This article is about an Indian actor and comedian. For the village in Estonia, see Mukri, Estonia. For the inhabitants and dialect of a Persian region, see Piranshahr.
Mohammed Umar Mukri (5 January 1922 – 4 September 2000), popularly known as Mukri, was an Indian actor, who worked as a comedian in Hindi films.
Born as Muhammad Umar Mukri in Uran. He started his film career as an assistant to debutant director K. Asif with Phool (1945) and as an actor with the film Pratima along with noted film actor Dilip Kumar in 1945, it was the second film for the latter. They used to be school friends at Anjuman Islam High School. Dilip Kumar was a year senior in school than Mukri whose classmate was Dilip Kumar's younger brother Nasir Khan, who also become an actor. Subsequently, in career spanning 50 years, he acted in over 600 films.
Mukri, with his toothless smile, diminutive stature and perfect comic timing amused the audiences in more than 600 films, in over six decades in Indian cinema.
He initially started his career as an assistant to K. Asif when the latter was making his directorial debut with Phool (1945). His career in films ran parallel to that of Dilip Kumar, who was his schoolmate. They made their debut with the Bombay Talkies film Pratima, also the directorial debut of actor P. Jairaj. Before joining the film industry, Mukri worked as a Qazi.
Death and legacy
Mukri died in Mumbai on 4 September 2000 at the age of 78, at Lilavati Hospital due to a heart attack and kidney failure. His lifelong friend and schoolmate actor Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Banu were present by his deathbed. Both Dilip Kumar and Sunil Dutt had also been occasionally visiting Mukri in the hospital. Mukri's oldest daughter Naseem Mukri was also there and made arrangements for her father's funeral.
Johnny Walker who worked with Mukri in at least 15 films, recalled, "He had this great pairing with Sheikh Mukhtar – one was very tall and one very short – they looked very good together and made a fine pair. They were known as Laurel and Hardy."
Personal life
Mukri and his wife Mumtaz had an arranged marriage in 1950. They had 5 children; 2 daughters Naseem and Ameena and three sons Nasir, Farooque and Bilal. One of his daughters is Naseem Mukri, who wrote dialogue of movies Dhadkan and Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya. She wrote the screenplay of Dhadkan and acted in it too.
His daughter, Naseem Mukri, had reportedly told the news media, "Abba was extremely religious. He also was a keen horserace enthusiast, even owned a couple. Every Sunday would see him at the races."
