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- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Kumail Nanjiani was born on 2 May 1978 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. He is an actor and writer, known for The Big Sick (2017), Life as We Know It (2010) and Stuber (2019). He has been married to Emily V. Gordon since 14 July 2007.- Iman Vellani is a Canadian actress of Pakistani origin. She is known for portraying Kamala Khan, the protagonist of the Disney+ miniseries Ms. Marvel (2022). Vellani is set to reprise the role in the film The Marvels (2023). Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Vellani moved to Canada when she was a year old, and was raised in the Ismaili faith, a branch of Shia Islam. She graduated from Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario. Vellani was selected as a member of the TIFF Next Wave Committee at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Before being cast in Ms. Marvel at the end of her last year of high school, Vellani had planned to attend the Ontario College of Art & Design University with a focus on integrated media.
- Actor
- Writer
Mawaan's writing credit on Netflix' 'Sex Education' and comedy performances on 'Live at the Apollo' & 'Taskmaster' have earned him a spot on Forbes' 30 under 30 list. As an actor, he's starred in 'Two Weeks To Live' (Sky), 'Carnage' (BBC), as well as his own BBC3 series 'Juice', which he has also written and exec-produced.- Actor
- Producer
He was born in Pakistan, the youngest son of an eye surgeon who moved to London to join Moorfields Eye Hospital. Art determined early on that he was English and never learned to speak Urdu or Hindi. He studied at Guildhall Drama School and while there got a part as a Buddist monk in a Peter Hall directed film and acted at the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He shot to fame playing an English public school educated Indian in 'The Jewel in the Crown'. He married the actress Gina Rowe whom he met at drama school and they have two daughters, Jessica and Keira.- Gabrielle Drake was born March 30, 1944 in Lahore, Pakistan. Her father worked in an import/export company or as an engineer and she spent her first 8 years travelling around Burma, India, and the Orient. The family returned to England when Gabrielle was eight years old, after which they moved back near Stratford-upon-Avon. She was educated at Wycombe Abbey School for Girls in High Wycombe. After leaving school, she spent some time in Paris as an au pair girl looking after a family with four children. She then trained for several years at the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts, then she joined a group of other recently graduated students to form the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.
Gabrielle stayed at the Everyman for three years and then became the youngest acting member during the reopening season of the famed Malvern Theatre Company. Afterwards she joined the Birmingham Repertory Company and perfected her craft at Manchester's Royal Exchange, the Bristol Old Vic, the New Shakespeare Company and The Young Vic in productions as diverse as "The Cherry Orchard", "Titus Andronicus", "A Phoenix Too Frequent" and "Comedy of Errors".
Gabrielle made her television debut in Intrigue (1966) and then guested in "The Hidden Tiger", an episode of The Avengers (1961). She went on to appear in guest roles on Coronation Street (1960), The Saint (1962), The Champions (1968), Journey to the Unknown (1968), and Virgin of the Secret Service (1968) before landing the role of Lt. Gay Ellis in Gerry Anderson's UFO (1970). Then she made her feature film debut co-starring in Crossplot (1969), and also appeared in Connecting Rooms (1970).
After completing work on UFO, she appeared in a series of sex comedy films such as There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), Suburban Wives (1972), Au Pair Girls (1972) and Commuter Husbands (1972), but was also much seen on television, in particular as Jill Hammond in The Brothers (1972) which made her a household name. - Actress
- Producer
- Director
Dilshad Vadsaria was born in Karachi, Pakistan, of Portuguese and Indian descent. She moved with her family to the US at the age of six and spent her childhood in various parts of the country, including Chicago, Richmond (Virginia) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She eventually moved to New York to study acting. Although she has appeared in a few films, much of her work has been in television, with a regular role on the series Greek (2007) and guest appearances on such series as NCIS (2003) and Bones (2005).- Actress
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Karachi-born Margaret Lockwood, daughter of a British colonial railway clerk, was educated in London and studied to be an actress at the Italia Conti Drama School. Her first moment on stage came at the age of 12, when she played a fairy in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 1928. She had a bit part in the Drury Lane production of "Cavalcade" in 1932, before completing her training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Her film career began in 1934 with Lorna Doone (1934) and she was already a seasoned performer when Alfred Hitchcock cast her in his thriller, The Lady Vanishes (1938), opposite relative newcomer Michael Redgrave. The film was shot at Islington studios and was "in the can" after just five weeks in 1937 and released the following year. This was her first opportunity to shine, and she gave an intelligent, convincing performance as the inquisitive girl who suspects a conspiracy when an elderly lady (May Whitty) seemingly disappears into thin air during a train journey. Due to the success of the film, Margaret spent some time in Hollywood but was given poor material and soon returned home. Back at Gainsborough, producer Edward Black had planned to pair Lockwood and Redgrave much the same way William Powell and Myrna Loy had been teamed up in the "Thin Man" films in America, but the war intervened and the two were only to appear together in the Carol Reed-directed The Stars Look Down (1940). This was the first of her "bad girl" roles that would effectively redefine her career in the 1940s. In between playing femmes fatales, she had a popular hit in the 1944 melodrama A Lady Surrenders (1944) as a brilliant but fatally ill pianist and was sympathetic enough as a young girl who is possessed by a ghost in A Place of One's Own (1945). However, her best-remembered performances came in two classic Gainsborough period dramas. The first of these, The Man in Grey (1943), co-starring James Mason, was torrid escapist melodrama with Lockwood portraying a treacherous, opportunistic vixen, all the while exuding more sexual allure than was common for films of this period. The enormous popular success of this picture led to her second key role in 1945 (again with Mason) as the cunning and cruel title character of The Wicked Lady (1945), a female Dick Turpin. This was even more daring in its depiction of immorality, and the controversy surrounding the film did no harm at the box office. Some of Lockwood's scenes had to be re-shot for American audiences not accustomed to seeing décolletages. Margaret scored another hit with Bedelia (1946), as a demented serial poisoner, and then played a Gypsy girl accused of murder in the Technicolor romp Jassy (1947).
