Iftekhar


Iftekhar Ahmed Sharif, often mononymously credited as Iftekhar or Iftikhar, was an Indian actor who mainly worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for his film roles as a police officer.

Career

Iftekhar was born in Jalandhar and was the eldest among four brothers and a sister. After completing his matriculation, Iftekhar did a diploma course in painting from Lucknow College Of Arts. Iftekhar had a passion for singing and was impressed with the famous singer Kundanlal Sehgal. In his 20s, Iftekhar travelled to Calcutta for an audition conducted by the music composer Kamal Dasgupta, who was then serving for His Master's Voice. Dasgupta was so impressed by Iftekhar's personality that he recommended his name to M. P. Productions as an actor.
Iftekhar made his debut in the 1944 film Taqraar, which was made under the banner of Art Films-Kolkata.
Many of Iftekhar's close relatives, including his parents and siblings, migrated to Pakistan during the partition. He would have preferred to stay in Calcutta, but rioting forced him to leave Calcutta. Along with his wife and daughters, he moved to Bombay, where they struggled to make ends meet. Iftekhar had been introduced to actor Ashok Kumar during his time in Calcutta and contacted him in Bombay, gaining a role in the Bombay Talkies movie Muqaddar. Iftekhar acted in over 400 films in a career that spanned from the 1940s through to the early 1990s.
His brother, Imtiaz Ahmed, was a famous TV character actor of PTV, especially Afshan and Tanhaiyan.
Like many of the older character actors who populated the Bollywood universe of the 1960s and 1970s, Iftekhar had been a lead actor in his youth during the "golden age" of Bollywood, in the 1940s and 1950s. His roles ranged from father, uncle, great-uncle, grandfather, police officer, police commissioner, courtroom judge and doctor. He also did negative roles in Bandini, Sawan Bhadon, Call Girl, Khel Khel Mein and Agent Vinod.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Iftekhar graduated to playing uncle, father, and what came to be his speciality: police inspector roles, doctor or senior advocate. Generally he played "sympathetic" characters but, on occasion, he played the heavy. One of his most memorable roles as a heavy was as Amitabh Bachchan's corrupt industrialist mentor in Yash Chopra's classic Deewaar. Another of Iftekhar's classic roles was as the police inspector in Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer. It was a small part, but the scene where Iftekhar reprimands the near-hysteric Amitabh Bachchan for taking the law into his own hands is incredibly powerful. Another important role as a police officer was played by him in the 1978 hit film Don. Some of his major roles came in Rajesh Khanna films such as Joroo Ka Ghulam, Mehboob Ki Mehndi, The Train, Khamoshi, Safar, Raja Rani, Ittefaq, Rajput and Awam.
Besides Deewaar and Zanjeer, Iftekar had character roles in many of the classics of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Bollywood cinema: Bimal Roy's Bandini, Raj Kapoor's Sangam, Manoj Kumar's Shaheed, Teesri Manzil, Teesri Kasam, Johny Mera Naam, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Don, The Gambler (1971 film), Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se and Sholay, to name but a few.
Apart from Hindi films, he appeared in two episodes of the American TV series Maya in 1967 as well the English language films Bombay Talkie and City of Joy.

Personal life

Iftekhar married Hannah Joseph, a Jewish lady from Calcutta, who changed her religion and name to Hina Ahmed. They had two daughters; Salma and Sayeda. Daughter Sayeda died of cancer on 7 February 1995.

