Hameed Sheikh


Hameed Sheikh is a Pakistani film and television actor, director, producer, and professional language translator. In film and TV, he is best known for Khuda Kay Liye, Operation O21 and Moor.
Between 2022 and 2024, Hameed Sheikh had performed as on-set language and cultural consultant for the US series The Old Man, starring Jeff Bridges.
Hameed Sheikh has worked for years to bring his native Pakistani society into better focus via film and television, while lamenting the lack of government support within these cultures.

Personal life

Sheikh was born on 28 December 1969 in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan, Pakistan. His family has been living there for 600 years and he has described his ethnic background as "Brahmin Pundits" who had converted to Islam. Sheikh is fluent in Urdu, Brahui, Sindhi, Punjabi, Dari, Persian, Seraiki, Balochi and Hindko.
In a 2019 interview Sheikh stated, "There is a wealth of resources that we can use if we get support from Pakistan’s film industry and the government. We don’t even have an arts council in Quetta, let alone any infrastructure. How can we get anything done?"
Hameed Sheikh has been living in Los Angeles since 2021.

Career

''Kandahar Break''

In 2008, Sheikh produced Kandahar Break, a political thriller set in 1999 about a British engineer escaping the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. While filming a night scene in the desert, a group associated with the Taliban attacked the Pakistani members of the film crew. Four crew members were shot while leaving the compound and arriving at the set; they all survived. Much like the lead character of the movie, director David Whitney and his crew were forced to leave Pakistan with the help of local security forces. Only 75% of the shoot was completed by then. Later, Sheikh arranged funding for the remaining part, which was filmed in Tunisia.

''Moor''

Sheikh was approached by Jami, director and writer of Moor, to play the role of an old man whose family was affected by the closure of a railway station in Zhob Valley, Baluchistan. In preparation for the role, Sheikh gained a lot of weight and changed his posture and gait. He described his role as "genuinely challenging," but didn't charge a fee for the project since he believed the film would open doors for young actors of Baluchistan.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2007Khuda Kay LiyeSher ShahShoaib Mansoor
2009Kandahar Break: Fortress of WarOmar BalochDavid Whitney
2013Hearts and MindsTariqCharlie GuillenWinner, Jury Prize, Alexandria Film Festival
2014O21Dost MuhammadJami
2015Abdullah: The Final WitnessAbdullahHashim NadeemScreened at Cannes Film Festival
2015MoorWahidJamiPashto and English
2019The Man from KathmanduPundit HarvashdamPema DhondupNepali film
2020Away, TogetherRashidSana Malik
2021The WindowAbidAmmar Lasani

Television series

Awards and nominations