Raza Murad

Personal

He is the son of renowned Bollywood character actor Murad. Belongs to a Muslim family. He is also the first cousin of Zeenat Aman, his uncle being Amanullah Khan, writer of Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah. His niece Sonam was also an actress who was married to Rajiv Rai. Another niece Sanober Kabir has acted in a number of movies, and is a very popular stage performer.

Career

Raza Murad started his career in the mid-1960s and he initially played sympathetic brothers and brotherly figures in the 1970s. From the 1980s on, he has mainly played either supporting roles of a father, uncle or villainous roles. He studied in Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, from 1969 to 1971 and received a diploma in film acting. He has a memorable baritone voice. One of his most memorable performances as a character actor has been the role of a despondent poet in the 1973 hit film "Namak Haraam" alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna.

He has had major roles in some of the most successful films of Bollywood like Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog, Henna_(film) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili and in other big hits like Khud-Daar, Ram Lakhan, Tridev, Pyar Ka Mandir, Aankhen, Mohra and Gupt: The Hidden Truth.

In 1993 he appeared in Ek Hi Raasta alongside Ajay Devgan as a terrorist who attempts to rule India. Recently he played a supporting role in Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar.

He starred in a number of Punjabi films such as Jatt Punjabi. He was awarded the lifetime achievement award for his contribution towards Punjabi cinema at the PTC Punjabi Film Awards in February 2011. He has film fare record of 7 villain nominations, winning one. He is currently acting in Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon.

Down South, he has also acted in several Telugu films including Megastar Chiranjeevi's 2002 blockbuster hit Indra.