Syed Musa Abbas Raza, (; 25 December 1925 – 11 June 1982) better known as Santosh Kumar (), was a Pakistani film actor who was popular in the 1950s and 1960s. He is also known as The First Romantic Hero of Pakistan. He was from an Urdu-speaking family from Lahore, Pakistan. His brother Darpan was also a film actor during the same period, while another brother, S. Suleman, was a film director.
Early life Santosh Kumar's birth name was Syed Musa Raza. He was born in 1925 in Lahore, British India. He graduated from Osmania University, Hyderabad, British India. He then passed the ICS examination and was waiting to work as a civil servant in the government, before a friend persuaded him to look towards cinema instead.
After the Partition of India in 1947, Santosh Kumar migrated to Lahore, Pakistan with his family.
Career Owing to his education and awareness, Santosh Kumar was always designated to lead national entourages of actors and artists to represent Pakistan in meetings held abroad, and because of this became known as the foreign minister of the Pakistani film industry. This was revealed by him in one of his interviews broadcast by the Radio Pakistan in the mid-1960s.
The first Nigar Award for best actor in the history of Nigar Awards was presented to him for the film Waada (1957). He also won the Best Actor Nigar Awards in 1962 and 1963. He was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award by the President of Pakistan in 2010, long after his death. Shaam Dhalay (1960) is the only movie he produced, directed and played the lead role in.
Santosh Kumar was Pakistan's superstar film hero, along with Sudhir, but he was the first-ever top romantic hero. His first film was Ahinsa in 1947 in India. In Pakistan, his first film was Beli in 1950, and in the same year he became film hero of the first-ever Pakistani silver jubilee Urdu film Do Ansoo (1950).
Personal life Initially, he was married to Jamila Begum in 1953. They had three children: two daughters, Roohi and Aaliya, and a son Syed Mohsin Raza. On 1 October 1958, he married his frequent co-star and actress Sabiha Khanum, with whom he also had three children: two daughters, Fareeha Shahryar and Aafiya Chaudhry, and a son Syed Ahsan Raza. He remained married to both his wives till his death in 1982. Santosh's grandson Syed Mobin Abbas is a fashion model and actor starring in many videos and fashion shows. His granddaughter Sarish Khan is a model and actress.
Death Santosh Kumar died on 11 June 1982 at age 56.Death anniversary of Pakistani actor Santosh Kumar being observed today Samaa TV News website, Published 11 June 2017, Retrieved 20 March 2019
Filmography Film Year Film Language Role Notes 1947 Ahinsa Hindi Debut film as an actor 1949 Meri Kahani Kishore 1950 Beli Punjabi First film in Pakistan Do Ansoo Urdu Aslam Shammi Punjabi Gabhroo 1951 Akeli Urdu Chanway Punjabi Feroz 1953 GhulamUrduKamal Awaaz Sheri Babu Punjabi MehboobaUrdu Gulnaar Aaghosh 1954 Raat ki Baat 1955 Qatil Bankay Bihari Laal Pattan Punjabi Nazrana UrduInteqam 1956 Hameeda Lakht-e-Jiggar Kismet Dr. Amjad Ali Khan Intezaar Saleem and Naeem (twins) Double role Sarfarosh Suhail Miss 56 1957 Ishq-e-Laila Qais Waadah Bahadur Sardaar Saat Lakh Saleem Ahmad Bedari Saleem 1958 Hasrat Mukhra Punjabi Nadir Khan Also Co-producer 1959 Muskarahat Urdu Naji Punjabi Aslam Khan Tere BaghairUrdu Naghma-e-Dil 1960 Saltanat Shaam Dhalay Also Producer and Director 1962 Mosseqar Sawant Also Producer Ghunghat Shahid 1963 Rishta Punjabi Daaman UrduAlso Producer Seema Shahid 1964 Safaid Khoon Ishrat Bees Din Azad Chingari Haveli 1965 Faishon Naela Zafar Kaneez 1966 Hamrahi Insaan Majboor Dr. AslamMera Salaam Maa, Bahu Aur Beta Sawaal Taqdeer Tasveer Guest appearance Lori Javed 1967 Be Reham Lahu Pukare Ga Sitamgar Devar Bhabi Raza AliAlso Producer Aag 1968 Commander Naheed Shahansha-e-Jahangir Jan-e-arzoo Wohti Punjabi 1969 PakdaamanUrdu Ladla Maan Beta 1970 Anjuman Wajahat Ali 1971 Grahasti Salaam-e-Mohabbat Jaltey Suraj Ke Neechay 1972 Ek Raat Mohabbat 1973 Sharabi Punjabi 1974 Miss Hippy Urdu Sharabi Punjabi 1976 TallaqUrdu 1982 Aangan Magistrate Registrar 1985 Deewane Do
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1957 Nigar Award Saat Lakh Best Actor 1962 Ghunghat 1963 Daman 2010 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Awarded by the President of Pakistan Arts
See also List of Lollywood actors
References
External links website (Santosh Kumar Filmography)