Yes, I was approached by director Iqbal Yusuf to complete the remaining scenes of Waheed Murad`s Hero.

That single statement unlocked an entirely new perspective in my mind. Hearing this revelation from veteran TV actor Salahuddin Tunio father of current heartthrob, model, host and actor Fahad Mustafa left me, a die-hard Waheed Murad fan, in utter shock.

Fahad Mustafa has been riding high as a television host, with his fan base skyrocketing after the recent hit serial Kabhi Hum Kabhi Tum, and he now appears in nearly every second commercial on TV. Yet, the thought that his father was once close to replacing a superstar, seemed nothing short of extraordinary. Of course, the elder Tunio turned down the offer.

This revelation not only transported me back in time but also made me reflect on the unfinished scenes of Hero, after the untimely passing of the `Chocolate Hero` Waheed Murad in November 1983. It was over 40 years ago, in January 1985, when Hero hit the screens and I was always curious to get a hold of Tunio and ask him the reason behind his refusal.

I got the chance at the premiere of Anthem Films` Sindh Echoes on January 16 the first movie in Sindhi after a gap of 28 years. A big name in regional dramas, Tunio was there to honour the premiere with his presence. In his youth, he bore a striking resemblance to the late Waheed Murad, a similarity that, to some extent, contributed to his rise to fame.

I had grown up hearing tales of how he chose not to star in Hero when he could have and, when we met, I didn`t hesitate to ask him about it.

`Saqi, a legendary actor who had worked in Hero with Waheed Murad, was working in a Sindhi T V serial with me,` Tunio sahib replied.

`There was news that director Iqbal Yusuf was looking for a replacement to shoot the remaining scenes of Hero, and hence Saqi roped me in.

`We went to meet Iqbal Yusuf at the Plaza Hotel in Karachi. I was added to the growing list of contenders for the role. What put me off was his demand. `You will be presented in front of a jury who will decide your selection, along with a payment of 300 rupees for entering the process`,` Tunio recalls Yusuf saying, as if it were yesterday.

`I had no intention of moving to Lahore, let alone working in a film.

My job and family were firmly rooted in Karachi. Ironically, my drama, which was running on PTV Karachi centre at the time, appeared on the screen during our discussion and I asked Iqbal Yusuf `Is your jury bigger than PTV`s audience`? Our dear friend Kaukab Mehdi took the plunge eventually, and ended up losing 300 rupees! Waheed Murad, the undisputed heartthrob of the `60s and `70s, embodied the essence of superstardom. Born in 1938 to film distributor Nisar Murad and Shireen Murad, he reigned over the industry for more than a decade. With classics such as Armaan, Salgirah, Andaleeb, Anjuman, Daulat aur Duniya and Jab Jab Phool Khilay, he set benchmarks in Pakistani cinema.

Whatever he wore became fashion, whatever he said became style, and countless men and boys imitated his hairstyle. A single glance from him could make women swoon, and his films consistently drew packed houses.

However, his reign, along with the careers of many other rising stars, was cut short when Gen Ziaul Haq came into power and tampered with the film industry. Amid the rise of mindless `action-packed` Punjabi films, Waheed Murad took a bold step and launched his own production, Hero, in 1981.

Although Waheed Murad began his career as a producer in 1961, he first appeared as the lead in his own production, Heera aur Pathar, in 1964. That film told the story of two brothers, one from a village and the other who had settled in the city, played by Waheed and Ibrahim Nafees, respectively. The story ofhis final film also revolved around two brothers though in this case, both roles were enacted by him.

Hero marked his first double role in an Urdu home production the other was in the Punjabi film Mastana Mahi (1971), coincidentally a story about similarlooking brothers coming from contrasting backgrounds.

What set the action-comedy Hero apart was Waheed Murad`s decision to change his iconic look for the film he sported a moustache in the opening scenes and even changed his hairstyle. It was a risky move, especially considering that films with Waheed Murad sporting facial hair had never been a big hit.

Yet, he took the gamble. He had to portray two Waheeds, one a master thief and the other an aspiring actor unsuited for the stage.

A smuggler, Mr Bukhari (played by Munawar Saeed), who has acquired the services of the thief `Jaani`, fools the actor `Fatoo` into taking up the filmi name of `Jaani` and starring as a lead opposite Shola, the biggest star of the day.

Mumtaz played the role of Shola while Babra Sharif portrayed Kiran, who was in love with Jaani. While the police busy themselves with escorting the film actor, the thief goes about his business.

Production-wise, Hero had flaws.

In the Lollywood of the `70s and `80s, anything could happen in double roles. In Raja Jani (1976),Muhammad Ali was seen in a double role while sharing a witness box and the alignment was pathetically out.

In Hum Dono (1980), Nadeem`s character preferred to save his brother rather than prevent a train collision with a few hundred lives at stake.

Similarly, Qavi Khan took on the disguise of his attacker in Agent 009 (1982), even stealing his moustache and putting it on himself. In that sense, Jaani untying Fatoo, carrying his drugged brother or even changing his clothes were smartly executed.

Waheed Murad hoped the film`s success would resurrect his career and bring him back into the limelight.

However, the death of his `highly influential` father in 1982, a series of car accidents, and stomach surgery had left him physically diminished, ultimately halting Hero`s production.

Only a few people know that, at the time of his death, Waheed Murad was in Karachi preparing for plastic surgery to restore his youthful looks for Hero.

Later, Waheed Murad`s widow, Salma, along with director Iqbal Yusuf, decided to complete the film.

Shaukat Yusuf, the film`s assistant director and younger brother of Iqbal Yusuf, recalls that a member of the production team was ultimately selected to complete the unfinished scenes, while Adil Murad, Waheed Murad`s son, believes that a man with a fair complexion who lived near their house in Lahore was brought in as a stand-in.

It didn`t matter, as there were no frontal shots or dialogues involved, and even the climax was completed with cheat shots. Techniques such as over-the-shoulder and top-shots were employed to avoid close-ups of the duplicate.

Hero had a grand opening and was a huge affair. But with no precedent or guidance on handling a posthumous release, Hero turned out to be more of a solemn farewell than a grand celebration. Before the premiere, Salma Murad and Waheed Murad`s mother openly wept, and the grieving audience followed.

Instead of cheering, people mourned the Chocolate Hero, their sorrow overshadowing the excitement.

What could have been a testament to Waheed Murad`s enduring star power, ended up as a bittersweet success the film was only a `semi-hit`, no doubt weighed down by the tragedy surrounding it.

It is unfortunate that Salahuddin Tunio, arguably the most fitting choice to step into Waheed Murad`s shoes, chose to stay away from Hero.

However, even after four decades, Waheed Murad`s legend endures not just through his timeless films, but also in the memories of those who witnessed his rise and ultimate decline.