While it has been reported that Madame Tussauds museum wants to house a wax statue of legendary Pakistani actor Moin Akhtar as part of its collection, other news agencies have termed these reports as false, saying that the museum never contacted the actor’s family in this regard.
Akhtar, who devoted 44 years of his life to entertaining audiences and promoting arts in Pakistan, was one of the most beloved comics and actors ever to grace the stage and television screens in the country and passed away at the age of 60 this year. According to news reports, the museum has taken note of his contribution and contacted his family to communicate their interest to include his statue at Madame Tussauds.
Mansoor Akhtar, son of the late actor, confirmed to The Express Tribune that while he did receive a call from an international organisation asking his permission, he was not sure if it was authentic or not. Nevertheless, he declined the offer stating that he does not approve of it. “While I am not sure if the call was genuine, I was overwhelmed when I received it as it is a huge honour as the museum houses wax figures of many of the world most renowned celebrities. However, making statues is forbidden in Islam so I rejected the offer due to religious reasons.”
The renowned museum houses wax statues of historical and royal figures, politicians, film and TV celebrities and sports stars.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.
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Mansoor, God bless you. You have proved that you are son of Moin Akhtar. Bravo!
Piece of advice to people who are making this into some sort of religious discussion. You claim to be very enlightened and liberals. Then why cant you accept the wishes of his family?. It is their view that our religion does not allow making of statues. So why dont you just control your urge to blast away and instead respect their decision?. I think very few people would want to ruin their afterlife due to some statue, its simply not worth taking the risk.
MOIN AKHTER ia a legend of PAKISTAN persons like him once in a time no body can ful fil his place not in our hearts and not in television industry.may ALLAH BLESS HIS SOUL AMEEEN
Why drag religion into everything? We drag religion into everything because we are commanded by Allah (S.W.T.) to not be involved into anything that displeases him, otherwise it's our loss. It's as simple as that. You may not worship the statue, but you can't guarantee zero probability of others idolizing it in future.
If you have a problem with that, then I'd humbly request you to at least respect our beliefs and wish Mansoor Akhtar and his family members a better life, rather than spewing hate on this forum.
And for those who are truly concerned about the image of Pakistan, and are wishing to have many wax statues of Pakistanis approved in some museum to gain respect from the international communities, I have one simple message for you all: Stop being lazy and start earning "that respect" by yourselves by fixing your own and your loved one's mistakes!
Indeed an honor for a true legend! but Moin Akhter's family is not up to accept this honor as "making STATUES is forbidden in Islam". Apparently we are living in this hi-tech world but for some insane reasons our brains are still stuck in the stone age.
Hellloo its a HOAX guys. Wake up as much as we all loved him his popularity was limited mainly within Pakistan and among expats.
Just like an stray-bullet or a word becomes flash-point of a major war, so was this prank-call some twisted person made to get paid for a fake promise of a Statue or something to a popular Celebrity or Actor. See, there is no real question required to start a long fruitful debate session. But its always good for the mind in the end. I say, be careful of such phone calls & promises.
Great man. True Pakistani. Super talented. Special soul.
he was a great legend!
I don't buy this news at all.Moin Akhtar was funny but not Tussaud's level.A self serving rumour picked up by a naive local press.Noor Jehan or Mehdi Hasan would far more fit the standard and any news of such a nature would have been far more credible.
@boot parasti?: Mr Boot. Please do not bring religion in every thing . The govt should name some important road as MOIN AKHTAR ROAD
http://www.facebook.com/newsweekpakistan
According to Newsweek Pakistan, these reports are false. ET is turning into a Tabloid.
@Munazza Sami: You say taking pictures of living things is not allowed in Islam?? The I hope you didn't let your picture get snapped by the people at NADRA office for your CNIC. And good luck going for Haj/Umrrah without getting your picture taken for your passport. As you said taking pictures of living things is not allowed in Islam, right?
@xzy: yes making of statue is not allowed in Islamm get ur records straight. But for God"s sake dont make it an issue. Ststue making and butparasto are different
@mannish: read the facts first. Statues of pesonilities have been made after their death and adore the musium. Further we have in I dia statues of bhagwans? Be sensible in this scientific age. Moin was an actor. His persona is still alive to copy
@Babar F.: what so ever. making pictures, statues of living things are not allowed in Islam. First you should go through the hadith. secondly, if some one makes statues of Allama Iqbal or etc etc so they will be punish on the judgment day.
