Ejaz Durrani
Ejaz Durrani, known mononymously as Ejaz, was a Pakistani film actor, director and producer active from 1956 to 1988. He was married to legendary Pakistani actress-singer Noor Jehan. He is mostly remembered for his portrayal of Ranjha in the film Heer Ranjha. He was especially known for portraying Punjabi culture folk heroes in epic love stories such as Heer Ranjha and Mirza Sahiban.
Ejaz was born in a village in Jalalpur Jattan, Gujrat District in Pakistan in 1935. He was married to actress-singer Noor Jehan in 1959 and had three daughters with her: Hina, Shazia and Nazia. They eventually divorced. Noor Jehan got the custody of their daughters and raised them on her own. Ejaz later married film actress Firdous.
Career
Actor
Ejaz started his career in 1956 and rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s as one of the leading actors in Punjabi cinema, often portraying romantic and folk-hero roles. He was best known for his performance in Heer Ranjha, a landmark film in which he played the role of Ranjha opposite Firdous Begum, his future wife, who played Heer. The film remains a classic in Pakistani cinema due to its lyrical dialogue and cultural resonance.
Producer
In addition to acting, Durrani was also a successful film producer, backing box office hits such as Dosti. His career was marked by an association with folkloric and emotional storytelling, a genre that became highly popular in Pakistani cinema during his peak years.
Death and legacy
He remained an iconic figure in the industry until his retirement, remembered for both his film contributions and his lasting cultural impact. He died in 2021 at the age of 85.
Legal troubles
Ejaz was detained for smuggling cannabis at the London Heathrow Airport. He was arrested and subsequently spent a few years in prison for it.
Filmography
As a producer
Some of his hits as a producer are Heer Ranjha, Dosti, Sholay and ''Maula Bakhsh''
Other activities
He was elected as the vice president of the Pakistan Film Producers Association in Pakistan.