Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth7 September 1939
Age85 Years (as of 2024)
BirthplaceHyderabad
ProfessionPainter, Scriptwriter, Poet, Humorist, Actor
NationalityIndian
Marital statusMarried
SpouseImrana Maqsood
FamilySon - Bilal Maqsood; Daughter - Arjumand Ahmed
Anwar Maqsood Biography
Anwar Maqsood Hameedi is a veteran Pakistani writer, humorist, scriptwriter, painter and performer whose work across television, theatre and music has spAN
Early life and backgroundAnwar Maqsood Hameedi was born on 7 September 1939 in Hyderabad. His family moved to Karachi after the 1947 partition; they arrived as a large, book-loving household and endured difficult early years. From childhood he showed artistic promise, drawing charcoal sketches on walls, and was influenced by a literary household—his maternal grandfather was a poet—and by family friends in the arts.
He attended Gulbarga Trust School in Aurangabad and later St. Patrick's High School in Karachi. Maqsood went on to earn a law degree from Sindh Muslim Government Law College in Karachi. Before establishing himself in the creative fields he worked briefly at United Bank Limited and trained as a lawyer.
Career
Maqsood’s career spans many creative disciplines. Early on he cultivated painting; in 1958 the artist Shakir Ali gave him painting supplies, and that same year he held his first exhibition, where a Pakistani diplomat purchased his works. He also worked at EMI Pakistan, overseeing studio recordings and contributing to the launch of several artists.
He began writing professionally in the 1960s, producing satirical columns for Daily Jang in Karachi. A friendship with actor Zia Mohyeddin led to his first scriptwriting assignment—he wrote the final episodes of the Zia Mohyeddin Show in 1969—and from there he developed a distinct voice for television and stage. Maqsood wrote for and created many well-known Pakistani television programs, including Fifty Fifty (1978), Dour-e-Junoon (1983), Aangan Terha (1984), Sitara Aur Mehrunissa (1992), and Iss Tarah To Hota Hai. In 2002 he created, wrote and starred in the satire-comedy talk show Loose Talk on ARY Digital, a series that drew on hard-hitting interview formats.
He has also been active in theatre, writing stage plays such as Yeh Kahan Ki Dosti Hai (1988), Anwar Maqsood ka Dharna (2014), Siachen (2015), and Saadhay 14 August (2022). His work includes Urdu poetry—titles attributed to him include Zindagi, Parchaiyan and Saawan—and he has penned lyrics for many songs, among them Dil Dil Pakistan and Jazba-e-Junoon. Maqsood contributed lyrics to Hindi films as well, writing for the songs Har Saans (Zinda, 2006) and Aakhri Alvidaa (Shootout at Lokhandwala, 2007).
Beyond writing, Maqsood spent nearly 15 years working as a director and presenter at ARY TV. He has collaborated with prominent Pakistani musicians and bands, including Vital Signs and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and in 2015 recited in the Coke Studio season 8 performance Chiryan Da Chamba.
In 2020 Maqsood announced that he had stopped writing for television dramas, explaining that contemporary offerings and their titles no longer inspired him to produce new drama scripts.
Public profile
Anwar Maqsood’s career has been recognised with several national honours. He received the Pride of Performance Award in 1994, a PTV Superstar Award in 2000, and in 2013 he was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan. He has also been given multiple lifetime achievement awards, including honours at the Pakistan Media Awards (2013) and the Hum Awards (2014).
Maqsood’s family is prominent in Pakistan’s cultural life. He is married to novelist Imrana Maqsood. Their son Bilal Maqsood is a musician, and their daughter Arjumand Ahmed is a medical doctor. His late siblings included writer and journalist family members, and sisters active in literature and fashion design.
Over the years Maqsood has faced public controversy related to particular sketches and theatrical choices; on multiple occasions he issued apologies and explanations to address audience concerns.
Latest updates
In the 2010s and 2020s Maqsood continued to be active across media and the stage. His recent stage work includes Saadhay 14 August (2022), and he remained visible in public cultural projects such as Coke Studio. By 2024 he was 85 years old and continuing to be a respected, if sometimes contested, voice in Pakistan’s cultural conversation.
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Recent Work
Stage play written by Anwar Maqsood
2022Recitation featured in the performance sung by Suraiya Khanum
2015Stage play written by Anwar Maqsood
2014Career Highlights
- Wrote scripts for landmark Pakistani TV series including Fifty Fifty, Aangan Terha and Loose Talk
- Lyricist for iconic songs such as Dil Dil Pakistan and Jazba-e-Junoon
- Recipient of Pride of Performance (1994) and Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2013)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Anwar Maqsood born?
Anwar Maqsood was born on 7 September 1939.
What is Anwar Maqsood known for?
Anwar Maqsood is known for painter, Scriptwriter, Poet, Humorist, Actor.
What is Anwar Maqsood’s marital status?
Anwar Maqsood's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is Anwar Maqsood married to?
Anwar Maqsood is publicly listed as married to Imrana Maqsood.
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