Mahmood: Journalist. Producer. Actor.

I know, I know - Coronation Street with guns. Down to the Rovers for chai with your AK47 slung nonchalently over one shoulder.

Well it's not actually like that. Not quite.

In fact this acting triumph is the latest coup for Mahmood who, it turns out, also has a cameo in The Kite Runner. I've not seen the film. But I have just read the book of the same.

I can think of a number of characters Mahmood could play.

Particularly the Afghan Black Bear with whom somebody was fabled to have wrestled in the book.

Bear-like he most certainly is, albeit with a penchant for very loud western-style suits (see picture attached).

But his vast, boulderous form is truly invaluable in skirting your way around the various road blocks which now festoon Kabuli streets more or less permanently.

It's something about vast bulk combined with a very quiet voice. Being the Phil Mitchell of Afghan TV probably helps no end, as well.



His performance this morning was utterly magnificent at Kabul Airport. Not least because he had to do his performance twice. Once forwards, once backwards.

Forwards first. He glides past every checkpoint in sight right up to almost the front door. With an apparent flick of one eyebrow, porters appear from nowhere and no, they don't try to rip you off.

So it goes on.

Glissando through the airport tax counter, past the queue, into check in.

For form's sake you queue just a bit here. Another eyebrow. Forward you go. Through the whole thing in about 15 minutes, road to runway.

Except no runway today. Plane cancelled due to "fog". There was no fog, of course. But there was a blizzard.

But no self-respecting Afghan's going to give in flying a 737 over one of the more tricky mountain approaches of the Hindu Kush just because of a blizzard. That would affront manhood, pride etc etc...

Fog? That's fine, it seems.

So we call Mahmood and, incredibly, he is there as we exit the door we entered two hours before. But, as it says on his businesss card:

SAYED MAHMOOD shah "HASHEMI"
Journalist. Cinema and theater actor. Producer of ITN London.

Says it all.

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

What are these?