Syed Ishrat Abbas (, 11 April 1928 – 8 November 1980), better known by his stage name Darpan (), was one of the original romantic heroes of the "Golden Age" of Pakistan's film industry (also commonly known as Lollywood).
Early life Syed Ishrat Abbas was born into a middle-class family originally from the United Provinces of British India, where he was born on 11 April 1928 (as per Pakmag website). His older brother, Santosh Kumar, was also a film actor. Another brother, S. Suleman, was a film director.
Career Darpan was introduced in the film Amanat in 1950 and went on to feature in the Pakistani Punjabi film Billo in 1951. After starring in a few more films produced in Lahore, he decided to try his luck in India, where he only had moderate level of success. Notable films from this period include Barati (1954), Adl-e-Jehangir (1955) alongside Meena Kumari and Heer (1956) alongside Nutan. Both Adl-e-Jehangir and Heer featured Pradeep Kumar in the lead role; Darpan played supporting characters in these films.
Darpan came back to Lahore after a few years, where the film industry was then booming, and he acted in Baap Ka Gunah (1957). He had a breakthrough with his self-produced film Sathi. Raat Ke Rahi (1960), Saheli (1961), Gulfam (1961), Qaidi (1952), Anchal (1962), Baaji (1963), Shikwa (1963), Ik Tera Sahara (1963) and Naela (1965) were some big films in which he played vital roles. Critics applauded his lead role performance back in Pakistan's film Saheli (1960) in which he starred alongside Nayyar Sultana and Shamim Ara.
He won a Best Actor Nigar Award for his performance in Saheli (1960), as well as a Presidential award. His last big film as hero was Payal Ki Jhankar in 1966. He was the hero in two of Waheed Murad's produced films Insaan Badalta Hai (1961) and Jab Se Dekha Hai Tumhen (1963). He played the villain in Ik Gunah Aur Sahi, and was a supporting actor in Khuda Te Maan, Jub Jub Phool Khile (1975) and a few other films.
Personal life Darpan was a good-looking and attractive man with hazel eyes and a rich playboy's smile. At first glance, he seemed like a non-serious flirt and a 'lady killer'. At least, that was his 'professional image as an actor'. He used to play non-serious fun-loving roles in the movies quite unlike his older actor brother Santosh Kumar who used to take serious romantic roles in the Pakistani movies of the 1950s and 1960s.
When it came to marriage, Darpan fell for a shy, typically eastern and a lady-like fellow actress, Nayyar Sultana. They had been paired together earlier in a super-hit Pakistani film Saheli (1960) which also starred Shamim Ara and was directed by veteran film director S. M. Yusuf.
Death He died in Lahore on 8 November 1980 at age 52.Darpan's 32nd death anniversary today Geo News (TV channel), Published 8 November 2012, Retrieved 16 July 2022
Filmography Darpan did a total of 71 films - 58 films in Urdu language, 3 in Hindi language, 8 in Punjabi language and 2 films in Pashto language. Film In India YearFilmRoleLanguage 1954 Barati Atmaram Hindi 1955 Adl-e-Jehangir Prince Khurram 1956Heer
In Pakistan YearFilmRoleLanguage 1950 Amanat Urdu 1951 Billo Punjabi 1953 Mehbooba Urdu1957 Baap Ka Gunah Noor-e-Islam1958 Jan-e-Bahar Mukhra Punjabi Rukhsana Urdu1959 Sahara Khullja Sim Sim Shama Saathi1960 Noukari Raat Kay Rahi Saheli1961 Insan Badalta Hai Gulfam Lakhon Fasane1962 Qaidi Mousiqaar Aanchal Beta Unchay Mahal1963 Jab se dekha hai tumhen Yahudi ki larki BaajiNasir Teer Andaz Shikwa Dulhan Ik Tera Sahara Tange Wala1964 Baap ka Baap Shikari Inspector Shabab1965 Koh-e-Qaaf NaelaAkhtar1966 Al-Hilaal HamrahiSchool Principal Jalwah Mere Mehboob Payal Ki Jhankar Mojza1967 Sham Savera Bahadur Sitamgar Shola Aur Shabnam1968 Baalam Ik Musafar Ik Haseena Saiqa1969 Meri Bhabi Fasana-e-Dil Saza1970 Hamjoli Chann Sajna Punjabi 1971 Ishq Deevana1973 Khuda Te Maan Azmat Urdu Khushia Punjabi1974 Jawab Do Urdu Deedar1975 Nadir Khan Punjabi Izzat Urdu Aik Gunnah Aur Sahi Jub Jub Phool Khile 1976 Ajj Di Taza Khabar Punjabi 1977 Cheekh Urdu / Pashto 1979 Nawabzadi Urdu 1986 Laram Pashto
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1959 Nigar Award Best Actor Saathi 1960 Nigar Award Best Actor Saheli
See also List of Lollywood actors
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