Biography
Who is Naheed Akhtar?
Early life in Multan
Naheed Akhtar was born on September 26, 1956, in Multan, Punjab. She grew up in a household with three sisters and four brothers. One of her sisters, Hamida Akhtar, also pursued a career in singing.
The singer did not have a famous teacher guiding her musical education. Instead, she developed her skills through dedication and the guidance of music director M. Ashraf. He played a significant role in helping her refine her vocal abilities early on.
Rise to fame in film
Her professional path started in 1970 when she performed a duet alongside Khalid Asghar. This performance took place during the program Raag Malhar at Radio Pakistan Multan. Following this, M. Ashraf discovered her talent and encouraged her to enter the film industry.
The year 1974 marked her debut in the cinema world with the release of the film Nanha Farishta. She also contributed songs to the film Shama during that same period. While some initially compared her to Runa Laila, who had moved to Bangladesh, audiences eventually embraced the distinct and original style Naheed brought to her recordings. She remained a fixture in the industry throughout the 1980s.
Career highlights and musical range
Naheed Akhtar provided her voice for 590 songs across 436 Urdu and Punjabi movies. Her work spanned a broad spectrum of musical styles, including traditional classical pieces, Ghazals, pop music, and Punjabi folk songs. She also recorded Qawwalis and national songs.
Some of her well-known tracks include the Ghazal Kuch Din To Basoo Meri Aankhon Main and the folk tune Jutti Kasuri Pehri Na Poori. She also performed national songs like Jug Jug Jiye Mera Pyara Watan. Her contributions to the arts earned her three Nigar Awards and a Pride of Performance honor in 2007.
Personal life and later years
She stepped away from her singing career in 1986. Later, she married journalist Asif Ali Pota in 1994. The couple had a son and a daughter together. Her husband passed away from cardiac arrest in 2017.
In 2013, she made a rare stage appearance for a television show tribute. Various singers performed her classic songs to honor her legacy. By 2016, she had fully stepped back from the music industry to focus entirely on her family life.
Birthday and age
Naheed Akhtar was born on September 26, 1956, which makes Naheed 70 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Naheed shares the date with 43 other famous people.
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