As her popularity waned in the 1950s she returned to occasional performances on the West End stage and appeared on television, making her greatest impact as a dedicated barrister in the ITV series Justice (1971), which ran from 1971 to 1974.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was born on 12 November 1978 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. She is a producer and director, known for Saving Face (2012), A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers (2015) and A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2015). She is married to Fahd Kamal Chinoy. They have two children.- Of British parentage, John Sutton was born in Rawalpindi, India (now part of Pakistan), on October 22, 1908. After graduating from Wellington College, he spent a decade or so working in various British colonies, including several in Africa, as a hunter, rancher and tea plantation manager. An avid wanderlust adventurer in the same vein as Errol Flynn (with whom he worked in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)) during his pre-Hollywood days, Sutton lived all over the world, including China, Malaya and the Philippines. He somehow arrived in Hollywood in the mid-'30s as a technical consultant on films with a British Empire background. He was a dark, handsome man and, eventually, this caught directors' eyes and he was placed in front of the camera. Making an unbilled debut in The Last of the Mohicans (1936), he apprenticed in a number of bit roles for a couple of years, including a minor running part in the "Bulldog Drummond" series from 1937-1939. Unlike Flynn, however, this slick-looking actor had more slivery eyes to match his slivery mustache and a shadier countenance. For most of his career he would find himself more on the cruel end of a romantic triangle. As the "other man" or hero's adversary, he was shown at his best as flashy, slimy swashbucklers who met their fate at the end of the sword in the final reel. He peaked in the 1940s at 20th Century-Fox, where he carved out quite a nasty niche for himself in such films as Hudson's Bay (1940), Jane Eyre (1943), Captain from Castile (1947), Adventures of Casanova (1948), The Three Musketeers (1948), Bride of Vengeance (1949) and The Fan (1949). Occasionally he was asked to play a lead, particularly at a time when all the romantic male stars were serving their country during WWII, in films such as Moon Over Her Shoulder (1941) and Tonight We Raid Calais (1943). In the 1950s his film career waned and he took on TV roles. Sutton died suddenly in August of 1963 of a heart attack in Cannes, France, at the age of 54, shortly after finishing work on Of Human Bondage (1964) in England.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, Iqbal Theba came to the US as a college freshman at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. While in college in Oklahoma, Iqbal studied Civil Engineering and eventually obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering Management. After realizing his true passion was acting, Iqbal returned to the University of Oklahoma to study acting. Thoroughly enjoying his time in Oklahoma (he is a true Sooner football fan) and after leaving college, Iqbal decided to move to New York City to pursue his love of acting. After struggling in New York for over two years, Iqbal decided to make the move to Los Angeles in hopes of more acting work. Broke and not knowing anyone in Los Angeles, Iqbal stayed with friends in San Bernardino until he could save up enough money to finally move full-time to Los Angeles.
Once in Los Angeles, things started to turn around for Iqbal. He soon found a niche acting in television commercials. His first big commercial was for the Wherehouse Music Chain, where he sang the Chris Isaak song "Wicked Game". This was followed by commercials for McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, AT&T, Sprint, American Express, Capital One, Holiday Inn, Kellogg's Cereal, Tostitos, Got Milk, and many others. Iqbal was the first South Asian to have appeared in dozens of mainstream national commercials in the '90s. It was through these television commercials that he was able to get his SAG card, which opened the door to more mainstream television and film opportunities.
Iqbal's big television break came after booking a role on the NBC pilot "Death and Taxes" (his second job in Los Angeles as an actor). Although the pilot wasn't picked up, this led to numerous co-starring and guest-starring roles in television and film, including work on TV shows such as "L.A. Law", "Living Single", "Mad About You", and "Seinfeld". Over the next 10 years, Iqbal continued to hone his craft and work guest starring on television shows such as "Ellen", "Caroline in the City", "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Friends", "King of the Hill", "The West Wing", "Judging Amy", "Alias", "Arrested Development", and "Weeds", to name a few, as well as recurring roles on "The George Carlin Show", "Sister, Sister", "Rosanne", "Married With Children", "Family Matters", "ER", "JAG", and "Life With Bonnie". Some of Iqbal's film work includes "Indecent Proposal", "Driven", "BASEketball", "Dancing at the Blue Iguana", "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and "Playing for Keeps".
