DHAKA: Eminent actor Khalil Ullah Khan, popularly known as Khalil, passed away at a city hospital on Sunday morning due to old age complications.

He was 8o. 

Khalil was born on 2 February in 1934 in Sylhet. In his long acting career, Khalil earned numerous recognitions and awards including National Flim Award.

Earlier on May 10, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took responsibility for the treatment of the ailing celebrated actor.

Seasoned actor Khalilullah Khan Khalil was honoured with lifetime award in recognition of his long acting career of over five decades in National Film Award 2012. 

Khalil earlier won the National Film Award in the anti-hero category in 1976 for his role in Gunda directed by the late filmmaker Alamgir Kumkum.

Khalil earned recognition as a powerful actor both on the big and small screen. He had been acting for the last 50 years with his first film Sonar Kajal in 1961, which was jointly directed by Kalim Sharafi and Zahir Raihan, and also acted by Sumita Devi and Sultana Zaman. 

He started his career as a theatre artiste. He acted in many notable films and television plays. He was president of Bangladesh Chalachitra Samity.

In his long and eventful career as an actor, Khalil acted in around 800 films. He also acted in Urdu films debuting with Preet Na Jane Reet in 1963. Khalil was equally acclaimed for his roles as villain. 

The great actor made his debut as a villain with SM Parvez’s Begana in 1966. His other films include Sangam, Sonar Kajal, Bhai Bhai, Pagla Raja, Fakir Majnu, Matir Phool, Nader Chad and Bini Shutar Mala. 

However, television serial Sangsaptak earned him huge popularity. The role of Miyar Beta in the serial gave him a huge recognition.

BDST: 1207 HRS, DEC 07, 2014