Sudhir

Shah Zaman Khan Afridi, better known as Sudhir (Urdu: ) or Lala Sudhir (25 January 1921 – 19 January 1997), was a Pakistani actor, director, and producer.

Sudhir was a highly respected film personality. he is known as the first action-hero of Pakistani cinema, appearing in 173 films, including 101 in Punjabi, 70 in Urdu, one in Pashto. He also appeared in a Bollywood film before the Partition of India.

Early life He was born as Shah Zaman Khan Afridi into a Pashtun family on 25 January 1921 in Lahore, where he lived for much of his life. He appeared in the hit musical film Dupatta in 1952. His next film, Sassi (1954), became the first ever Urdu film to celebrate a golden jubilee. Dulla Bhatti (1956), Mahi Munda (1956), and Yakke Wali (1957), all starring Sudhir, were the highest grossing Punjabi films of the time. Yakke Wali (1957) was the first blockbuster Punjabi film. These two films led to the building of large film studios in Pakistan. Sudhir was the hero of the action film Baghi (1956), the first Pakistani film to be shown in China.

His film Jeedar (1965) was the first to reach platinum jubilee status. Maa Puttar (1970) was another Punjabi film to celebrate a platinum jubilee. He once fought a real battle with a tiger in the film Sahil (1960). He appeared as a sidekick with his son in the film Dushman Ki Talash (1978).

Personal life Sudhir married four times, twice within his extended family. These two marriages were 'arranged marriages' by his elders, a common practice in Pakistani culture, then with fellow actress Shammi and finally with Pakistani film actress Zeba. His brief marriage to Zeba, who was 24 years his junior, produced no children. Zeba later went on to marry actor Mohammad Ali.