KARACHI: The legendary comedian Safirullah Siddiqui popularly known as Lehri passed away in Karachi after a prolonged illness Thursday morning, Geo News reported.
According to family sources, the veteran actor Lehri, 83 succumbed to his illness this morning. His son-in-law Asad Mehboob told Geo News that the actor was on the ventilator for the past many days after his health deteriorated.
Political leaders and people from all walks of life expressed grief over the actor’s demise.
The legendary comedian was laid to rest at the Yaseenabad graveyard.
Lehri was one of the country’s greatest comedians who made his name in Urdu films. His film career started in the 1950s and lasted until the 1980s.
Lehri won the Nigar Award for around a dozen films. The late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto provided him with a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 during her first tenure, which he continued to receive, though there has been no increase in the amount.
Lehri’s first film “Anokhi” was released in 1956, and his last production was Dhanak in 1986. The vast majority of his films were in Urdu, though he did perform in a few Punjabi productions as well.