The versatile Arab: Omar Sharif and his varied roles (April 10 is Omar Sharif s 85th birth anniversary)

The most famous Arab actor in Hollywood Omar Sharif won global renown with his intense performance in David Lean s epic Lawrence of Arabia but then went on to essay roles as diverse as of iconic Soviet and Latin American revolutionaries a German army officer Genghis Khan a Russian Tsar a Pathan horseman and even an Indian Brigadier.

The varied roles of Sharif whose 85th birth anniversary is on April 10 seem to mirror his unique life -- a Christian who converted to Islam for love an Egyptian actor whose international career was made possible by a Jewish filmmaker from Hollywood a champion player of contract bridge writing a regular syndicated column and several books on the game and among those who advised George W. Bush against invading Iraq. Born Michel Demetri Chalhoub on April 10 1932 in a Catholic family of Lebanese and Syrian descent Sharif after a spell in his father s lumber business decided to make his career in films. He was going to London to study in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts when offered a starring role in Egyptian film Sira Fi al-Wadi (The Blazing Sun 1954) opposite Faten Hamama. Falling in love with her he converted to marry her and they had one son Tarek. They amicably divorced in 1974 due to Sharif s self-exile in Europe. Sharif who had notched over 20 films till he got his chance in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) with producer Sam Spiegel and Lean choosing him over a better known French actor. Sharif himself recalled that he was chosen because I spoke English had black hair black eyes and a moustache. It was all luck... As Sherif Ali who silently glides from the dunes early in the movie and kills Lawrence s guide for drinking from his well before taunting him Have you no fear English? he more than held his own against the cast which included Peter O Toole as Lawrence Alec Guinness as Prince Feisal Anthony Quinn as Auda Claude Rains as Dryden and Jack Hawkins as Gen. Allenby. Interestingly Sherif Ali s role is said to have been initially offered to Dilip Kumar who declined while Sharif was slated for the bit role of the killed guide. But it was he got the chance. He became close friends with Peter O Toole who refused to believe that anyone could be possibly be called Omar Sharif and nicknamed him Cairo Fred. Sharif who was included in the film s publicity campaign at Spiegel s insistence also had a prominent role here impressing journalists with his charm. He was nominated for the Oscars but didn t win. Spiegel who offered Sharif a seven-film contract though at a lesser amount however did him a big favour by securing him an exit visa which were then tightly controlled in Egypt. His most famous work was as the title role of the tormented poet in Lean s 1965 adapation of Boris Pasternak s Doctor Zhivago opposite Julie Christie as Larissa Lara Antipova. His son played the young Yuri Zhivago. He again did not win any of the five Oscars the film garnered for its epic cinematography and haunting music especially Lara s Theme by Maurice Jarre. Among other major roles of Sharif who spoke English Arabic French Italian Spanish and Greek and seemed comfortable in any cultural and historic setting were as iconic revolutionary Che Guevara in Che (though it turned out the film was funded by the CIA) a German officer trying to trace a psychopathic top officer in The Night of the Generals villain Colorado in western treasure hunt Mackenna s Gold starring Gregory Peck and a Soviet spy in Cold War drama The Tamarind Seed opposite Julie Andrews. On TV he essayed the role of doomed Czar Nicholas II in mini series Anastasia as well as of Khuda Daad in an adaption of M.M. Kaye s The Far Pavillions. However a little too fond of gambling he lost a fortune and therefore had to do many forgettable movies to earn for his family - hence his uncredited cameo as an Indian Brigadier in the super-flop Inchon (1981). Diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease in 2012 he succumbed to a heart attack in a Cairo hospital on July 10 2015. It was not even six months since the death of Fateh besides whom he always said he never loved any woman. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) --IANS vd/vm/sac