To make someone laugh is one of the most difficult things to do in the entire world. But some people work so hard to bring one big laugh without using any vulgarity or double-meaning jokes. Saying Pakistan is the hub of comedians wouldn’t be an understatement at all and the one name which cant be forgotten among the comedians is Sikander Sanam.
Because Pakistan has produced some iconic and marvelous comedians that set up the benchmark that no one can reach to that. Newcomers nowadays just follow their footsteps and keep the legacy continue under the shadow of legendary comedians.
Among all those comedians, one comedian left the world too soon and also made shocked everyone when the news spread all over the news. Sikander Sanam, who has given some memorable performances that no one can forget.
Especially his partnership with Wali Sheikh aka Safed Badshah, they both rocked in India and made huge popularity with their brilliant comic timing. His death news made everyone sad and left him speechless with sudden demise.
Sikander Sanam showcased his comedy timing not only in competition, before that he worked with legendary Umer Sharif in the stage show era.
Early Life:
On 21 September 1960, a brilliant comedian was born in the lightening city of dreams Karachi. Sikander Sanam from an early age knew what he wanted to become, that’s why since childhood he started his on-stage performances and gained popularity.
Many celebrities need to do something about family pressure and eliminate their passion. But on Sikander’s side, everything fell on his court. He was an artist and singer both but he gave full priority to the acting side and went with it.
That’s why he decided to change his actual name and adopted his stage name from Mohammed Sikander to Sikander Sanam. That’s where his comedy journey began like a rocket. Sikander Sanam gradually improved his acting, then went on the comedy side where he did endless stage shows and also involved himself in the singing side too later.
These skills looked like inherited in him because his late father Syed Abdul Sattar Shoqeen Jetpuri (a Gujarati poet), was a well-known poet and Sikander Sanam credited his father as, versatile, talented, and proficient who always encouraged him for his talent.
No doubt, Sikander Sanam was a rare comedian who got street smart improvisational skills like many other theatre comedians at that time got. His exceptional comic timing no one can forget when he was nailing with legend Umer Sharif in various stage shows.
But there’s a specific category for which he became popular all over Pakistan. He used to make Pakistani remakes of Indian films amongst which Khal Nayak 2, Shayla 2, Munna Bhai MBBS 2, and Tere Naam Part 2 were the most famous ones.
His remakes can have insane popularity all over Pakistan, even cable operators used to play on public demand, and years later many of the mainstream channels started to air on special occasions as well.
From Karachi to India
Sikander Sanam gained immense popularity in Pakistan and people loved him no doubt. But in 2016, Sikander Sanam decided to make some more fans across the border and spread laughter with his partner Wali Sheikh.
Both of them went to the Great Indian Laughter Challenge where hundreds of comedians participate to be the king. Sikander Sanam (Laal Badshah) and Wali Sheikh (Safaid Badshah) undoubtedly won everyone’s heart with their mesmerizing performances.
Not a single celebrity hold their laugh when these two gentlemen arrived to perform, especially Sikander Sanam who nailed it with his iconic comic timings and characters he played during their performances.
They appeared in season four of the show and came first, runner-up. But the Great Indian Laughter Challenge earned him the coveted title Comedy King. His stage show experience made him showcase his true acting and comedy skills in front of the Indian audience. Many of the Indian celebrities gave him a standing ovation which no one can forget.
Today, people search for his performances on YouTube and remember his jokes that still feel fresh.
Death of a legend!
Sikander Sanam was fighting against liver cancer, he was diagnosed with it in September 2012. He was admitted to one of the reputed hospitals in Karachi, after the treatment he was discharged and went to MirpurKhas to visit a faith healer.
When he returned his condition went bad, rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. On 5th November 2012, Sikander Sanam left everyone mourning and with his jokes. He also left his wife, four sons, and two daughters.
At Sikander Sanam’s funeral, several artists such as Umer Sharif, Rauf Lala, Muhammad Ifraheem, Saleem Afridi, Shakeel Siddiqui, and Aftab Alam attended the prayer.
During his time, he had produced and directed several Bollywood remakes. But when it comes to staging shows and other competitions he has done it all.
Let’s have a look at the stage shows he has done.
Stage Shows:
- Bohat Achay Bhai Bohat Achay
- Agwa Bara-e-Tawan
- Direct Hawaldar
- Kaloo Saloo Aur Maloo
- Comedy King’s
- Behropia
- Chand Bar-e-Farokht
- One Day Eid Match
- Beauty Parlour
- Flight No 420
- Doctor Aur Qasai
- Eid Tere Naam
- Hanste Raho Chalte Raho
- Hum Sab Eik Hain
- Hum Se Milo
- Laal Qiley Ki Rani Lalokhet ka Raja
- Loot Sale
- Mamu Mazaq Mat Karo
- Akbar-e-Azam in Pakistan
- BEHRUPIYA UMER SHARIF
- Yeh Hai Naya Zamana
- Bakra Munna Bhai
- Paying Guest
- Dulha 2002
- Hanste Raho Chalte Raho
- Meri Bhi to Eid Karade
- Nayee Ammi Purane Abba
- Majno Laila Boyee Ghela (Memoni stage drama)
- Eid aashiqoon ki
- Good Luck Moin Akhter
- Eid Mubarak
- BEBIA MOIN AKHTER
- Bin Bulaye Baraati
Parody Films
- Tere Naam 2
- PGL 2
- Khal Nayak 2
- Muqaddar Ka Sikandar 2
- Bhola Te Billa
- Sholay 2
- Rambo 007
- Ghanjini 2
- Dabbang 2
- Bodyguard 2
- Singham 2
- Agneepath 2
- Billu Barber 2
- Ra one 2
- Hum Tum 2
- Munna Bhai MBBS 2
Indian Televisions
- Funjabi Chakde
- The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
- Comedy Champions
- Dabaangg 2
No matter what happens, Sikander Sanam will be missed and his shows can not be forgotten at any cost. He has left his trademark in the world and he is an icon as well.
