Remembering Sultan Rahi on his 27th death anniversary

Lahore: The 27th death anniversary of legendary film actor Muhammad Sultan Khan popularly known as Sultan Rahi is being observed on Monday (today).  

Born in a Muslim family in Uttar Pradesh in 1938, Rahi’s family migrated to Pakistan after partition and settled in Gujranwala. 

The flag bearer of Punjabi cinema made his debut in 1959 as a guest actor in film 'Baghi', but rose to tremendous fame after the release of film 'Maula Jatt' in 1979. 

Since then the actor has delivered hit after hit with films such as Wehshi Gujjar, Kayla Jatt, Ghulami, Moti Shair, Sher Khan, Godfather, Basheera, Kaley Chore, Mola Baksh and Rotti. 

Spanning four decades, he appeared in more than 800 Punjabi and Urdu-language movies and was also named in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific actor. 

He has won around 150 awards including the Nigar Awards in 1971 and 1972.

Moreover, Sultan Rahi funded various charity works. He built a mosque at the Bari studios and financed a film for junior artists. 

Sultan Rahi met his demise in 1996 and was shot dead in a robbery attempt while travelling with his friend on Grand Trunk Road near Gujranwala.