Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar

Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar is a Pakistani screenwriter, director, and Urdu poet. He also works as a lyricist, producer, and occasional actor.

Early life and education

Qamar was born in 1962 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He attended a government high school located in Shad Bagh, Lahore. While he was still a student, he began writing. He later completed his studies with a B.Com degree and an MBA.

Before entering the entertainment industry, he worked at the National Bank of Pakistan. He eventually sought retirement from this position because he wanted to pursue a career in writing.

Career

Qamar began his television drama career in 1995 with Dastak Aur Darwaza, a project in which he acted and wrote. He produced the film Qarz in 1997, which he also wrote. Although he wrote dialogues for Ghar Kab Aao Gay in 2000, Tere Piyar Mein, Mukhra Chan Varga, and Nikki Jai Haan, he achieved his breakthrough with Boota from Toba Tek Singh in 1999.

He applied this specific writing style to his later dramas, Landa Bazar in 2002 and Love, Life Aur Lahore. His most famous works include the super-hit serials Pyarey Afzal in 2013, Sadqay Tumhare in 2014, and Meray Paas Tum Ho from 2019 to 2020. He also wrote the 2019 film Kaaf Kangana.

His professional life has faced significant public scrutiny due to specific incidents. On 3 March 2020, he appeared on a Neo News talk show to discuss the Aurat March. During the broadcast, Marvi Sirmed interrupted him with a feminist slogan. Qamar responded with obscene remarks and abusive name-calling toward her. Following this event, politicians and prominent figures criticized him for sexism, and Geo TV suspended his contract. Qamar claimed he only intervened because Sirmed kept interrupting him.

In 2024, Qamar was involved in an abduction case. On 15 July 2024, at approximately 4:40am, he went to meet a woman who allegedly pretended to be a fan. The suspects took his belongings and demanded a ransom. During this time, they filmed explicit videos of him. When Qamar refused to pay more extortion money, the videos were leaked online. He filed a complaint with the FIA's Cyber Crime Wing, alleging deception and blackmail. The suspects were arrested, and the case is currently proceeding at the Lahore High Court.

Personal life

During his teenage years, Qamar was engaged to his cousin, Rukhsana Amin. They did not marry because of family conflicts and issues. He later used this personal love story as the basis for his drama serial Sadqay Tumhare. In 1985, he married his first wife, Rubi Naz, with whom he has a son and a daughter.

Qamar later married his second wife, Rozina Qureshi, while he was still married to Rubi. Rozina is an actress who was previously married to the actor Faysal Qureshi. Through this marriage, Qamar has a stepdaughter named Hanish Qureshi and two children with Rozina. His son, Durrab Khalil—who formerly used the alias Aabi Khan—is an actor.