PESHAWAR: Noted stage artiste and dwarf Bilal Babar scaled new heights of fame when he performed in a Pashto movie released on Eid.

It is his first performance on silver screen since he started his acting career two years ago. He is third of seven siblings.

He complained that society was not giving them their due rights and looked down upon them for being short-statured.

Bilal Babar says dwarf performers should be given equal chances to show talent

He said dwarf’s roles in films and stage plays were liked by audience, but unfortunately they were ignored when it came to rights.

He regretted that even five per cent quota in government employment for dwarf’s community was not honoured.

“I am well-off and can afford being jobless but I am concerned about future of around 150 dwarfs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. All cannot be accommodated in stage or film performances,” he said.

“Performing in a Pashto film ‘Ghulam’ for the first time was a good experience. I learnt a lot from my other two senior dwarf artistes Zardad Bulbul and Attaullah in the same flick. It’s a privilege for me to have received a huge response on social media before release of my film,” Mr Babar told Dawn. Several local producers have approached him for casting him in their telefilms after his recent appearance in Pashto flick.

He said dwarfs had talent in them and should be provided with equal opportunities. Mr Babar is recipient of several awards from local organisations, but feels proud to have received the best actor award from Karachi Arts Council six months ago. He has received offers from Dubai for live performance and also from Doha, Qatar.

A resident of Sawaldher village in Mardan district, Mr Babar, 22, used to participate in stage plays and skits during his school days. Most often he played comic roles due to his short-stature. He was born with a natural penchant for acting.

However, his family was reluctant to give him an open hand to pursue his talent. He occasionally played truant to watch stage plays and interacted with comic characters.

After passing 10th grade exams in 2013 he could not get admission in college because of his low marks.

He began to assist his father in gardening and fruit business. Mr Babar was not born for hard and laborious tasks.

He said dwarfs should be given special training to enable them to do some physical work and earn livelihood for their families. “I think they can be trained in a special manner to serve as useful citizens,” he envisioned.

He satiated his thirst for acting when a private group of artistes offered him to perform live in a Pashto play staged in Younas Sports Stadium, Mardan, in June 2015.

The spectators had given him round of applause on his maiden stage performance in a professional manner. It paved the way for him to get a tacit permission from his family.

This proved a launching pad and he soon became the most sought after actor.

He performed in numerous live plays staged in Swabi, Mardan, Bannu, D I Khan, Kohat, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.

He worked with Pashto stars like Ismail Shahid, Jahangir Khan and Said Rahman Sheenu. Zardad Bulbul recently introduced him to big screen.

Mr Babar said he wanted to introduce new stunts in comic roles in Pashto flicks.

“Dry stuff is not going to leave any good impact on the audience without substance for change. I believe comedy should not arouse only laughter, but should also educate the viewers on social issues,” said Mr Babar.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2016