THANKS TO THEIR STRIKING RESEMBLANCE, actor Waseemudin Ansari (above) has become a celebrity playing President Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan's most popular television comedy. But now that the President is no longer popular, the actor is worried that he may get killed by Gen Musharraf's opponents by mistake. -- PHOTOS: KAMAL SIDDIQI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES, REUTERS

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Mr Ansari, 50, is the spitting image of Pakistan's strongman, General Pervez Musharraf.

He plays the General in what is perhaps Pakistan's most popular television comedy, Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain (We are all expecting).

The show, which has a large following, is known not just for its humour but also for its political commentary on the state of affairs in Pakistan, said one viewer.

But with emergency rule imposed in the country, he will not be allowed to perform because making fun of the President is strictly forbidden.

Mr Ansari also fears for his life because his close resemblance to the military leader at a time when the President is no longer popular could get him killed by Gen Musharraf's opponents.

Some of Mr Ansari's colleagues say that the actor once doubled for the President when he took a helicopter and Mr Ansari sat in the presidential vehicle.

But it is not something that Mr Ansari wants to discuss.

He is however more than willing to talk about how the show had turned him into a celebrity.

'People appreciate me and want to take pictures with me wherever I go,' he says.

Women are particularly taken.

'I get so many calls, sometimes from female admirers, that my family gets upset sometimes,' he says.

Some people even ask for his telephone number and, whenever they are apprehensive about the situation in the country, they call him.

'I then console them and they happily move ahead with their lives, thinking they have spoken to the President of the country,' says Mr Ansari.

'I think half of the people only want to vent their frustration. For them, I am the President listening to their problems.'

In fact, Mr Ansari says that there are times when people mistake him for Gen Musharraf and mob him on the streets.

He gets invited to political meetings, social events and even birthday parties.

'But I am careful where I go and whom I talk to. After all, I am a reflection of the President,' he says.

The country's politicians are fond of him too.

When Mr Ansari visited Parliament last month to celebrate Gen Musharraf's re-election as President, many came to have their pictures taken with him, including the leader of the ruling party.

Viewers say that Mr Ansari's performances on his show are hilarious. His spoofs of Gen Musharraf are so good that it is often difficult to tell him apart from the real President.

But Mr Ansari says that his best show, which was aired last week, was not seen by most Pakistanis because of the blackout on news channels imposed by Gen Musharraf himself.

That episode took on a touchy topic - the government's imposition of the emergency. In the show, the opposition members ended up on hospitals beds in an emergency ward.

kamalhaq.siddiqi@gmail.com