Afzal Rafiqov is 78 years old: about the actor who lost a finger in a labor lesson, couldn't attend his son's wedding, and lost his famous voice due to illness

The king of Uzbek dubbing art, People's Artist of Uzbekistan Afzal Rafikov turned 78 on August 21. On this occasion, we will look back at the actor's life and creative path in the Uzbek and Russian theater stages and the art of Uzbek dubbing.

Afzal Rafikov was born in Tashkent in 1948 to mother Hamroniso and father Azimkhon.

**About his childhood**

The famous actor recalls his difficult childhood in Tashkent in the post-war years and the shortcomings in life:

— My entire youth was spent in the center of Tashkent. But in the 50s, the landscape of Tashkent was different from today - it was deserted and neglected.

I remember that there were shortcomings in our life. Even eggs were scarce at that time. I remember well how my mother hid them from my brothers and cooked eggs for me. Because I was a very thin child who ate little. My mother thought that I ate little because my brother was fat. My mother used to say, "We lived well when your father earned 200 soums a day." Later, my father began to earn 200 soums a day, but the shortage still did not go away. Because as time went by, prices kept rising. We had no other additional income. My parents raised four children in such hardship.

Unfortunately, due to hard work and shortages, my mother became ill. She died of heart disease in 1989 at the age of 63, says the actor.

**About school years and reading the banned "Days of the Past"**

Young Afzal says that since he studied at a Russian school, he grew up reading the greats of Russian literature, and at the same time, he secretly read the novel "Days of the Past", which was banned at the time.

— Because I studied at a Russian school, I did not know the Uzbek language well. I was addicted to Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky. Even though I got four marks in Russian, I studied Russian literature with an excellent grade. Teachers would say, "You will get a silver medal." When I asked, "Why not gold?" they would show me the four I got in Russian.

During the years of repression, I secretly read "Days of the Past". My father would say, "After you finish reading, don't let the book remain on your shelf, take it away." I would take it and hide it in the most inconspicuous corners of the shelf. I grew up in such difficult times.

**“When I was young, many people thought I was a Tatar”**

The artist recalls that during his school and student years, many people thought he was a representative of another nationality because of his appearance.

— In my youth, my appearance resembled that of a Tatar. My school friends called me Rafik. I used this similarity a lot later when I was studying at the institute. We had a Tatar teacher in one subject. Even if everyone else got a two, he would give me a four.

**“We were spiritually rich”**

— Our spiritual life was incredibly rich. Because we had books at home, we read them. My father had a violin, and sometimes he would play it. The reason why I became the owner of this profession was probably the attitude towards art in our dynasty. Because my great-aunt played the dutar and also sang the khirgoi. My mother also knew how to play the dutar. Both of my uncles sang great songs well. In particular, my uncle Mahkam's voice was very sweet, and my uncle Hasan's voice was strong. My father, seeing my uncle Hasan's talent for a certain time, tried to get him to sing, but it didn't work out. Nevertheless, art has always been respected in our family and generation and has been an integral part of our lives.

When I was about 9-10 years old, while we were having breakfast in the morning, a rubab song came on the radio. At that time, television was a rare commodity that not everyone had. Listening to the rubab's melody was very enjoyable for me at that time, and it was deeply ingrained in my heart. The sound of the rubab made me feel uplifted and I felt strange. Then I thought I would take the rubab from home and play it, so I pushed the cup in front of me. The hot tea in the cup spilled on me. I don’t know if that’s why I insisted, “I’m going to learn to play the rubab.” After that, my dad himself put me in the rubab class at the music school.

**“I lost my index finger in a labor lesson”**

The Uzbek dubbing king talks about the tragedy that caused him to lose his finger in the school workshop because he had a high aptitude for mathematics.

— In many ways, the reason why I fell in love with mathematics and showed my potential in this subject was my teacher. I respected my mathematics teacher immensely. I imitated him and studied science well, and participated in Olympiads. So, the personality of a teacher directly affects a student's learning. Because as a child, we would react to the science they taught by following the teacher.

In the 1960s, when I was 12 years old, an incident happened at school. During a labor lesson, we were making chairs for a kindergarten. At that time, while I was cutting a board with an electric saw, my right hand got caught in the saw along with the board. The saw took away my index finger and half of my thumb. I was seriously injured and my palm was also cracked. The doctors sewed my thumb together so that my hand would not become ugly, but I lost my index finger. After I left the hospital, I had to take a final exam in playing the rubab. At that time, my hand was still sore and I took the exam in a bandage. I played the songs and got excellent marks in the exam.

**“Acting can also be studied”**

— After finishing my third year at the technical school, I was looking through the newspapers during the holidays, and on the last page I saw an advertisement for institutes. It said which universities were accepting students in which specialties. While reading this, I saw an advertisement for a theater university. When I saw the specialization in drama and film acting, I said, “I can also study acting.” Because according to my previous understanding, you couldn’t study acting, on the contrary, you had to be born an actor. Then this idea firmly settled in my heart and I decided to become an actor. After that, all the conflicts began, says Afzal Rafiqov.

