A Humble Star of “Guest House” – Remembering Khalid Hafeez

 A Humble Star of “Guest House” – Remembering Khalid Hafeez

The owner of the Guest House, “Shameem Sahib,” has departed from this world.

Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

In one of his interviews, with moist eyes and deep humility, he once said:

“Allah Almighty has been so kind to me, so very kind,

that I have no words left to express my gratitude.”

Guest House went on air on PTV in 1991

and emerged as a super-hit comedy drama of the 1990s.

The character of Shameem Sahib was played by Khalid Hafeez.

Although he acted in countless dramas before and after this role,

the ever-hospitable Shameem Sahib became his lasting identity.

He was born in 1943.

He played an important role at the Rawalpindi TV Station

and formally began his acting career in March 1966.

In the same year, he also completed his LLB degree.

He was fond of singing,

but at the insistence of a director, he stepped into acting—

and acting became the defining reference of his life.

In 1980, he gained major recognition for his role as Captain Sarwar Shaheed.

Before acting, he had also been involved in the travel agency and restaurant business,

places frequented by legends like Muhammad Ali,

as well as Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif, and other political and film personalities.

In an interview, he shows a photograph kept in his home.

While cleaning the frame with trembling hands, he says:

“This is the most beautiful lady in the world…”

(The lady was his mother.)

He also paid a heartfelt compliment to his wife:

“If she had not been my wife,

I might have lived an ordinary life with a simple job.

Perhaps I would never have achieved this much success or fame.”

Along with his four brothers,

he spent most of his life in Islamabad.

How did you find Khalid Hafeez Sahib?

Do you remember the drama Guest House?

Thank you.