07/09/2025
If you were around then you must have enjoyed Dino’s comedy - He was a sad loss to comedy, passing away far too young.
Dino Shafeek was a familiar face on British TV in the 1970s and early ’80s with his great comedy acting. Born in Dhaka and trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, he became a familiar face as the ever-cheerful Chai Wallah Muhammed in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum—urn in hand, calling “chai garam, chai!” and breaking into song between scenes. He also won fans as Ali Nadim in Mind Your Language, whose sparring with Ranjeet slowly turned to friendship. Beyond those favourites he popped up across film and TV—Carry On Emmannuelle, Minder, Special Branch, The Long Duel and High Road to China.
His career was on a lovely upward curve when tragedy struck: Dino Shafeek died suddenly of a heart attack at home in London on 10 March 1984, just eleven days before his 54th birthday.
