Safia Khairi

Safia Khairi
Born
Safia Khan

(1932-11-04)4 November 1932
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, British India
Died12 January 2019(2019-01-12) (aged 86)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Other namesSafiya Khairi
EducationSt. Thomas' School
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Writer
  • Teacher
  • Human Rights Activist
Years active1960–2019
Spouse
Saad Rashidul Khairi
​
​
(m. 1954; died 2012)​
Children3
RelativesUzma Beg (niece)

Safia Khairi (née Khan) was a Pakistani actress, writer and human rights activist.[1] She is known for her roles in dramas Kasak, Pal Do Pal, Zaib-un-Nisa, Band Gali and Chaandni Raatain.[2]

Early life

She was born in Lucknow at Uttar Pradesh in British India.[3][4][5] Safia's father was born in Qasba Town in Uttar Pradesh and owned lands. Her father went to Aligarh for education and completed his studies from Aligarh Muslim University with a bachelor's degree in arts. After completing his studies he got married. Safia's father was a provincial servant and served in different provinces and her paternal aunt was a general secretary of the All-India Muslim League.[5]

Safia's parents then moved to Delhi and they lived at Gurudwara Road near The Viceroy Church there she attended St. Thomas' School.[5]

After Partition of India then she along with her family moved to Pakistan at Karachi and there she finished her education and pass the matriculate exams.[5]

Career

She became associated with Radio Pakistan in the 1960s and worked as a performer for Radio. Later she joined theatre and her associstion with theatre soon established her as a rising star, and Safia rose to prominence in late 1970s.[6]

Safia started working as a teacher at schools and in 1970 joined political party Tehreek-e-Istiqlal, founded by Asghar Khan.[1][7] She supported democracy and was a strong supporter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as she wanted everyone to have the right to vote and speak their thoughs and minds instead of remaining quietly.[8] She was against marshall laws and she deeply hated the role of the army in interfering in Pakistan's politics.[8] She remained a member of the party till 2012 when it was merged with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[5]

In 1992 she made her debut as an actress and appeared in drama Kasak in which she portrayed the role of grandmother the drama was written by Haseena Moin it was aired on PTV.[9]

In 1996 she worked in drama Pal Do Pal which aired on PTV along with Asad Malik, Nadia Khan and Ali Azmat later she worked in drama Uljhan in 1996 in which she portrayed the role of a strict aunt.[5]

In 2002 she appeared in drama Chaandni Raatain it was about certain South Asian cultural backgrounds, and issues such as polygamy, motherhood and the bond between mother and daughter-in-law.[1] She was known for her expressions and her Urdu diction and her traditional gota-edged dupattas and old-fashioned mannerisms.[2]

In 2006 she worked with Nadia Jamil, Rehan Sheikh and Shahood Alvi in drama Kiran Kahani which was a remake of the original series it was written by Haseena Moin it aired on PTV.

In 2012 she along with Talat Hussain and Shamim Hilaly worked in drama Band Gali which aired on PTV.[10] Later she also wrote books about child wellfare and about human rights.[11]

Personal life

She married Saad Rashidul Khairi a Pakistani Ambassador, writer and diplomat in 1954 later they had three children together including two daughters and one son.[7][2][5][12] Safia's daughter Umber Khairi is a journalist, columnist, and writer who has worked in Pakistan and the UK since the 1980s.[2][13]

Illness and death

She was in a critical condition so she was sent to hospital and taken to ICU later her health improved so she went home.[1] She died at her home in Karachi on January 13, 2019.[2]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Network
1992 Kasak Salma PTV[14]
1994 Aroosa Dadi PTV[15]
1996 Pal Do Pal Azra Begum PTV[16]
1996 Uljhan Bua PTV
1998 Hayat-e-Javed Aziz-un-Nisa PTV
1999 Zara Pyar Say Bibi Jan PTV
2000 Zaib-un-Nisa Sitwat PTV[17]
2001 Chaltay Chaltay Jahanara's mother PTV
2002 Chaandni Raatain Aamir's mother PTV[18]
2006 Kiran Kahani Safia PTV
2008 Chaar Chand Rehan's mother Geo Entertainment[19]
2012 Band Gali Daadu PTV[20]

Telefilm

Year Title Role
1999 Abba, Amma Aur Ali Asad's mother

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Title Ref.
2003 2nd Lux Style Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated Chaandni Raatain [6]

Bibliography

Safia and Durriya Kazi authored a critically book titled The Cycle of Violence about child abuse and to spread awareness about education the booked was also published in Malaysia.[21] She then wrote another book Ajnabi Ki Dosti Dosti Nahi about NGOs, child abuse and child protection.[22] Later she wrote a novel titled Meri Duniya about her childhood and her acting career.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "A singular woman". The News International. January 20, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Famed TV star Safia Khairi passes away". The Express Tribune. January 13, 2019.
  3. ^ "معروف فنکارہ صفیہ خیری انتقال کر گئیں". Urdu Point. January 14, 2019.
  4. ^ "پاکستانی اداکارہ صفیہ خیری انتقال کر گئیں". Urdu News. January 14, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "صفیہ خیری کا انٹرویو". Pakistan Television Corporation. 2000.
  6. ^ a b "Safia Khairi". Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Winters full of losses". Dawn Newspaper. May 24, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Newsline - Volume 18. Newsline Publications. p. 95.
  9. ^ "Renowned TV actress Safia Khairi passes away". Daily Times. January 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "TV star Safia Khairi passes away". The Nation. 13 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Eighty Going on Fifty". Newsline Magazine. February 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "TV star Safia Khairi passes away". The Nation. May 23, 2025.
  13. ^ "Journalism On The Edge: Umber Khairi's Tale Of Risk And Redemption". The Friday Times. March 4, 2025.
  14. ^ Accessions List, South Asia - Volume 13. E.G. Smith for the U.S. Library of Congress Office, New Delhi. p. 124.
  15. ^ "Aroosa". Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  16. ^ The Herald Volume 27, Issues 4-6. Pakistan Herald Publications. p. 143.
  17. ^ "Zaib-un-Nisa". Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  18. ^ "Chaandni Raatain". Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  19. ^ "Chaar Chand". Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  20. ^ "TV actor Safia Khairi passes away". The News International. October 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Child Abuse and Neglect: Asian Perspectives. The Council. p. 233.
  22. ^ The Herald - Volume 25, Issues 4-6. Pakistan Herald Publications. p. 134.
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