Shakeel Siddiqui

Shakeel Siddiqui
Born (1964-05-26) 26 May 1964 (age 60)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Other namesTeeli
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Comedian
  • Director
  • Playwright
Children7, including Sharahbil Siddiqui[1]
Comedy career
Medium
Genres
Subject(s)
Notable works and rolesComedy Circus
Comedy Nights Bachao
Comedy Nights Live
Comedy Kings

Shakeel Siddiqui (Urdu: شکیل صدیقی; born 26 May 1964) is a Pakistani television stand-up comedian, stage and film actor, theatre director and playwright.

Initially interested in singing, on the insistence of a cousin he began his career as a stage actor in the early 1980s, inspired by comedian Lehri and collaborating with the likes of Moin Akhter and especially Umer Shareef.[2]

In the 2000s, he also rose to prominence in India after appearing as a contestant in Comedy Circus.[3]

Shakeel Siddiqui also appeared as a celebrity guest in Salman Khan's reality game show, Dus Ka Dum (2008).[4]

Shakeel is also known as Teeli in Pakistan.[5]

Career

Early career as stage actor

Shakeel in his earlier career did not quite click until he was discovered by Umar Shareef, who eventually made him an important theater artist. Both worked in several stage dramas together, including Bakra Qiston Pay (Goat On Installments), Yeh To House Full Hogaya (Full House), Nayee Ammi Purana Abba (New Mother, Old Father), Dulhan Main Lekar Jaonga (I Will Take The Bride), Beauty Parlour, Budha Ghar Per Hai (The Old Man Is At Home) and many more.[6]

Theatre director and playwright

Outside acting, Shakeel had also directed and written plays, including Dunya Do Numberi, which was staged in Karachi's Arts Council of Pakistan in 2020.[7]

Success in India and departure (2008–2016)

Due to the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, all the artists from Pakistan, including Shakeel, were asked to leave the country.[8][9] Some news channels and blogs reported that Shakeel was beaten and forced to leave India by locals due to 26/11 Mumbai attacks.[10][11][12]

However, he later denied being beaten or abused and claimed that the producers of Sony were threatened by the members of MNS of "dire consequences" if they continue to allow Pakistanis to perform on their shows. As a safety precaution, the producers and the artist agreed to have him leave the country. This claim coincides with later reports.[13][14][15]

In early 2014, Shakeel made a comeback to Indian screen with Comedy Classes on Life Ok.[16]

Selected filmography

Stage dramas

Year Title
1989 Bakra Qiston Pay
2003 Yeh To House Full Hogaya
2004 Nayee Ammi Purana Abba

Television dramas

Year Title Role Channel
1994 Aitraaf Jumman PTV
2009–11 Yeh Kaisi Mohabbat Hai Geo TV
2013 Ideals TV One

Films

Year Title Role Language
1995 Munda Bigra Jaye Urdu
1996 Baazigar Punjabi
1998 Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa Hero Bhai Urdu

Television reality shows

Year Show Role Notes
2008–09 Ustaadon Ka Ustaad Contestant Winner
2008–09 Comedy Circus : Kaante Ki Takkar Celebrity contestant with Urvashi Dholakia
2010–11 Comedy Circus Ke SuperStars Celebrity contestant with Urvashi Dholakia
2013–14 Comedy Club Celebrity contestant with Sucheta Khanna
2014–15 Comedy Classes[17] Urdu teacher
2015–16 Comedy Nights Bachao Himself and various roles
2016 Comedy Nights Live Various roles

References

  1. ^ "Sharahbil Accepted Faysal Qureshi As His Father - Denied To Recognize Shakeel Siddiqui - Khush Raho Pakistan Season 8 - 29th October 2021". BOL Entertainment. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ^ Hasan, Mahmood (16 April 2013). "Pakistan is rich in comedians, India in actors: Shakeel Siddiqui". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ Comedian Shakil vows to return to Bollywood. "Comedian Shakil vows to return to India - GEO.tv". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Salman Khan's adieu to 10 Ka Dum". Screen. 12 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008.
  5. ^ "Pakistani comedian Shakeel Siddiqui to perform in Dubai". Gulf News. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Pakistan is rich in comedians, India in actors: Md Shakil Ansari". Saudi Gazette. 16 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Comedian Shakeel Siddiqui's theatre play 'Dunya Do Numberi' staged". Daily Times. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Pakistan is rich in comedians, India in actors: Shakeel Siddiqui | Life | Saudi Gazette". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  9. ^ MNS packs off Pak comedian Shakeel | Mumbai News - Times of India
  10. ^ "Famous comedian Shakeel Siddiqui beaten up in India". GEO.tv. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  11. ^ "Shakeel Siddiqui of Comedy Circus Beaten in Mumbai | The Pakistani Spectator". Pakspectator.com. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  12. ^ "Pakistani Comedian Shakil Siddiqi Beaten By Shiv Sena". Vidpk.com. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  13. ^ "MNS stops Pak comedian from shooting". The Times of India. 19 June 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
  14. ^ "Threat For Pak Comedian To Perform In India". Allvoices.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  15. ^ Dubey, Bharati (3 December 2008). "Mumbai". The Times Of India.
  16. ^ Krushna Abhishek, Bharti Singh, Shakeel Siddiqui and Sudesh Lehri Team Up for Ache Din Institute. NDTV. Indo-Asian news service. 1 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Krushna Abhishek, Bharti Singh, Shakeel Siddiqui and Sudesh Lehri Team Up for Ache Din Institute". NDTV.com. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2021.