SIALKOT – Sialkot-born actor, AK Hangal who belonged to the Kashmiri Pandit community, is suffering from serious old-age problems these days. Hangal was born in Sialkot in 1917. He spent his childhood in Peshawar where he performed in theatre and also played some major roles. His primary occupation in the early part of his life was tailoring.
He actively participated in the freedom struggle as well. After his father’s retirement, his family moved from Peshawar to Karachi and then migrated to Mumbai where he joined a theatre group, IPTA, along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi. He started his Hindi film career at the age of 50 with Basu Bhattacharya’s Teesri Kasam in 1966 and played character roles in over 125 films, including Sholay and Guddi. The Indian government conferred upon him Padma Bhushan award for his contribution to Hindi cinema in 2006.
These days, he is suffering from a disease and also facing financial problems as he has to spend Rs 15,000 a month on medicines. Jiya Bachchan who had worked with Hangal in five flicks has announced that she would bear all his medical expenses. No other Indian actor has, however, stepped forward for his help. After the death of his wife, he lived alone in his flat in Mumbai with his only son Vijay Hangal who is a retired photographer. Sources said that Indian President Pratibha Patil had given Rs 100,000 to the ailing 95-year-old actor Hangal.
SCCI research officer killed in road accident: Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Research and Development Officer Muhammad Arshad Dhillu was killed in a road accident near Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Sialkot Cantt. Reportedly, Arshad Dhillu was returning home on his motorcycle after getting his ailing mother medicated from the Sialkot Combined Military Hospital when a speedy motorcycle coming from the opposite direction badly hit him, killing him instantly.
DEMONSTRATION AGAINST INCOMPLETION of ROAD: Hundreds of traders and farmers protested against the district government over its failure to get the construction work of main Sialkot-Pasrur Road completed. The protesters were chanting anti-government slogans, urging the government to ensure the early completion of the road which had been lying incomplete for the last three years.
They also blocked traffic for about one and a half hours by erecting pickets on the shabby and dilapidated road.
