Gone but not forgotten; Eminent personalities we’ve lost in 2021 

As the year 2021 nears to an end, let’s remember the iconic personalities, who bade farewell to this earthy world.

Though they are no longer with us, the legacies that they left behind will never be forgotten.  

Year 2021 made many to endure countless losses with the demise of several distinguished personalities from various fields—including entertainment, science, politics and sports.  

Here in this article, we are commemorating various artists who elevated the bar through their work and their persona for their fans as well as those who aspire to walk in the paths they created. 

Dilip Kumar

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who ruled the Hindi cinema industry for over five decades, breathed his last on July 7 at Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai. He passed at the age of 98 following a prolonged illness. 

His last film Qila released in 1998 after which he retired from acting.

Umar Sharif 

Umar Sharif, the uncrowned king of the stage, passed away on October 2, 2021, at the age of 66. He is considered one of the greatest comedians in the sub-continent.

Sumbul Shahid

A very beautiful and stunning actress Sumbul Shahid, the sister of Bushra Ansari and Asma Abbas died on May 6 after battling with COVID-19 for almost a month. 

Farooq Qaiser aka Uncle Sargum

Pakistan’s award-winning puppeteer and TV director Farooq Qaiser, who shot to fame with Uncle Sargam’s character, died in Islamabad on 15 May at the age of 75.

In 1976, he directed and wrote his own puppet show Kaliyan which received an overwhelming response from the public.

Ejaz Durrani

The most famous veteran actor Ejaz Durani got a lot of popularity for his role Ranjha portrayed in the movie “Heer Ranjha” that was released in 1970 died on 1st March 2021. He was the most famous romantic hero of that era. 

Anwar Iqbal 

Famous Pakistani TV actor Anwar Iqbal passed away on the 1st of July 2021 in Karachi at the age of 71. The actor had been chronically ill for some time. Iqbal made his directorial debut with the drama Ishq Pecha in 1984 and directed some Urdu and Sindhi dramas. His notable works include Pul Siraat, Rishta Anjana Se, and Hina Ki Khushboo.

Naila Jaffery

Naila Jaffery, a well-known Pakistani actress, died after a protracted illness. She had been afflicted with cancer. Despite her sickness, she was a strong advocate for social and human rights causes. The actress bravely battled cancer and received treatment for it. 

Durdana Butt

Renowned television actor Durdana Butt breathed her last in Karachi on the 12th of August 2021.  Butt started her acting journey in the early 70s. The renowned actor is best remembered for her roles in dramas, most notably Fifty Fifty, Aangan Terha, Ruswai, Intezaar, and Tanhaiyaan.

Sidharth Shukla

Many woke up to the shocking news of television heartthrob and Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla’s death on September 1. He was 40.  

The Indian actor, after suffering a massive heart attack in the morning, was rushed to Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital. Doctors at the hospital declared him brought dead.

Talat Iqbal 

Talat Iqbal played key roles in several PTV dramas in the 70s and 80s. He also starred in several Pakistani films during his long career. He had an impressive acting career in the 70s and 80s.

Naveed Alam 

Noted Olympian and a member of Pakistan’s winning team in the 1994 Hockey World Cup, Naveed Alam, passed away after a battle with cancer passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 47.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had also appointed Alam as director development and domestic in 2016.

Abdul Qadeer Khan

Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered as the ‘father of Pakistan's nuclear weapon program’, died aged 85 at a protracted illness.

Carrying a mixed bag of acclaims and controversies, Pakistan's leading atomic scientist was hailed as an icon for creating country’s military nuclear capability in the face of a four-time bigger India.

Mamnoon Hussain

Mamnoon Hussain was a Pakistani politician and industrialist who served as the 12th president of Pakistan from 2013 to 2018. He was first appointed Governor of Sindh in June 1999.

Arif Nizami 

Arif Nizami, renowned journalist and editor died aged 74 on July 21. He was elected as the president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) more than once. 

Nizami had served as the former caretaker minister for information and broadcasting in 2013 and had also worked for The Nation before starting his own newspaper Pakistan Today.