Nirala

Who was Nirala?

Nirala, whose real name was Syed Muzaffar Husain Zaidi, was a Pakistani comedian and film actor of the 1960s. He only appeared in Urdu films made in Pakistan. His first film was Aur bhi gham hain. His last film was Choroan Ka Badshah, which was released three years after his death in 1988. His most successful film was Armaan, in which he played a supporting role with Waheed Murad.

He was born in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Syed Zafaryab Hussain Zaidi, was of Iranian origin and his mother was Indian. He had a younger brother named Bisharat.

Nirala lived in India until independence in 1947 and then moved to Pakistan along with his family elders after the independence in 1947. They settled in Karachi in a rented house located at Abyssinia Lines in Karachi.

He was soon discovered by a film producer and started his professional career as a comedian actor in the Pakistani film industry in 1960, becoming very popular.

Besides working in the movies, Nirala performed comedy routines at private parties, social events and stage shows around the country. Since there was no television or VCR in that era, Nirala was seen visiting the cinema to watch his own movies along with his close friends.