Adrak-ke-Panje Theatre Legend Babban Khan Passes Away

Babban Khan, one of Hyderabad's prominent theatre personalities, passed away on April 17 at around 8 PM after being hospitalised for several days. 

Babban Khan( 82), who originally hailed from Aghapura, moved to Shantinagar. He is survived by his wife, Shaila and two children. 

Babban Khan’s legacy is defined by his iconic play Adrak Ke Panje, a cultural phenomenon in Hyderabad and beyond. 

First staged in 1965, it became one of the longest-running one-man shows in the world, earning a place in the Guinness World Records in the 1984 edition of



the UK. Adrak-ke-Panje turned Babban Khan into a household name, especially among Urdu and Dakhni theatre audiences.

The play’s success lay in its simple yet powerful storytelling, which portrayed an ordinary man’s struggles with family responsibilities and financial pressures, resonating deeply across generations. 

Having completed a record 10,000 shows, he finally called it quits in the year 2000. Blending Hyderabadi humour with social commentary, Babban Khan’s performance style connected effortlessly with audiences, making them laugh while reflecting on everyday realities.