Tariq Yunus (16 October 1946[a] – 26 August 1994) was an Indian actor known for his role as chef Alaudin in television sitcom Tandoori Nights.
Biography
As a young man (his brother being the politician Kunwar Khalid Yunus[1]), Yunus gained his first acting part in a children's play for local radio and began to work regularly for this media. He joined a theatrical group run by the Arts Council while at college studying Geology.[2]
Two months before he was due to take his Geology Degree exams in 1962, Yunus headed to Britain in the hope of making his fortune. Arriving with only £10 in his pocket, he had to get a job helping a milkman.[3] Living on his wits, he became a professional card player.[4]
The 1988 Screen Two play Lucky Sunil was inspired by Tariq's tales when he first came to London, with the actor co-starring in the production.[3][6][7]
Later in life, Yunus concentrated more on writing and developing his own projects, which lead him back to his native India but still continued to act.[4] For many years, he was a founder member of Equity's Afro-Asian Committee, promoting the careers of actors from other ethnic minorities.[8]
Death
While directing a play at Bombay's Prithvi Theatre in 1994, Yunus died from a heart attack whilst suffering with typhoid in the house of his friend Jalal Agha, the son of Bollywood actor Agha.[9] (However, his obituary claims he died in hospital.) He is buried in Karachi.
