Hamza Ali Abbasi Cast as Legendary Athlete in Biopic

Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi is set to play Pakistan’s legendary sprinter Abdul Khaliq in an upcoming biopic. Produced by Jamil Baig, owner of the Nueplex cinemas chain, the high-budget film will be titled “Abdul Khaliq: The Flying Bird,”. This is referencing the “Flying Bird of Asia” title given to Khaliq by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1956 Delhi Indo-Pak Meet.

The biopic will chronicle Khaliq’s journey from the Artillery Regiment to the world athletics stage. While no official release date has been announced, speculation suggests a 2025 premiere.

Hamza Ali Abbasi, a well-known figure in Pakistan’s showbiz industry, has generated significant buzz with news of his role in the biopic. On the personal front, Abbasi married Verna actress Naimal Khawar Khan in an intimate ceremony in 2019.

Who was Abdul Khaliq?

Subedar Abdul Khaliq  widely known as Parinda-e-Asia (Urdu for “The Flying Bird of Asia”), was a celebrated Pakistani sprinter from the 8 Medium Regiment Artillery. Throughout his career, he amassed an impressive collection of 36 international gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals while representing Pakistan.

Khaliq competed in the 100m, 200m, and 4×100 meters relay events, and participated in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the 1960 Rome Olympics, as well as the 1954 and 1958 Asian Games. He earned the title “The Flying Bird of Asia” from then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was captivated by Khaliq’s performance at the 1956 Indo-Pak Meet in Delhi.

Also Read: Hamza Ali Abbasi Advocates for Women’s Rights in the Workplace