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Dino Shafeek

Dino Shafeek (born Gholam D. Shafeek, 21 March 1930 – 10 March 1984) was a British Pakistani comedy actor. Born and raised in Dhaka, he moved to the United Kingdom in 1958 and appeared in several sitcoms during the 1970s and early 1980s.[citation needed] He is best remembered for playing the part of Chai Wallah Muhammed in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum[1] and the role of Ali Nadim in ITV sitcom Mind Your Language.

Dino Shafeek
Shafeek as Ali Nadim in Mind Your Language
Born
Gholam D. Shafeek

(1930-03-21)21 March 1930
Dacca, Bengal Province, British India
Died10 March 1984(1984-03-10) (aged 53)
London, England
NationalityBangladeshi
Other namesDino Shafeek
CitizenshipBritish
EducationUniversity of Dhaka
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1967–1983
Known forChai Wallah Muhammed in It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981),
Ali Nadim in Mind Your Language (1977–1979)
PartnerLeslie Didcock (engaged)

Career

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Shafeek was involved with amateur theatre in Dhaka, Bangladesh and, after emigrating to England in 1958, enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[citation needed] His first film role was as 'Akbar' in the film The Long Duel (1967), starring Yul Brynner.[2]

It Ain't Half Hot Mum

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It Ain't Half Hot Mum is a BBC comedy series written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the writers of Dad's Army. Set in World War II British India, it follows the fortunes and activities of a concert party troop attached to the Royal Artillery. The series was broadcast by the BBC from 1974 to 1981 and starred Windsor Davies as the Battery sergeant-major of the troop's barracks in Deolali, Bombay Presidency.[3]

Shafeek plays "Chaiwallah Muhammad", selling tea from his ever-ready urn with his catchphrase "chai garam chai (Eng. 'tea, hot tea')." He also sings the musical interludes between the scenes, which are mostly World War II-era hits accompanied by a sitar. At the end of the final credits, he starts to sing "Land of Hope and Glory" only to be interrupted by the Sergeant-major shouting his ubiquitous ear-shattering "SHUTUPPP!!!." Muhammad was later promoted to bearer when the actor who played Rangi Ram (Michael Bates) died after Series 5 was recorded.

Mind Your Language

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During the run of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Shafeek played the part of student Ali Nadim in the ITV/London Weekend Television sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–1979). Along with Barry Evans as their teacher, Ali was one of a group of people from diverse backgrounds in an English as a Foreign Language class at a London night-school. Ali was a Muslim Pakistani who had emigrated to the United Kingdom, and was frequently seen bickering with Ranjeet Singh (Albert Moses), a Sikh from India. Ali told Ranjeet he will "kick [him] up the Khyber" ("Khyber Pass" being rhyming slang for "arse"). As the series progresses, their relationship mellows into one of friendly and mutual supportiveness.[4]

Other roles

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Shafeek played character parts in films and TV, such as: Carry On Emmannuelle, Minder, Special Branch and The Onedin Line.[2][5]

His last role was in High Road to China starring Tom Selleck.[2]

Death

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Shafeek died suddenly from a heart attack whilst at home, in London, with his fiancée, Leslie Didcock, on 10 March 1984, eleven days before his 54th birthday.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 The Long Duel Akbar
1968 The Charge of the Light Brigade Indian servant
1972 Young Winston Sikh Soldier
1976 Queen Kong Indian Uncredited
1977 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers Indian watchman
1978 Carry On Emmannuelle Immigration Officer
1983 High Road to China Satvinda (final film role)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Saint Native 1 episode: The Golden Frog
1966 Redcap Gurkha (as Dean Francis) 1 episode: The Killer
1967 Softly, Softly Anwar 2 episodes: The Target: Part 1: Sighted; The Target: Part 2: Point Blank
1968 The Jazz Age Abas 1 episode: The Outstation
The Champions Manservant 1 episode: The Dark Island
1969 The Troubleshooters Abdhul 1 episode: You're Not Going to Believe This, But...
Special Branch Majid 1 episode: The Promised Land
1971 The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder 2nd Priest 1 episode: Man with a Strange Tattoo
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Ali 1 episode: The duchess of Wiltshire's diamonds
1974 ...And Mother Makes Five Gypsy 1 episode: If I can help somebody
1974–1981 It Ain't Half Hot Mum Chai Wallah Muhammed 56 episodes
1976 Centre Play Demonstrator 1 episode: Commonwealth Season: Trinidad – Home sweet India
1977 The Onedin Line Jaun 1 episode: When Troubles Come
The Fuzz 1st Pakistani 1 episode: Coppers Under the Sun
1977–1979 Mind Your Language Ali Nadim 29 episodes
1979 Hazell Raiji 1 episode: Hazell Bangs the Drum
1980 Minder Mini Cab Driver 1 episode: All About Scoring, Innit?
1981 Into the Labyrinth Suleiman 1 episode: Shadrach
1982 The Stanley Baxter Hour 1 episode: Christmas special

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 A Touch of Brightness Pidku Royal Court Theatre, London
1968 In the Penal Colony The Prisoner Arts Laboratory, Drury Lane, London; adaptation by Steven Berkoff
1970 To Anchor a Cloud Asaf Khan King George's Theatre, London
1971 Captain Brassbound's Conversion Hassan Cambridge Theatre, London
1977 A Clean Break Anwar Hassan Ravi Shankar Hall, London
1979 It Ain't Half Hot Mum Chai Wallah Muhammad Stage adaptation of TV series; regional tour commencing at Pier Theatre, Bournemouth
1980 Dick Whittington and His Cat[6] London Palladium, London
1981 Dick Whittington and His Cat
1982 Gandhi Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London
It Ain't Half Hot Mum[7] Chai Wallah Muhammad Stage adaptation of TV series; regional tour commencing at Futurist Theatre, Scarborough
Dick Whittington[8] Sultan of Morocco Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Label/Cat No Notes
1975 It Ain't Half Hot Mum – Featuring the Artists from the Popular BBC-TV Series EMI Records EMC 3074 Appears as Chai Wallah Muhammad
1983 Tony Fayne's Back Rosie Records RR 008 Guest appearance

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Morgan-Russell, Simon (1988). Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Manchester University Press. p. 72. ISBN 0-7190-6555-0. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Dino Shafeek". BFI. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  3. ^ "BFI Screenonline: It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974-81)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Mind Your Language (1977-79, 1986)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Dino Shafeek". www.aveleyman.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  6. ^ "The London Palladium pantomime history". pantoarchive. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Production of It Ain't Half Hot Mum | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Production of Dick Whittington | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
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