Athar Shah Khan Jaidi

AtharShah KhanJaidi was also known as Jaidi. He was a Pakistan renowned writer, comedian, playwright, filmmaker, well-known actor, and poet who earned fame from his role as a television personality. He was born on July 2, 1943. Athar Shah Khan’s place of birth is Rampur, Rampur State, Uttar Pradesh, British India. In 1947, he arrived in Lahore. Then, he took his primary education in Lahore, and after that, he completed his secondary education in Peshawar. Later on, he accomplished his graduate degree at Urdu Science College, now Federsl Urdu University in Karachi. Then, he took a Masters in Journalism at the University of the Punjab, Lahore. He belonged to the Pakistan nationality. He had four sons. Athar Shah Khan Jaidiwent to Karachi in 1957. In 2001, he was honored with the Pride of Performance award by the Government of Pakistan. Also, he was honoured with the Gold Medal, when Pakistan Television celebrated its Silver Jubilee.

He began his career as a writer at the Radio Pakistan, and had written more than seven hundred plays for television, stage, and radio. His one of the series “Jedi Ke Sang” ran for more than nineteen years. He provided several dramas on Pakistan Television (PTV), including Lakhonmein teen, Baa dab bamulahizahishiyar, intezarfarmaiay, Hello Hello, and Burger Family. During the rule of Dictator General ZiaulHaq in Pakistan in the late 70s and 80s, he was well-known as ‘Jaidi,’ which was a great source of entertainment. When there were no private television channels and the only source of entertainment was the Radio Pakistan or the Pakistan Television (PTV).

Athar Shah Khan Jaidi entertained audience on both these source. His most notable role as Jaidi in “Hey Jaidi” drama and his play “Intezar Farmaiyay on Pakistan Television got him a household name in the country. He was the author of the Urdu book titled “Tank Jhank” on Humorous poetry. Athar Shah Khan Jaidi lived for seventy six years. He died on Sunday, May 10, 2020 in Karachi. He was suffering from a stroke, diabetes, and kideney disease for several years. His funeral prayer had done at Masjid-i-Aqsa in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.