**“I couldn’t get into school for three years”**

— After deciding to become an actor, I started studying for three years. After I didn’t get into school for the first year, my interests continued to draw me towards art, so my father introduced me to him and got me a job at a film studio.

At first, I worked there as a telemechanic. Then, after passing the exam, I became a film mechanic. As fate would have it, I ended up working as a film mechanic, that is, one who would play films at a dubbing place. I would play films for the dubbing artists who came and watch them work. “I wish I could do the same thing,” I would keep trying to get to them. But at that time, I was helpless because I didn’t get into the institute, says the dubbing master.

**“My first role in dubbing was just to say ‘okay’”**

— At that time, there was a night shift at film studios from twelve o’clock in the evening to six in the morning. This was because actors like Hamza Umarov, Obid Yunusov, and Yakub Ahmedov often did not have time to come to the studio for dubbing during the day due to filming and tours. When I was working as a cinematographer at the studio, I ended up on night duty. We were dubbing a Russian film into Uzbek. Only Hamza aka Umarov was in the studio. He was voicing a colonel with a strong character in the film.

At one point, in addition to Hamza aka’s character, another lieutenant appeared in one frame. The colonel would call out and say something, and then the lieutenant would leave saying “okay, sir.” At that time, not every role was voiced by one person, but another actor had to speak, even if it was a small role. But there was no one in the studio except Hamza aka. At that time, the film director asked me if I could speak Uzbek, called me into the studio, and asked me to voice one of the lieutenant's words. I rehearsed once, and the voice was recorded in one. So, at the age of 26, I first got into dubbing.

**“I was a stage worker, watching the performances of great masters”**

After three years of trying, Afzal Rafikov entered the Tashkent Institute of Theater and Art in absentia, which he graduated in 1974. From 1973 to 1987, the actor worked in various positions at the Hamza (now the National Academic Drama Theater of Uzbekistan) Theater.

— When I was working as a stagehand at the Hamza Theater, after I finished building the scenery, I would put a hammer next to me and watch the actors go on stage and work in a corner. This was my main school in the theater. At that time, such famous actors as Olim Khojayev, Shukur Burkhanov, Nabi Rakhimov, and Sora Eshontorayeva worked on the stage of the theater. I saw how they worked.

Later, I was promoted from a stagehand to an assistant director. As an assistant director, I would conduct performances. Then they made me the head of the troupe. I worked in this position for a long time and at the same time played various roles on stage. I tried to do everything. I don’t know, that’s probably why every work I did was noteworthy.

**“They will probably remember me later by my voice”**

— They will probably remember me later by my voice. When they hear my voice, they might say, “An actor with a great voice, a person who recites the Quran.” Just as Obid Yunusov was “overwhelmed” by the character of Otkuriy, my voice “overwhelmed” me. But the roles I have played are numerous, and they have been well received by experts and audiences. I have received honorary titles for my roles. But still, when they hear my name, people remember my voice. This is also a blessing from God, he says.

**“I could not go to my son’s wedding because of the play”**

— My eldest son’s wedding was scheduled. That day, unexpectedly, I did not go to the wedding and played a role in the play. In fact, the play was planned in advance, but I did not know about it. I told the theater management that I was getting married that day and did not postpone the performance. Moreover, it was a long-running play. I did not cancel it anyway. My son was upset with me for this. After playing my role on stage, I ran to the wedding with my hair dyed without even taking off my makeup. I apologized to everyone for looking like that, saying that I had just come from work and that I had to apologize.

**“My wife is my advisor”**

Afzal Rafiqov, a father of three sons and grandfather of more than ten grandchildren, does not hide the fact that his wife is his closest advisor.

— My wife respects me as the head of the family and has created all the opportunities for my creativity and work. Until now, I have not even gone to the market to earn a living, I would not bring anything home. I was only busy with creativity - rehearsals, dubbing and performances. I didn't even take care of the housework, she did everything herself.

In addition, my first consultant in the theater is my wife. I bring her to the premieres of the performance and show her. Then, listening carefully to her impressions, I realize that all her objections were right, and accordingly, I make changes to some parts of the scenery. Half of all my achievements are my wife's, says Afzal Rafiqov.

**“I lost my voice due to illness”**

Theater and dubbing actor Afzal Rafiqov told in an interview in 2024 about the loss of his famous voice due to a serious illness. In it, the artist said:

— At the end of my life, God gave me another test: my voice became sick. But despite this, I did not give up: I am trying. I'm also acting in the play, on stage, with this voice. Thanks to the theater management, they found a small microphone, and I'm playing my role wearing that microphone. Look at this, even in dubbing, no one says to me, "Afzal aka, thank you, you've served so many years, now it's enough." I'm still working in dubbing.

The reason for my loss of voice was a problem with my vocal cords. A disease was discovered in my left vocal cords. I had to undergo surgery. The only way to get rid of the disease was with this method. Because no one guaranteed not only my voice with the treatment, but also my life. It was a disease that threatened not only my voice, but also my life, he said at the time.