It is pertinent to mention that it was Badar Munir who paved the way for forthcoming Pushto. Born in 1940 in the beautiful Swat valley he started his career as a singer on television and later moved on to films in Yousaf Khan's Sher Bano in 1970. His Urdu film Dulhan Ek Raat Ki made him a well known hero all over the country and the film did record business. He was also the writer of that film.

After this Badar worked in a number of Urdu films, prominent among them were Dushmani, Cheekh, Baap Ka Gunah and Multan Khan. Though he appeared in a number of Punjabi films in minor roles but Teen Badsha was his first regular Punjabi film. He was well known as an action hero in Pushto films and did a number of dangerous stunts himself. It is interesting to note that before the release of Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, action cinema was occupied mostly by English movies of James Bond and Bruce Lee. It is Pollywood (mostly Badar Munir and Musarrat Shaheen) that produced such superb action movies that ultimately succeeded to secure themselves as part of Lollywood.

When Zia ul Haq started the crack down on art and culture, socio/romantic movies suffered a lot and Pushto movies came under the ruthless censor scissors too. Naturally some financiers found shortcuts to earn money and so gave a vulgar shape to Pushto cinema. Dejected by this turn of events, Badar Munir kept aloof throughout this merciless situation. He preferred to sit alone at Bari Film Studio and to recollect his hey days.

At that critical juncture of his career I once asked him about his aloofness. He simply said that he could not be part of such people who had tattered the sacred Pukhtoon culture and had injected obscenity and vulgarity into Pushto cinema.

"You know that I always used Pakhtun costumes and Pushto language style even in Punjabi or Urdu films and that I am proud of my cultural roots." "But,
he continued, "some outlaw absconders who have multiplied money through heroine smuggling, have entered this field and given severe blow to our culture. Aisi haram ki kamai say behtar hay ke main akela faragh betha rahon. (I would rather do nothing than earn money through such ill-gotten gains)"
In 2000 Shahzad Gul offered him the role of a Kashmiri Mujahid in the Shaan- Zara Sheikh superhit Teray Pyar Main. The role was so powerful that it opened new avenues for the actor. A number of producers started to cast him in Punjab/Urdu films. Viewing his popularity in non Pushto films other artists like Tariq Shah, Nemat Sarhadi, Arbaz Khan and Asif Khan followed his foot steps and jumped into Punjabi/Urdu films.

Badar Munir was really a marvellous actor who will be remembered for years due to his excellent performance in Pollywood and Lollywood. But the saddest aspect of his life was that he was ignored during his ailing condition. Hardly any star bothered to inquire his deteriorating health. Further agony, according to Ajab Gul, was poor coverage given to him according to his stature.

"These so called newspapers give full page coverage to unknown prostitutes who hardly have any flick to their credit," commented Ajab Gul. "It is simply because they have paid thousands of rupees to journalists. And I am really very perturbed at this injustice. Badar was more human than most actors; he mingled freely with the common man. Such a giant needs high tributes from all sections of society but I'm sorry to say his services and high profile work has been neglected."

Asif Khan says that his first film with Badar Munir was the Pushto Orbol that earned a good reputation as a classic work. Asif found Badar Munir to be a pious and diligent person who was never involved in a scandalous life.

"Whenever he was on set, he never acted… rather, he acted naturally. All of us Pushto actors, actresses and technicians do call him the pioneer of the Pushto film industry (Pollywood). Frankly speaking, without him we feel like orphan", Asif said emotionally.

It is individuals like Badar Munir who unfortunately gave their blood, sweat and tears to an industry that weakened as they grew as actors. But they ensured that the industry remained, even if only as a shadow of its former glory. It is thanks to the contributions of giants like him that there is hope for the revival of cinema today. Were it not for people working against all odds, purely for the love of their art that, there would be no Pakistani cinema today.

So thank you Badar Munir. May your soul rest in peace.