Language.

Career Shafeek's first acting role was as an extra in the drama series Maigret in 1961 under the name Dean Francis, a name he used on occasion until 1966. Most of Shafeek's early roles were uncredited; his first role credited to "Dino Shafeek" was in 1967, when he appeared in two episodes of Softly, Softly as Anwar. He appeared as 'Akbar' in the film The Long Duel (1967), starring Yul Brynner.

One of Shafeek's biggest roles came in the show It Ain't Half Hot Mum as "Chaiwallah Muhammad". The series was broadcast by the BBC from 1974 to 1981 and starred Windsor Davies as the Battery sergeant-major of the troop's barracks in Deolali, Bombay Presidency. During the run of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Shafeek played the part of student Ali Nadim in the ITV/London Weekend Television sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–1979).

Shafeek played character parts in films and TV, such as: Carry On Emmannuelle, Minder, Special Branch and The Onedin Line. His last role was in High Road to China starring Tom Selleck.

Death Shafeek died suddenly from a heart attack whilst at home, in London, with his fiancée, Leslie Didcock, on 10 March 1984, eleven days before his 54th birthday.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1964Man in the MiddleBarmanUncredited 1967 The Long Duel Akbar 1968 The Charge of the Light Brigade Indian servant 1972 Young Winston Sikh Soldier 1976 Queen Kong Indian Uncredited 1977 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers Indian watchman 1978 Carry On Emmannuelle Immigration Officer 1983 High Road to China Satvinda (final film role)

Television Year Title Role Notes1961MaigretExtra (as Dean Francis)Episode "Love from Felicie" (uncredited)1963Ghost SquadWaiterEpisode "Death of a Sportsman" (uncredited)The Desperate PeopleMan at nightclub1 episode (uncredited)1964Danger ManClub barman (as Dean Francis)Episode "The Colonel's Daughter" (uncredited)Drama 61-67Gunman (as Dean Francis)Episode "Studio '64: The Crunch"The Midnight MenMan at cafe (as Dean Francis)Episode "Promise to Kill"CranePoliceman (as Dean Francis)Episode "Death Is a Closed Door"HMS ParadiseIndian delegate (as Dean Francis)Episode "What Am I Offered for This Lot?"The Indian Tales of Rudyard KiplingSais, driver (as Dean Francis)Episodes "Only a Subaltern", "The Bronckhurst Divorce Case" 1965 The Saint NativeEpisode "The Golden Frog" (uncredited)Out of the UnknownMan in mask (as Dean Francis)Episode "The Fox and the Forest" 1966 Redcap Gurkha (as Dean Francis) Episode "The Killer"Sergeant CorkServantEpisode "The Case of the Threatened Rajah" (uncredited)A Farewell to ArmsPassini (as Dean Francis)Episode "The Summer There Were Many Victories" 1967 Softly, Softly Anwar Episodes "The Target: Part 1: Sighted", "The Target: Part 2: Point Blank" 1968 The Jazz Age Abas Episode "The Outstation" The Champions Manservant Episode "The Dark Island" (uncredited) 1969 The Troubleshooters Abdhul Episode "You're Not Going to Believe This, But..." Special Branch Majid Episode "The Promised Land" 1971 The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder 2nd priest Episode "Man with a Strange Tattoo"BrettFilegoniaEpisode "The Day of the Dead" The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Ali Episode "The Duchess of Wiltshire's Diamonds" 1974 ...And Mother Makes Five Gypsy Episode "If I Can Help Somebody" 1974–1981 It Ain't Half Hot Mum Chai Wallah Muhammed 56 episodes 1976 Centre Play Demonstrator Episode "Commonwealth Season: Trinidad – Home Sweet India"Down the 'GateThe postmanEpisode "The Lie" 1977 The Onedin Line Juan Episode "When Troubles Come" The Fuzz 1st Pakistani Episode "Coppers Under the Sun" 1977–1979 Mind Your Language Ali Nadim 29 episodes 1979 Hazell Raiji Episode "Hazell Bangs the Drum" 1980 Minder Mini cab driver Episode "All About Scoring, Innit?" 1981 Into the Labyrinth Suleiman Episode "Shadrach" 1982 The Stanley Baxter HourVarious roles Christmas special

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1967 A Touch of Brightness Pidku Royal Court Theatre, London 1968 In the Penal Colony The Prisoner Arts Laboratory, Drury Lane, London; adaptation by Steven Berkoff 1970 To Anchor a Cloud Asaf Khan King George's Theatre, London 1971 Captain Brassbound's Conversion Hassan Cambridge Theatre, London 1977 A Clean Break Anwar Hassan Ravi Shankar Hall, London 1979 It Ain't Half Hot Mum Chai Wallah Muhammad Stage adaptation of TV series; regional tour commencing at Pier Theatre, Bournemouth 1980 Dick Whittington and His Cat London Palladium, London 1981 Dick Whittington and His Cat 1982 Gandhi Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London It Ain't Half Hot Mum Chai Wallah Muhammad Stage adaptation of TV series; regional tour commencing at Futurist Theatre, Scarborough Dick Whittington Sultan of Morocco Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol

Discography

Albums Year Title Label/Cat No Notes 1975 It Ain't Half Hot Mum – Featuring the Artists from the Popular BBC-TV Series EMI Records EMC 3074 Appears as Chai Wallah Muhammad 1983 Tony Fayne's Back Rosie Records RR 008 Guest appearance

See also British Pakistani List of British Pakistanis

References

External links