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Malegaon: A day after the special
screening of his film, Shafeeque Ahmed, the local hero who played the lead-role in
Malegaon Ka Superman - the award winning film starring the
artists from the Malegaon's film industry died today morning at
his residence.
"Shafeeque breathed his last today
morning at 06:15", Nasir Shaikh, the Asst. Director of the film
said while speaking to ummid.com.
Shafeeque was diagnosed of cancer a
year back.
He is survived by his wife and two
daughters - one three-years old and the other of two months.
His funeral will be held today at
11:30 AM in Malegaon.
In the wake
of Shafeeque Ahmed's illness, the local artists had organised a
special screening of the film yesterday on September 06, 2011 and
he himself was present for the show.
Renowned film
director Anurag Kashyap and producer of the film Sunil Bora had
specially traveled to Malegaon for the premier show.
"We wanted to give Shafeeque Ahmed a surprise Eid
gift by organizing the special screening of the film in Malegaon.
He was present for the show along with Anurag Kashyap, Sunil Bora
and other dignitaries. He looked comfortable and we could not
ascertain that this is the last time we are meeting him", said Nasir.
Shafeeques had earned laurels from
international film critics and experts when in his film he
campaigned against tobacco use and warned people about its danger.
But two years after release of the film, he himself became victim
of the same menace.
"Shafeeque
Ahmed was diagnosed of cancer a year back and was undergoing treatment
at Mumbai's Tata hospital since then", Nasir Shaikh, the
Co-Producer and Asst. Director of the film and his colleague said
while speaking to ummid.com.
"He was
supported
by television artist and model Deepti Bhatnagar and others during
his stay at the hospital", he added.
Shafeeque Ahmed
in his lead-role as Malegaon Ka Superman campaigned against
tobacco and gutkha consumption. But he himself was addicted to
gutkha. Unfortunately he could not resist the habit and became
victim of the same deadly disease.
"He was
recovering and discharged from the hospital about six months ago.
However, the disease got reborn three months back", Nasir said.
Shafeeque Ahmed
was associated with Mollywood - as the local film industry
is popularly known as, since last several years. He acted in quite
a few number of films produced and directed by the local artists.
The film, Malegaon ka Superman, became popular worldwide after Faiza Ahmad Khan, the
Director, received Jury Award for Best Documentary at Asiatica
Film Mediale, Rome in 2008.
The film was
later selected for screening - first by Ocian’s Cinefan film
festival held in New Delhi, and later for the International Film
Festival of India (IFFI) which was held in Goa in November 2009.
In the same year, the film was also selected for the film
festivals held in United States, Pakistan, Romania, Poland,
Israel, Spain and China in quick successions. In January 2010, the
film was screened in Dhaka and Kuwait, and in February 2010 was
selected for Vesoul Asian FF, France.
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