Selected filmography

Qazzak Ki Ladki Fashionable Wife Taqrar Rajlaxmi Ghar Patanga - 'Mali' / GardenerMuqaddar Lajawab Sagai - Chandni's FatherSaqi Ashiana - JeevanEk Do Teen Aabshar Mirza Ghalib - BadshahBiraj Bahu - Kishorilal, Deodhar's AssistantNaukari Shree 420 - Police InspectorDevdas - BhijudasSociety Flying Man Taksaal Samundari Daku Jagte Raho - Chandu Ab Dilli Dur Nahin - Police InspectorSitaron Se Aage - MohanRagini - VillagerNight Club Dilli Ka Thug - Inspector Dilip SinghFashionable Wife - GirdhariRaat Ke Rahi - WatsonNaach Ghar Mr. John Kangan - Ramesh BhatiaBedard Zamana Kya Jane - Public ProsecutorKalpana - JoharChhabili Aanchal - MohanModern Girl - Medicine DealerZamana Badal Gaya Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja - Fellow Traveller Kismet Palat Ke Dekh Kanch Ki Gudiya - Mr. GhoshDark Street Professor - ArtistSoorat Aur Seerat Rangoli - Police InspectorPathan Gharni Shobha Bandini - Chutti BabuYeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke - Ashok Kumar's Junior LawyerMeri Surat Teri Ankhen - PrakashGrahasti - Harish's Brother-In-LawAwara Badal - Darshan SinghSangam - Indian Air Force OfficerCha Cha Cha - Family doctorShehnai Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein - JaggaApne Huye Paraye - Public ProsecutorShaheed - Public Prosecutor – LahoreGuide - InspectorAjnabi Phool Aur Patthar - Babu Teesri Manzil - Police InspectorTeesri Kasam - Zamindar Vikram SinghSagaai - Hospital doctorPinjre Ke Panchhi - Police InspectorHamraaz - Advocate Jagmohan KumarMaya - Jank BahadurDuniya Nachegi - Jagdish Sunghursh - Shankar B. PrasadDo Dooni Char - Police Inspector BukhariAadmi Aur Insaan - SaxenaIttefaq - Inspector KarweSajan - Police InspectorRahgir Pyar Ka Mausam - KeshavIntaquam - Police InspectorSau Saal Beet Gaye - Indrajeet SinghPrem Pujari - Indian Army OfficerThe Train - Police CommissionerSawan Bhadon - Gauri ShankarTum Haseen Main Jawaan - Raja Sahab My Love - DoctorJohny Mera Naam - Chief Inspector MehtaBombay Talkie - Vizarat KhanThe Evil Within - HannifSafar - Prosecuting LawyerKhamoshi - DoctorInsaan Aur Shaitan - BarnaBhai-Bhai - Police InspectorIrada - Police InspectorDo Raha - Thakur / Geeta's FatherMehboob Ki Mehndi - Nawab SafdarjungElaan - Police ChiefKal Aaj Aur Kal - Ram's FriendHare Rama Hare Krishna - IGPSharmeelee - ColonelJal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli - Dr. VermaGambler Door Ka Raahi - Uncle JohnKundan Dastaan - Prosecuting LawyerApradh - Police InspectorJawani Diwani - ThakurJoroo Ka Ghulam - Kalpana's uncleZindagi Zindagi - IsmailYeh Gulistan Hamara - Vijay's CaptainTanhai - Barrister Madanlal KapoorRani Mera Naam Pyaar Diwana Parchhaiyan - Choudhary ShyamlalEk Bar Mooskura Do Bees Saal Pehle - LaxmanSonal Raja Rani - Suresh's FatherLoafer - Police CommissionerDaag: A Poem of Love - Inspector SinghZanjeer - Police Commissioner SinghJheel Ke Us Paar - DiwanjiJoshila Nirdosh Nanha Shikari Haathi Ke Daant Gaddar - ProfessorEk Nari Do Roop - DineshBlack Mail - Mr. MehtaAnamika - Dr. Irshad HusainAchanak - Colonel BakshiDak Bangla Chor Chor Patthar Aur Payal - DIG B.K. VarmaCall Girl - SonachandBenaam - Police Commissioner Majboor - Police Inspector KhuranaZehreela Insaan - Principal Vishamber NathJeevan Sangram - Police InspectorWoh Main Nahin - Prosecution LawyerUjala Hi Ujala - Mr. Jamuna PrasadRaja Shiv Chhatrapati Raja Kaka Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye - Seth DhanrajJeevan Sangram - Police InspectorIshq Ishq Ishq - GhumliBadla - DSP LoboAzad Mohabbat 36 Ghante - Vijay's FatherPhanda Deewaar - Mulk Raj DaavarEk Hans Ka Jora - Tina's FatherDharmatma - Vikram SinghChori Mera Kaam - Police Commissioner Zakhmee - Judge Ashok GangulySholay - Narmalaji Saazish - Interpol Officer Mohanlal SaxenaMazaaq - Moushumi's FatherKhel Khel Mein - Inspector Bhupendra Singh / Black CobraJaan Hazir Hai Badnaam Aakhri Daao - Inspector KhuranaKabhi Kabhie - Mr. Malhotra Jaaneman - Police CommissionerFakira - Commissioner Sujit Ek Se Badhkar Ek - Police Commissioner Laila Majnu - Emir SharwariZindagi - VermaGumrah - Professor GuptaPhir Janam Lenge Hum/''Janam Janam Na Saathi Do Dilwale Dangal Karm - Judge Shyamlal KumarAbhi To Jee Lein - Deepak's FatherVidesh - CBI Inspector Prasad SinhaPaapi - Inspector Kali Raat Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye - Dr. FaridChandi Sona - Police CommissionerApnapan - Kishan AgarwalAgent Vinod - MadanlalVishwanath - Police Commissioner MahantaGanga Ki Saugandh - GuptaPhaansi - Retired Sub-Inspector Mahendra Pratap SinghBandie - Senapati Raghuvir SinghAnkhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se - Dr. PradhanBesharam - Police CommissionerTrishul - Mr. P.L. VarmaDon - DSP D'SilvaTere Pyaar Mein Khoon Ki Pukaar - KhanKhoon Ka Badla Khoon - Commissioner KotwalKhatta Meetha - Mr. Cooper Shikshaa - Rai Bahadur Dwarka Das GuptaDo Ladke Dono Kadke - Inspector ShindeJhoota Kahin Ka - Police InspectorThe Great Gambler - DeepchandNoorie - Ghulam NabiMr. Natwarlal Surakshaa - CBI Head Kaala Patthar - Col. Harpal SinghShaayad - Public ProsecutorLove in Canada - Mr.Do Shatru KhannaCobra Zalim - Inspector KamatThe Burning Train - Railway Board Chair JagmohanJyoti Bane Jwala Karz - Dr. DanielDostana - Prosecuting LawyerHumkadam - Dr. FaridInsaf Ka Tarazu - The JudgeSanjh Ki Bela Maan Abhiman - Thakur Sumer SinghGanga Aur Suraj Do Shatru - Karan singBombay 405 Miles - Ranvir SinghNaari - Hakeem Noor AliKrodhi - Commissioner of PoliceChehre Pe Chehra - Colonel Agni Pareeksha - Psychiatrist Dr. SenKhoon Aur Paani - DSP KhanWardaat - ChiefRocky - Dr. BhagwandasHarjaee - Dr. GuptaSannata - Inspector VarmaBaseraa - Dr. B.K. GokhaleGhungroo Ki Awaaz - Dr. DixitRaksha - Head of the Secret ServiceRaaz - Mr. SharmaLaparwah - InspectorSaath Saath - Mr. GuptaYeh Vaada Raha - Dr. SahniRajput - Ram Avtaar SinghSun Sajna - KarimNikaah - Jumman ChachaBezubaan - Amarnath Dulha Bikta Hai - Seth Daulatrai waliaDil Hi Dil Mein - Mr. SahniDard Ka Rishta - Head - Tata hospitalApradhi Kaun ? - Mr. Khanna Mangal Pandey - Police Superintendent R.P. Gupta Ganga Meri Maa Rachana - DoctorSun Meri Laila - Abid KhanMahaan - Police Commissioner Jaane Jaan - Mr. KapoorSadma - Train PassengerMazdoor - Kundanlal BatraQayamat - Retired Judge SinhaMawaali - Public ProsecutorRishta Kagaz Ka - BhatnagarMain Awara Hoon - Dr. RashidHaadsa - Police InspectorDharti Aakash - Saddanand ChowdhuryPrarthana The Far Pavilions - Nakshaband Khan Inquilaab - Bombay Police CommissionerMashaal - DoctorBoxer - Rushie