Pakistani Stage Legend Asif Iqbal ‘Pheena’ Dies After Heart Attack

LAHORE — Veteran Pakistani stage actor and comedian Asif Iqbal, popularly known to audiences as “Pheena,” has died after suffering a heart attack, bringing decades of work in Pakistan's theatre and comedy industry to an end.

His family confirmed the death on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Iqbal suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital for treatment, but doctors were unable to save him, according to multiple Pakistani news reports.

News of his sudden death quickly spread through Pakistan's entertainment community, with actors, theatre professionals and fans paying tribute to a performer remembered for his comic timing, improvisation and distinctive stage presence.

Asif Iqbal Was a Familiar Name in Pakistani Theatre

Iqbal spent decades associated with Pakistan's live theatre industry.

His performances were particularly known for spontaneous humour, quick dialogue and comic interaction with other performers — characteristics that helped make him a familiar figure among Punjabi stage audiences.

He became widely recognised by the stage identity “Pheena,” a name strongly associated with his comedy work.

Although acting brought him widespread recognition, Iqbal's career extended beyond performing.

He also worked behind the scenes in theatre and was variously credited as a director, playwright and producer.

His Career Began Behind the Stage

Before becoming known as a performer, Iqbal worked behind the scenes in Lahore's theatre industry.

Accounts of his career say he joined Tamaseel Theatre during the 1980s, initially working as a programme manager and assistant director. He later moved into acting at Alflah Theatre, with reports placing his stage acting debut around 1996.

That background gave him experience in several aspects of live production before audiences came to know him primarily as a comedian.

Over the years, his improvisational style and energetic performances helped establish his place in Pakistan's stage-comedy tradition.

He Worked Alongside Major Pakistani Comedians

Iqbal's career overlapped with some of the best-known performers in Punjabi stage entertainment.

Reports on his career place him within the same theatre landscape as artists including Sohail Ahmed, Naseem Vicky, Tariq Teddy, Sardar Kamal and Iftikhar Thakur.

His ability to respond quickly to fellow performers was particularly suited to live comedy, where timing and improvisation can be just as important as a written script.

Many of those performances continued circulating online long after they were originally staged, introducing his comedy to audiences who may never have seen him perform live.

Asif Iqbal Also Appeared on Television

His work eventually expanded beyond traditional theatre.

Iqbal appeared in television comedy and entertainment programmes, including Syasi Theater, Hadd e Adab, Oouch and Tanzo Maza, according to published accounts of his career.

He also appeared as a guest on comedy programmes, including Mazaq Raat.

Those television appearances allowed his humour to reach viewers beyond the theatre audiences with whom he originally built his reputation.

He Also Appeared in Films

Iqbal's entertainment career extended to cinema as well.

Published accounts credit him with appearances in films including Run Mureed, No Tension, Chal Mera Putt 2, Chal Mera Putt 3 and Drame Aale.

However, it was stage comedy that remained most closely associated with his public identity.

Live theatre gave him the opportunity to use the spontaneous dialogue and comic timing for which audiences remembered him.

He Had a Connection With Cricket Before Showbiz

One lesser-known part of Iqbal's life came before his entertainment career.

Reports published following his death say he had played cricket for WAPDA before moving towards Lahore's theatre industry.

That career eventually took a very different direction as theatre became his professional home.

He went from working behind the scenes to performing in front of audiences and eventually became a recognisable figure in Pakistani comedy.

Punjab Information Minister Pays Tribute

Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari was among the public officials who expressed grief following Iqbal's death.

In a condolence statement, Bokhari described his death as a major shock to his family and paid tribute to his longstanding contribution to theatre.

Her statement reflected the broader reaction across Pakistan's entertainment community, where performers and fans remembered Iqbal for the years he spent entertaining theatre audiences.

Entertainment Community Mourns His Death

Tributes began appearing shortly after news of his death became public.

Fellow artists and showbiz figures remembered his humour, distinctive performances and contribution to live theatre.

For many performers, his death represents the loss of another veteran associated with a generation that helped shape modern Punjabi stage comedy.

Theatre occupies a distinctive place in Pakistan's entertainment culture.

Unlike film or television, every stage performance happens directly in front of an audience, making improvisation especially important.

Iqbal built much of his reputation in precisely that environment.

His ‘Pheena’ Identity Became Part of His Legacy

Many performers become associated with particular characters or stage identities.

For Asif Iqbal, “Pheena” became one of the names audiences remembered most strongly.

His comedy frequently relied on fast exchanges, comic situations and reactions to fellow performers.

That style helped him connect directly with audiences and contributed to his long career in live entertainment.

Funeral Details

Reports published earlier on Saturday initially said funeral and burial arrangements would be announced by the family.

A later report from ARY News said Iqbal was 60 years old, originally from Gujranwala, and that his funeral prayer was scheduled to take place after Isha prayers at Nishtar Block.

Because funeral arrangements can change quickly, readers intending to attend should confirm the latest details locally.

Remembering Asif Iqbal

Asif Iqbal's career crossed several areas of Pakistani entertainment, but theatre remained at its centre.

He worked behind the scenes.

He acted.

He directed.

He wrote and produced.

And most importantly for the audiences who followed his work, he made people laugh.

His death removes another veteran voice from Pakistan's long tradition of live stage comedy.

But performances preserved through television, film and online recordings mean that audiences will continue encountering the character and comic style that made Asif Iqbal “Pheena” a familiar name.