Renowned Bolywwod and Television actor and activist Farooq Sheikh died of a heart attack in Dubai on 27 December 2013. He was on a holiday in Dubai with his family. During his visit to Kashmir last year, The Kashmir Scenario was lucky enough to get his interview. Pertinently, Farooq Sheikh or Farooque Sheikh (born 25 March 1948) a prominent bollywood actor, philanthropist and a popular television presenter. He is best known for his films during the 1970s and 1980s and even in current era in number of movies like Shanghai .
His major contribution was in Parallel Cinema or the New Indian Cinema. He has worked with directors like Satyajit Ray, Muzaffar Ali, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Ketan Mehta. He won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lahore .
As a mark of tribute we reproduce an exclusive interview with The Kashmir Scenario in which Farooq Sheikh talks to Rameez Makhdoomi & M.Kaiser.
How do you envisage the Kashmir of current times?
There is lot of disappointment in the atmosphere of Kashmir . We are visibly seeing a lot of security presence in the urban and rural hinterlands of Kashmir .How necessary this security presence is I do not know but can definitely say this is heavy security presence.
How would you describe the nature of people?
Despite witnessing a lot of difficulties, the nature of the people of Kashmir is quiet heartwarming especially the attitude of people living in the rural areas. As a matter of fact, the rural people in Kashmir are highly warm hearted and very welcoming even to the alien.
What are your hopes from the younger generation?
My hopes for overall improvement in the problems are that we humans are beset in number of problems and every generation would have to make effort in this regard. My prediction is that younger generation will have to definitely witness and bear with vicious circle of disappointments and for a real change to be ushered in the youth will have to shun the materialistic tendencies.
What is the ultimate purpose of the interactions, panel-discussions and seminars on the overall grim scenario in our part of the world?
It has taken a lot to get damaged and dented and it will definitely take a much longer time to repair but definitely the “intellectual activities” definitely act as a sparkle for the change and that too for a positive change. The need for positive change is much more felt as several evil forces have besieged us badly.
How far are efforts being made by ‘Good Forces over Evil Forces’?
One has to understand the grim reality that evil forces have made their impact felt in a great manner. The tragedy of the world we live in is that evil forces are working untiringly to dislodge noble forces.The positive forces will have to gather much tandem and consistency to dislodge the forces of negativity. If good forces do not resort to pragmatic actions we will be witnessing disastrous consequences for humanity.