Rahi’s larger-than-life screen presence made him an icon of Punjabi films. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: The 20th death anniversary of Punjabi film icon Muhammad Sultan Khan, popularly known as Sultan Rahi, was commemorated on Saturday. A prayer ceremony was held at the Lahre residence of his son Haider Sultan Rahi, with numerous industry notables and fans in attendance.
Rahi started his career in 1959 as an extra and soon gained iconic stature in the city’s film circles. With films such as Bashira, Maula Jatt, Shair Khan and Wehshi Gujjar, he cemented his identity as the standard-bearer of the gandasa culture. Given his mass following and humble outlook, he was the first choice of every Punjabi film director. However, on January 9, 1996, he was gunned down by unidentified people during a highway robbery on GT Road near Gujranwala. He was en route from Islamabad to Lahore when the incident happened. Rahi was 58 at the time of his death.
His tragic passing away left a void for countless people associated with the industry who depended on him for their livelihood. It’s been 20 years since Rahi last walked the city’s film studio and the loss has yet to inch towards repair.
Punjabi cinema languishing in hometown
Talking to The Express Tribune, his son said, “My father was a legend. Lollywood never saw another actor of his stature.” Haider said the actor’s versatility and larger-than-life screen presence made him what he was. “It is a tragedy that the government has yet to arrest his murderers. We were promised that action will be taken but there has been little progress,” he added. Haider urged the law-enforcement agencies to take the case up and bring the late actor’s killers to justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2016.
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