An iconic actor, philanthropist, and television presenter, Farooq Sheikh, known for his soft-spoken, gentle, and classy personality, remains underrated and underutilized by Hindi cinema. Some of his most memorable projects include “Garm Hawa,” “Gaman,” “Shatranj Ke Khiladi,” “Noorie,” and “Umrao Jaan,” as well as the iconic play “Tumhari Amrita.”
Early Life
Farooq Sheikh was born on March 25, 1948, in Amroli, Gujarat, into a well-off zamindar family. His father, Mustafa Sheikh, was a lawyer, and his mother, Farida Sheikh, was a homemaker. Sheikh grew up in luxurious surroundings in Nagpada, Bombay. He attended St. Mary’s School in Bombay and later graduated from St. Xavier’s College. He pursued law at Siddharth College of Law, following in his father’s footsteps. However, his passion for acting led him to the theater, where he began his journey as an actor.
Debut and Breakthrough
Farooq Sheikh made his debut with MS Sathyu’s well-known Partition film “Garm Hawa” in 1974. In the film he played the rebellious young man Sikandar. Farooq then starred in Muzaffar Ali’s “Gaman” in 1978. As the migrant taxi driver from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, he hopes to return to meet his wife but never saving up enough to return home.
He also did Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977). His breakthrough in commercial cinema came in 1979 when he was cast in Yash Chopra’s “Noorie,” directed by Manmohan Krishna. The innocence and vulnerability of the characters portrayed by Sheikh and the young Poonam Dhilon (her first film as a leading lady) pulled the crowds to the halls, capturing their hearts. The music of Khayyam was like a healing touch, full of romance and melody.
Critical Acclaim and Stardom
In 1981, he came before the audiences as Nawab Sultan in Muzaffar Ali’s “Umrao Jaan,” who is in love with Umrao’s beauty and her poetry. It was an effortless performance in a heroine-dominated film.
In 1981, Farooq Sheikh charmed us as Siddharth in Sai Paranjpye’s blockbuster, “Chashme Baddoor.” The film, a golden jubilee hit, beautifully captures the lives of three pals sharing a rented place in South Delhi. Packed with laughter, it showcased Sheikh’s innate sense of humor. His impeccable comic timing and the ability to deliver amusing lines with a straight face greatly enhanced his performance. This movie not only entertained but also highlighted Sheikh’s versatility.
In 1982 came Sagar Sarhadi’s “Bazaar,” which saw Sheikh as the poor Hyderabadi boy Sajju in love with Shabnam, played by Supriya Pathak. Both Sheikh and Pathak moved audiences greatly in a film with actors like Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah.
The power of Sheikh’s art lay in his artlessness, warmth, and simplicity. His films with Deepti Naval are a fine example of these qualities. Be it “Chasme Baddoor,” “Saath Saath,” “Rang Birangi,” “Kissi Se Na Kehna,” or “Katha,” Sheikh presents the lovable, honest youth who still did not lose his innocence despite facing the harsh realities of the world.
He goes on to do many such films like “Katha (1983),” “Ab Ayega Mazaa (1984),” “Salma (1985),” “Faasle (1985),” “Anjuman (1986),” “Peechha Karo (1986),” “Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988),” and “Maya Memsaab (1993).”
Other Works
Farooque Shaikh appeared in several television serials. He played the title role in an episode dedicated to the poet and freedom fighter Hasrat Mohani in the TV series “Kahkashan (1988)” opposite Deepti Naval, who played Nishatunnisa Mohani. Shaikh also worked in the famous TV serial “Shrikant,” based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel. In 1988 he starred opposite Deepti Naval in Akhiri Daao (1988). Agar Aisa Ho To (1990) cast with Rajit Kapoor, Shagufta Ali, and Renuka Shahane. He also did the serial Chamtkar in 1995.
Farooq did a few TV movies like Sangat (1988) with Moon Moon Sen, Aparna Sen’s Picnic (1989) with Shabana Azmi, and Hindola (1993) with Vikram Gokhale and Smita Jaykar.
He also hosted the TV show “Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai,” in which he interviewed celebrities. The show developed a cult following and is often believed to be the greatest Indian celebrity talk show ever.
Theatre Career
Farooq Sheikh was active in theater during his college days, performing in plays with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and working with well-known directors like Sagar Sarhadi.
One of Sheikh’s most notable theater works is the play “Tumhari Amrita” (1992), based on the life of Amrita Shergil, by playwright Javed Siddiqui and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. The play, a poignant love story told through letters, featured Sheikh alongside Shabana Azmi and was one of the longest-running plays in India. “Tumhari Amrita” received critical acclaim and became a landmark in Indian theatre.
Farooque Shaikh died of a heart attack in the early hours of 28 December 2013 in Dubai, where he was on holiday with his family.
Farooq Sheikh on IMDB