We r proud of our legendary actor...May Allah bless his soul..
how about placing a statue of legendary singer Nur Jehan. After all, her contribution to pakistani music is classic.
It is doing one for King Khan.. http://www.madametussauds.com/London/About/PressAndMedia/PressKit/Default.aspx
Prank Call..here is the official web site, there is no mention of Mehroom Moin Akhtar Saab, my favourite comedian from Pakistan. Please let him RIP http://www.madametussauds.com/London/Default.aspx
clearly remember those audio cassetes which came out in the 80's . Was a great artist and an inspiration for many of the new artists in India also. Salute!
I think this site is ultra new age .There is divergence of opinion between who like statue and equally valid rights who don't care respect or honor any statues .
Those who are given the rights and asked for permission its honest to make your point by saying yes or know Who are 'rational reasonable logical liberal' to question there judgement No body owes a reason explanation for faith .Each person has individual believes which collectively lumped together as "muslim" becomes part of 'your' believes .It is not
against islam??? would being an actor also be against islam ...his son sounds rather silly...no one is going to worship him he will simply be appreciated
Moin Akhtar was an iconic Pakistani legend; but alas! as usual in the land of the pure, religion comes to the rescue of 'false claim' of fame.
Making statues is forbidden in islam. Making human figures is forbidden in islam. blah blah blah.
and some of the most beautiful miniature paintings come from Islamic cultures.
I wish i could go in time and make sure these retarded deobandis and wahabis were never born.
Moin Akhtar was a legend who deserves this place of honor not just because he was Pakistani actor and entertainer, but because he was a performer par excellence.
Mr. Mansoor Akhtar should know that 'making' statues is NOT forbidden in Islam, 'praying' to statues is! There is a clear distinction between the two. No wonder there are no public statues of Quaid e azam, with the prevalence of such a mentality. Recently had the chance to visit Pakistan Monument ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Monument ). Thank God no photography is allowed inside it's museum, where I saw some of the most life like statues of the founder of Pakistan and other local historical figures. They wouldn't last long if word got outside.
WTF, why drag religion into every matter? When Pakistan will be a secular country? I am sure the museum authorities would be laughing on such things and regretting that why they bother to call.
Last time I visited Madam Tussaud's I saw hordes of tourists, wide eyed, munching on crisps as they stared at the exhibits. A fair few Indians were there too, I might add. I did n't see any worshipping or but parasti going on! Perhaps I missed something.
A Moin Akhter's statue standing next to J Lo would have been a nice touch. I am sure he would have enjoyed the humour in it. It's a shame this all turned out to be a hoax. The laugh's in fact on all of us taken in by a practical joke.
@saima: "15 years back it was Mr M. Ali Jinnah’s statue at Madame Tussadus, which was replaced with the goverment of that time’s influence with BB’s statue… Sad"
What do you mean Jinah's statue was replaced by BB's. There is o limit on how many people from one country can be in the musuem. Even if Pakistan government recommended BB's statue be put there - there would be no reason for them to ask for Jinah's statue to e replaced.
Secodly Madame Tussaud's is a private organization. GOvernments cannot influence whose statues are put or else every tinpot dictator in the world would clamour to have his statue put there.
@Babar F.: "If another nation recognize our hero we should be “proud” not “depressed” "
I totally agree with you. I was being sarcastic about people who are very selectively Islamic. They applaud kiling of Taseer because he asked for implementation of a man-made law to be reviewied, they support the hitting of school girls in uniforms (salwar kameez and dpatta) because they did not have a hijaab, they support calling a 8th grade girl a blasphemer because she misspelt naat. But when it suits them they ignore the injuncions.
Islam itself recommends that people do not unquestioingly do things and supports ejtihaad. Of course if the news was true (which it is not), this would have been an honor for Pakistan. But I was trying to get people to see how inconsistently they are behaving. Also how there can be different interpretations of Islam, so we should be careful what we are asking for when we call for implementation of sharia -because question is whose interpretation.
If I am not wrong, being on TV is also "forbidden." The son needs to realize that no one is worship his great father for worldly possessions.
