Saeed Khan Rangeela

Beginning in 1956 with the Punjabi film Chann Mahi, he eventually performed in over 550 films in a career spanning over 4 decades.

• Name — Rangeela • Native Name — رنگیلا • Birth Name — Mohammad Saeed Khan • Born — 1937 • Birthplace — Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan • Died — 24 May 2005 • Place of death — Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan • Spouse — 3 • Children — 14 • Occupation — * Actor • Comedian • Director • Producer • Singer • Composer • Writer • Bodybuilder • Painter • Distributor • Years Active — 1956 – 1999 • Awards — * Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 2005 • 11 Nigar Awards in his entire film career

His birth name was Mohammad Saeed Khan and he was born in Parachinar, a city in the Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His family moved to Peshawar when he was very young, He took a keen interest in bodybuilding and physical exercises as a teenager.

He moved to Lahore at a young age and earned his livelihood by painting billboards for the Pakistani film industry. Once, when the shooting of a film was taking place, an actor for a comedic role was needed. The film director asked Mohammad Saeed Khan to play the part which he did. All those present during the shooting were amused by his acting style and he became an actor through sheer luck. Rangeela made his professional cinematic debut in the 1958 Punjabi film Jatti, directed by M. J. Rana. He started playing humorous roles in movies and became highly popular. In 1969, he formed 'Rangeela Productions' to produce his own movies. He not only produced films but also directed his productions, sang songs, and wrote some scripts as well. His movies, to the surprise of many film industry stalwarts, attracted a large number of viewers. The film Diya Aur Toofan, released on 9 May 1969, was Rangeela's directional debut. He directed numerous movies under the banner of Rangeela Productions. His acting was showcased in the film Rangeela (1970), in which he played the title role. His third consecutive hit film was Dil Aur Dunya (1971), starring Habib, Aasia and Rangeela. He brought to the film Dil Aur Dunya a sobering sense of a director's prowess which is the opposite to his celluloid persona. When Rangeela produced film Dia Aur Toofan, he sang a song Gaa mere manwa gata ja re, janaa hai hamka duur under the music direction of Kamal Ahmed. People of the film industry were taken aback to know Rangeela was producing a film. The film attracted a large number of movie-goers. His song also became very popular.

He was married three times and had eight daughters and six sons. One of his daughter, Farah Deeba, is a politician in Lahore, another daughter is a CPA accountant based in the United States, while his son Zamar Khan acted in several TV and theatre dramas, sitcoms, and movies. Another son, Jahanzaib, acted in some movies before he quit showbiz.

Rangeela died of a cardiac arrest on 24 May 2005 at the age of 68.

• Year — Film — Actor — Director — Producer — Screenwriter — Lyricist — Singer — Language — Notes • 1956 — Chhan Mahi — Punjabi • 1957 — Daata — Urdu • Nooran — Punjabi • 1958 — Jatti • 1959 — Shera • 1960 — Gulbadlan — Urdu • 1960 — Salma • 1964 — Gehra Daagh • Paigham • 1965 — Malangi — Punjabi • Dil Ke Tukre — Urdu • 1967 — Imam Din Gohavia — Punjabi • 1969 — Diya Aur Toofan — Urdu • 1970 — Rangeela • 1971 — Dil Aur Dunya • Dosti • 1972 — Ehsaas • 1973 — Rangeela Aur Munawar Zarif • Insan Aur Gadha • Ziddi — Punjabi • Kubra Ashiq — Urdu • Ik Madari — Punjabi • 1974 — Do Tasweerain — Urdu • 1977 — Begum Jaan • Aj Diyan Kurrian — Punjabi • 1979 — Behan Bhai — Urdu • Aurat Raj • Khushboo (1979 film) • Maula Jatt — Punjabi — Cameo appearance • 1980 — Nahin Abhi Nahin — Urdu • 1980 — Aap Ki Khatir • 1981 — Amanat — Punjabi • Chan Suraj • 1982 — Ik Doli • Charda Suraj • 1983 — Sher Mama • 1984 — Teray Ghar Kay Samnay — Urdu • 1984 — Doorian • 1986 — Qaidi — Punjabi • 1987 — Disco Dancer • Lady Smuggler — Urdu • 1988 — Bazar-e-Husn • 1989 — Madam Bawri — Punjabi — Double role • Rangeelay Jasoos — Urdu/Punjabi • 1990 — International Guerillas • Sarmaya — Punjabi • 1991 — Kalay Chor — Urdu/Punjabi • 1992 — Hero • Abdullah the Great — Double role • 1997 — Kurri Munda Razi — Punjabi • 1998 — Nakhra Gori Da • 1999 — Eik Aur Love Story — Urdu