Sultan Rahi's 21st death anniversary today

The 21st death anniversary of legendary actor of Punjabi movies Sultan Rahi is being marked on Monday across the country.

Sultan Rahi, the pioneer of action films in Pakistan, was born in the Indian city of Saharanpur in 1938 and migrated to Pakistan after partition of the sub-continent.

He won the hearts of the audience with his performances and his unique personality. The actor started his career after starring in Baaghi which was released in 1956.

Since his debut, Rahi starred in various Urdu films as a supporting actor. His film Maula Jatt — released in 1979 — broke all records and became a trend setter in Punjabi films, thus changing trajectory of his career.

He had a voice like thunder and a rock-hard personality, which gave him a unique edge over the stars in the industry. Some of his dialogues are still popular and heard and cited in other films and dramas to this day.

He starred in more than 750 Punjabi and Urdu films. However, his career came to an abrupt halt on 9th January 1996, as he was shot dead by armed persons during a robbery attempt on Grand Trunk Road near Gujranwala.

His persona and legacy will remain an inspiration for the actors of the Pakistani film industry.