15 years back it was Mr M. Ali Jinnah's statue at Madame Tussadus, which was replaced with the goverment of that time's influence with BB's statue... Sad
I'm not an Atheist but please give me a break for God sake__"Buthe Prasti". It's not just "Idol Worshiping" remember, where we are coming from there is no recognition of any "Non-Religious" service by rewards, honors, medals, celebrations, photographs, books, festivals what-so-ever.
If another nation recognize our hero we should be "proud" not "depressed" or "mad". Besides Moin Akhtar there are recognition slates & statues in dozens of countries for Ibn-e-Sina, Ibn-Khuldoom, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Illama Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam to name a few. Point to note is: Most our scientist & inventors in history were running for their life from Muslims clerics & their "Kufr-ka-Fatwas". They actually were seeking protection in non-Muslim lands like India & Turkey at that time. That's why in our country people are not used to appreciate or recognize any "non-religious" service or person without running a chance of being ridiculed by believers or their clerics. Read your religious history & you can predict your future too.
All those people thrilled at the news, what happened to the fact that Islam forbids boot parasti?
@hammad: "even after his demise, he is still making Pakistanis proud…!!"
He is a legendary figure no doubt. But this news is fake. SO by the fact that most Pakistani newspapers published the news without checking authenticity of source shows Pak media in a poor light.
Aamir,
Your suspicion has proved correct. Madame Tussaud's have confirmed via email to Newsweek pakistan that this information is false. Sadly all Pakistani newsreporters published this without confirming the source.
By the way, it is not true that they only put British or global people are put. Many Bollywood stars are there e.g. Amitabh Bacchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan and recently Hrithik Roshan has also been requested and accepted.
I find this news unlikely. The museum only has wax figures of British or global personalities. That is why Benazir Bhutto is in the museum.
@mannish:
This news was not authenticated so may well be fake, But I saw statues of Napoleon’s, Queen Vitoria's and many other personalities from the past at Madame Tassauds. In this day of modern technology it is possible to make statues without people being there.
That would be very befitting...he was definitely better than the likes of salman khan et al who have their wax statues at Madame tussauds.
Pray for forgiveness and peace also please
He was Legend Artist.Whole Pakistan is proud of him.
This is what i been saying all along, that India may have Bollywood movies with mediocre acting and scripts. But we in Pakistan have few but really talented people who have produced world class films and now being honored as stated in the article.
Do not see it reported elsewhere. Could it be fake news?
Great news. What an honour!
This news is not correct and is a fabrication
Moin Akhtar had become quite close top religion in the lastd ecade or so. I dont think he would have agreed to it if he were alive and consequently I suppose the family's line should be the same.
Sir Salute!
Great News for the Great Person... GOD Bless him...Akhtar.
His family has declined the request ... a legendary actor and a human par excellence ... May Allah bless his soul ...
Fantastic news !!! We are proud of him and will miss him always...
Moin Akhter was truly a legendary actor. His verstality, creativity and adaptablity were indeed remarkable. An innate decency always remained enshrined in his performances. This factor is very difficult to find in many top comedy artists of our times. Inclusion in the Tussauds wax museum is a befitting honour.
He deserves similar recognition in Pakistan also.
Befitting tribute!
this story says that the family has been contacted moin akhtar's son was just talking to a news channel and he clearly said that they've not been contacted as yet.
A true waxing-honour for all of us.
After reading depressing blogs on the state of affairs of Pakistan, this piece of news has made my day!
moin akhtar has been a mentor and a legend for ppl who have seen him thru his acting..!!.. even if they didnt put his wax in dat meusum.... dat is and will alwayz be d fact that moin akhtar was one of the finest actors on this planet... one cannot deny it after u have been thru all his work and efforts..!!
Request to his family please avoid this worthless activity bc he swithed his inner matter and put it in a truth way ..........
Hurray!
Sir, you made us proud while you were alive. You brought laurels for Pakistan after you passed away
We are proud of you. May ALLAH ALMIGHTY bless you
:)
what an actor..!!... what a human being !!... his contribution to the pakistani arts is admirable.. i am gr8 fan oh his drama "rozi"...besides him... rahat kazmi deserves the same respect...
whereas we are ignoring arts in Pakistan...
That's great news!
Worth it!
even after his demise, he is still making Pakistanis proud...!!
This is a moment of pride for the nation.
Great Man, he was : (
truly well deserved!!!
Indeed an honor for a true legend!
Thats nice to hear.