Zia Mohyeddin

Anglo-Pakistani actor Zia Mohyeddin was born June 20, 1931 in Faisalabad, British India but lived his early life in Karachi, Pakistan. His father, Khadim Mohyeddin, was a mathematician and musicologist, and also a playwright and lyricist associated with various theatre groups. Zia trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London from 1953-1956. Following important stage roles in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" and "Julius Caesar" in 1957, he made his West End bow as Dr. Aziz in "A Passage to India" in 1960. After making his 1960 film debut in Pakistan, Mohyeddin made an impression as Tafas, Lawrence's ill-fated Arab guide, in the British classic film Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He continued with work on the BBC on several TV series including "Danger Man," "Sir Francis Drake" and "The Doctors and the Nurses." Other British films followed with supporting roles in Sammy Going South (1963), Behold a Pale Horse (1964), Deadlier Than the Male (1967), The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967), They Came from Beyond Space (1967) and Bombay Talkie (1970). Zia returned to Pakistan at the request of the Bhutto regime in the late 60s and set up the PIA Arts and Dance Academy, which received critical merit for its classical as well as folk dances and music. He met the noted Kathak classical dancer Naheed Siddiqui and showcased her frequently in the company. They had a son, Hassan Mohyeddin, but later divorced. Zia also became a noted talk show figure on Pakistani TV (1969-1973). Highly critical of the political regime, he left Pakistan in the late 1970's and returned to England, resuming his career there. Among his later films were Ashanti (1979), The Assam Garden (1985), and Immaculate Conception (1992), as well as the highly touted miniseries The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy (1986) and Shalom Salaam (1989), among other guest appearances on such TV programs as "Z Cars," "Minder" and "King of the Ghetto" (recurring). Of his three marriages, Zia has four children. After divorcing second wife Sarwar Zamani, he married Azra Mohyeddin in the middle 1990's with whom he has a daughter, Aaliya Mohyeddin (born in 2002 when Zia was nearly 70). His other two children are sons Risha and Minos. In later years, he traveled the world promoting his Urdu poetry and prose recitations to international acclaim. His memoir, "A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflection," was published in 2012. In February, the then President of Pakistan invited Mohyeddin to form the National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi and thereafter became its president. The octogenarian has continued to appear as a lecturer/speaker, hosts occasional TV programs and narrates short films and commercials.