Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar

Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar (Punjabi: خلیل الرحمان قمر) is a Pakistani screenwriter, director, Urdu poet, lyricist and occasional actor and producer known for writing such dramas as Pyarey Afzal (2013),^[1] Sadqay Tumhare (2014) and most recently the top-rated Meray Paas Tum Ho (2019–2020), as well as the 2019 film Kaaf Kangana.

khallil-ur-Rehman Qamar
Born	(1962-12-16) 16 December 1962 (age 62) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Occupations	Screenwriter Lyricist Director Producer Poet Actor
Years active	1995–present
Notable work	Meray Paas Tum Ho Sadqay Tumhare Boota from Toba Tek Singh Landa Bazar Pyarey Afzal

Early and personal life

Education

Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar was born in 1962 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He studied in a government high school in Shad Bagh, Lahore. He used to write in school too and did further studies in B.Com followed by an MBA.^{[citation needed]}

He wrote the drama serial Sadqay Tumhare based on his own love story during his teenage days.^[2]

Professional career

Khalil worked at the National Bank of Pakistan but sought retirement as he wanted to pursue a writing career.^[3]

Family

In 1985, Khalil married his first wife Rubi Naz. They have a son and a daughter. ^[4][5] Khalil ur Rehman married his second wife Rozina Qureshi, while being married to Rubi. Rozina is an actress and was previously married to actor Faysal Qureshi.^[6] Khalil ur Rehman has a stepdaughter, Hanish Qureshi, from Rozina's marriage to Faisal and has two children of his own with Rozina.^[6]

His son Aabi Khan is an actor.^[7]

Career

Khalil started his TV drama career with Dastak Aur Darwaza (1995), that he wrote and acted in, and later produced a film Qarz (1997) which he also wrote. He also wrote the dialogues of Ghar Kab Aao Gay (2000), Tere Piyar Mein, Mukhra Chan Varga, Nikki Jai Haan but made his breakthrough with Boota from Toba Tek Singh (1999). Later, he used this style in his dramas Landa Bazar (2002) and Love, Life Aur Lahore. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar has written various drama serials but he is best known for his all time super hit dramas such as Pyarey Afzal (2013), Sadqay Tumhare (2014), and Meray Paas Tum Ho (2019).

Controversies

Feminism and sexism

On 3 March 2020, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar appeared on a Pakistani talk show on Neo News to discuss the Aurat March. When Qamar was speaking, Marvi Sirmed interrupted Qamar by shouting "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" (meaning "My Body My Choice"), a feminist slogan.^[8][9] He made obscene remarks about Marvi’s body and also indulged in abusive name calling towards her. Qamar was accused of sexism and heavily criticized by politicians and prominent figures, while Geo TV suspended his contract.^[9] Qamar said he was not stating anything, at the time of her speech, but she interrupted him.^[10]

Abduction case

On 15 July 2024, Qamar was abducted when he was allegedly invited out by a fan late at night around 4:40am. His belongings were taken and a ransom was demanded.^[11] Some Pakistanis called the abduction "poetic justice", saying that he was not abducted by men, but by women.^[12]

Filmography

Television serials

Year	Title	Screenwriter	Lyricist	Actor	Director	Producer
1995	Dastak Aur Darwaza
1999	Boota from Toba Tek Singh
2000	Tum Yehi Kehna
2001	Chandpur Ka Chandoo
2002	Landa Bazar
2005	Dil Hai Ke Diya Hai
2007	Dilli Ke Bankay
2009	Jab Hatheli Par Chand Likhna
2010	Muhabbat Har Muhabbat Jeet
	Uss Paar
2011	Phir Kab Milo Gay
	Anokhi
2012	Adhoori Film Ki Poori Kahani
	Beopaar
	Man Jali
	Tumhain Kuch Yaad Hai Janan
	Main Mar Gai Shaukat Ali
2013	Bunty I Love You
	Love Life Aur Lahore
	Pyarey Afzal
	Mian Biwi Minus Love
2014	Sadqay Tumhare
2015	Mera Naam Yousuf Hai
2016	Unsuni
	Zara Yaad Kar
2017	Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai
	Tau Dil Ka Kia Hua
	Laal Ishq
2019	Meray Paas Tum Ho
2023	Idiot
2024	Gentleman
	Sunn Mere Dil

Television shows

Year	Show	Channel	Role
2021	Public with Khalil-ur-Rahman Qamar	Public News	Host
2023	Gup Shab With Vasay Chaudhry	Samaa TV	Guest
	Mazaaq Raat	Dunya News

Films

Year	Film	Screenwriter	Lyricist	Director	Producer	Language
1997	Qarz					Urdu
2000	No Paisa No Problem
2005	Koi Tujh Sa Kahan
2010	Channa Sachi Muchi	Only dialogues				Punjabi
2017	Punjab Nahi Jaungi					Urdu/Punjabi
2019	Kaaf Kangana					Urdu
2022	London Nahi Jaunga					Urdu/Punjabi
2025	Mirza Jatt					Urdu/Punjabi

References

1. "What 'Pyarey Afzal' did right". Dawn (newspaper). 25 August 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
2. Kinza Piracha (26 September 2020). "13 Popular Pakistani Dramas Based On True Events". brandsynario.
3. "All about Khalil ur Rehman Qamar". 27 June 2020.
4. Sachwani, Anusha (13 January 2020). "'Mere Paas Tum Ho' Writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Slammed for Second Marriage". Brandsynario. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
5. Khalil-ur-Rehman | Mere Paas Tum Ho – Writer | Aik Din Geo Kay Sath, 5 January 2020, retrieved 14 March 2020
6. "Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar's step daughter comes out in support of him against trolls". geo.tv. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
7. Kaukab Jahan (16 October 2019), "Kaaf Kangana Emerge Out of The Pain At Partition: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar", Masala !. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
8. Gulzar, Falah (4 March 2020). "Pakistan: Director Khalil-ur-Rehman abuses journalist Marvi Sirmed on air for supporting #AuratMarch2020". Gulf News. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
9. Agence France-Presse (7 March 2020). "Pakistan's 'biggest feminist' Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar under fire after sexist tirade". France 24. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
10. Fida Hussnain. "Qamar Justifies His Act Of Misbehaving With Marvi Sarmad On TV". Dawn News.
11. Gabol, Imran (21 July 2024). "Dramatist Khalilur Rehman says abducted, looted by armed men in Lahore". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
12. Chakraborty, Debdutta (22 July 2024). "Director Khalil-ur-Rehman gets kidnapped by female robbers. Pakistanis call it 'poetic justice'". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

External links