Shakeel


Yousuf Kamal, known professionally as Shakeel Yousuf, was a Pakistani actor best known for his roles in the PTV drama series Uncle Urfi, as Taimoor Ahmad in Ankahi and as Mehboob Ahmed in PTV's Aangan Terha.
Due to his blue eyes and looks he was compared to Hollywood actor Tony Curtis.

Early life

Shakeel and his family migrated from India to Karachi, Pakistan, in 1938. He was born Yusuf Kamal in Bhopal, British India.
His father was from Lucknow and he spent in his initial years there. Shakeel received his primary education from an English-medium school in Lucknow and in a French missionary school in India, the La Martiniere. As a result of the 1947 partition, his family moved to Karachi, Pakistan in 1952, settling down in Nazimabad, where Shakeel continued his education.

Career

Radio and cinema

Shakeel began his career in Karachi, where he was introduced to broadcasting through a school programme on Radio Pakistan and later to theatre by a college teacher. He initially appeared in films during the 1960s under the name Yousuf Kamal, later adopting the screen name Shakeel, though he achieved limited success in cinema; his first movie was Honehar as the second male lead, co-starring Waheed Murad. His career gained momentum with the expansion of television broadcasting from Karachi following the establishment of Pakistan Television Corporation in 1968.

Television

1970s-1980s:leading roles

He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the Eid television play Happy Eid Mubarak, written by Haseena Moin, marking both his breakthrough role and the beginning of a long association with the writer. His pairing with Neelofer Aleem was widely appreciated and led to the popular PTV serial Shehzori. During this period, Shakeel established himself as a leading romantic actor in television dramas, including Zair Zabar Paish and Parchhaiyaan, the latter being the first colour serial aired on PTV.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, Shakeel expanded into leading roles, continuing to appear in major productions. His notable performances include Uncle Urfi, Ankahi, where he played Taimur, and Aangan Terha, written by Anwar Maqsood. He also worked extensively in dramas by Fatima Surayya Bajia, including Uroosa, Shaheen, and the science-fiction series Tick Tick Company.

1990s and later career: character roles

In the 1990s, Shakeel took on more complex roles, most notably portraying a bureaucrat in Chand Girhan, written by Asghar Nadeem Syed. He also appeared in theatre productions and remained selective in his television work. In cinema, he portrayed Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan in the biographical film Jinnah, directed by Jamil Dehlavi.
In December 2012, Shakeel performed a 35-minute one-man stage show in Karachi, in which he addressed themes of war, poverty, and social decline. During the performance, he expressed the view that prolonged conflict leads to hunger and economic hardship, and reflected on an earlier period characterized by greater social cohesion, honesty, and mutual concern. Numerous celebrities including Fatima Surayya Bajia, Hasina Moin, Bushra Ansari and Anwar Maqsood were in the audience to watch his performance.
In his later career, Shakeel transitioned primarily to supporting and paternal roles, appearing alongside younger television actors in serials through the mid-2010s. Over a career spanning nearly six decades, he worked across radio, theatre, film, and television, becoming a prominent figure of Pakistan’s classic television era.

Death

Shakeel died on 29 June 2023, at the age of 85. He had been battling a prolonged illness, and news of his death had an emotional impact on admirers and fellow artists alike.

Awards and recognition