| Native name | محمود اختر |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–present |
Mehmood Akhtar is a Pakistani actor, director, screenwriter, poet and singer from Karachi. He appeared in many dramas and sitcoms.
Early life and education
Akhtar was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan and spent his childhood in Karachi near the Jubilee Cinema area, a hub of film culture in the city’s earlier days. During his youth he attended St. Patrick’s College, Karachi, where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) before entering the entertainment world.[1]
After training as a musician with Feroz Nizami, Akhtar began his career as a singer in 1969 before switching to acting in 1976.[2]
Entertainment career
Television
Television series
Akhtar has been active as an actor on television since the early 1980s; he played the lead role in PTV's Anarkali (1988), which was the acting debut of Zeba Bakhtiar.[3]
In 2004, he acted in Moorat as an eunuch and also wrote the lyrics of the theme song, Bewafa Zamane Main Pyaar Dhoondhne Walo, with the music composed by Waqar Ali and sung by Tina Sani.
He starred in Mere Meherbaan, a romantic drama series, on Hum TV in 2014.[4] It was directed by Farooq Rind and written by Maha Malik and produced by 7th Sky Entertainment banner.[4]
Telefilms
In the early 2000s, he played a negative role in Indus TV's telefilm Firon, being the main antagonist.[5]
In 2024, during the Eid Al-Adha celebrations, Pakistani channels aired many tele films including Jodi Ban Gayi with Saba Faisal and Mehmood Akhtar playing key roles.[6]
Films
In 2018, Akhtar directed Na Band Na Baraati, a rom-com entirely shot in Canada.[7]
Theatre
In 2024, Akhtar wrote and directed the play Aik Funkar 300 Beemar, a family comedy drama.[8] In January 2025, it was staged in Toronto, Canada.[9][10]
Other work
Poetry
In addition to his acting career, Akhtar has also been involved in Urdu poetry. He has identified himself publicly as a poet and has recited his own verses in television talk shows and public appearances. During a 2025 interview on the comedy talk show Mazaq Raat, Akhtar spoke about his interest in poetry and recited lines of his own work; during the show, his ghazal "Bewafa Sang-e-Dil" was sung by Aoun Ali Khan, whose later father Nazakat Ali had sung it as well.[11]
Selected filmography
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Lyricist | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Bahadur Ali | Mehmood | PTV | |
| 1981 | Dehleez | Shahbaz | ||
| 1984 | Ana | Ejaz | ||
| 1989 | Jangloos | Allah Wasaya | ||
| 1991 | Saaya-e-Dewwar | Noman | ||
| Sassi Punnu | Babi Ho | |||
| 1992 | Din | Akhtar | ||
| 1993 | Kashkol | Aarsha | NTM | |
| Agar | Moazzam | PTV | ||
| 1994 | Aitraf | Shahid | ||
| 1995 | Chand Grehan | Saudagar | STN | |
| Mandi | Ramzan | PTV | ||
| 1996 | Ilzam | Nadir Shah | ||
| 1997 | Hawain | Qudratullah | ||
| Yeh Zindagi | Abdal | |||
| Amma | Jameel | |||
| 1998 | Ghar, Daftar Aur Hum | Rashid | ||
| 2003 | Aanchal | Malik Mehfooz | ||
| 2004 | Moorat | Eunuch Shola | ARY Digital | |
| 2013 | Aasmanon Pay Likha | Aaliyan's father | Geo TV | |
| 2014 | Mere Meherbaan | Baseer Hussain | Hum TV | |
| Joru Ka Ghulam | Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Malik | |||
| Mere Khuda | Sajjad | |||
| 2015 | Gul-e-Rana | Kamal Ahmed | ||
| 2016 | Tum Kon Piya | Muzaffar Hassan | Urdu1 | |
| 2019 | Bharosa Pyar Tera | Shaukat Hayat | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2020 | Munafiq | Iqbal |
Films
| Year | Title | Country | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Godfather | Pakistan | |
| 2012 | Mr. Bhatti on Chutti | India | |
| 2018 | Na Band Na Baraati | Pakistan |
Telefilms
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Mehak | Riyaz | Indus TV |
References
- ^ Explore PTV With KS (2024-07-02). Mehmood Akhtar Year Wise All PTV Dramas Recap | Evergreeen Pakistani Actor Mehmood Akhtar. Retrieved 2026-01-03. – via YouTube.
- ^ "Mehmood Akhtar – Interview on Mazaaq Raat (Season 2, Episode 303)". YouTube. Mazaaq Raat. 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
Statement made at 24:30
- ^ "Zeba Bakhtiar". anisshakur.tripod.com. Archived 2025-12-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ "Hindi Tv Actor Mehmood Akhtar Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ^ Asia Central Broadcast (2020-02-19). Firon | Pakistani Telefilm Indus Tv | Mahmood Akhtar - Saima Qureshi | ACB Drama. Retrieved 2026-01-03. – via YouTube.
- ^ "Eid Al-Adha 2024: Pakistani TV channels to air special programming during three-day holiday". Arab News. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ^ DailyTimes.pk (2018-06-27). "'Na Band Na Baraati' turns out to be a breath of fresh air". Daily Times. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ "Urdu Tv Actor Mehmood Akhtar Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ Family Comedy Stage Drama Directed By Legendary Mahmood Akhter Sahib. Retrieved 2026-01-03. – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Family Stage Drama in Canada / Writer & Director Legendary Mahmood Akhter Sahib. Retrieved 2026-01-03. – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Mehmood Akhtar – Interview on Mazaaq Raat (Season 2, Episode 303)". YouTube. Mazaaq Raat. 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
See from 12:25