After successfully establishing himself as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, Iqbal's big break came from his being cast as Principal Figgins in the hugely successful FOX television series "Glee". Although originally written for a Caucasian, Iqbal won the role and has in the process brought his own unique perspective to the character. As the beleaguered principal of William McKinley High School, Principal Figgins tries to walk the tightrope between being fair with teacher Will Schuster (Matthew Morrison) while being constantly blackmailed and harassed by coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). In addition to "Glee", Iqbal is also simultaneously starring in the NBC series "Community" playing Danny's dad.
2010 has proven to be a busy and successful year for Iqbal. He started the year off by winning a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for his work on "Glee", continues filming new episodes of "Glee" and "Community", and is looking at several feature film offers. In addition to his acting career, Iqbal enjoys spending time with his wife Humera and their two children and traveling. His favorite writer is Anton Chekov, his favorite movie is "2001: A Space Odyssey", and works with his favorite charity, Edhi Foundation.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Fawad Khan is a film and television actor, singer and model. Khan has established himself as a critically and commercially acclaimed actor in not only the Pakistani television and film industry but across the border in India as well.
Khan rose to prominence in the Pakistani movie Khuda Kay Liye released in 2007, and later as a lead actor in TV shows Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai, for that he won Best Actor Awards at the Lux Style Awards. In 2014, Khan made his Bollywood debut in a romantic comedy film Khoobsurat and received Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. His latest success is the Bollywood block buster Kapoor And Sons!- Actress
Nimra Bucha was born on 21 November 1980 in Karachi, Pakistan. She is an actress, known for Manto (2015), Ms. Marvel (2022) and Churails (2020).- Director
- Actor
- Producer
Shekhar Kapur was born on 6 December 1945 in Lahore, Punjab, British India [now Pakistan]. He is a director and actor, known for Elizabeth (1998), Bandit Queen (1994) and The Four Feathers (2002). He was previously married to Suchitra Krishnamoorthi.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Mehwish Hayat is one of Pakistan's leading actresses. Coming from a well-known show business family she has been acting since an extremely early age. She is acknowledged as being the current reigning box office queen having delivered five consecutive hits in a row. From playing a dancer in her first film to a simple Punjabi girl in her last movie, she is known for pushing the boundaries and taking on challenging roles. Not only is she the most commercially successful actress in Pakistan she has also shown herself as a major acting talent by appearing in unconventional roles in several award-winning short films.
In 2019, she was honored by the President of Pakistan with a National Civil Award, the Tamgha - I - Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) for her contribution to the Arts and Pakistani Cinema. That year, The Muslim Vibe, recognized her as one of the top 5 most influential Muslim women in the world.
As a model, she has appeared in adverts for some of the world's leading brands, from telecoms to beauty products. Mehwish is one of the most socially active celebrities in South Asia and the Middle East. Fearless and bold, she has spoken out on global media outlets about human rights abuses and the representation of Muslims and Pakistanis in mainstream media. She has been championing the cause of diversity and inclusivity in media for many years.
In 2019, she was appointed Ambassador for the Rights of the Girl Child by the Ministry of Human Rights in Pakistan.
As an Ambassador for the global charity Penny Appeal, she has been tackling the issue of education in Pakistan and campaigning to build schools in rural Sind.
This year she will launch her ambitious Global initiative, Women's Leadership Exchange. She will be bringing together thought leaders and noteworthy women to address issues that matter to women and finding a solution through a manifesto for change.
She sits on the board of the Pakistan National Council of Arts and is a member of the official Oscar selection committee in Pakistan.
She is also an accomplished singer, having sung several popular songs for television including appearing on the prestigious Coke Studio and she has undertaken several sell-out music tours in the US playing to arenas across the country.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Rosemary Dexter was born on 19 July 1944 in Quetta, Pakistan. She was an actress, known for Romeo e Giulietta (1964), Eye in the Labyrinth (1972) and Blow Hot, Blow Cold (1969). She died on 8 September 2010 in Recanati, Marche, Italy.- Producer
- Actor
Humayun was born into an enlightened family on July 27, 1971, in Karachi. Being the eldest amongst five brothers, his parents expected a lot from him. From 1995 onwards, he associated himself with Pakistani television. First he appeared as an artist in numerous television plays and drama serials. His first play was "Yeh Jahan". Later, he started his own production, known as H.S. Production. From 'H.S. Production', he has produced the serial, "Tum he to ho", "Pehli Khahish", "Adhuray Khawab", "Dil wo bay mehar" and "Undekhi". He was teamed up with Sonia Saeed, Perveen Malik, Ghazala Butt and others, in the play, 'Shayad Kay Bahar Aaye'. Producer, Sultana Siddiqui, director, Rana Sheikh.- Mawra Hocane (originally Mawra Hussain) (Born: 28th September, 1992) is an Pakistani TV actress. She was born in Karachi and grew up in Islamabad later as her family shifted. From childhood onward she has been a flower child. She did her high school from Bahria College, Islamabad. Later joined the University College of Islamabad for L.L.B and currently she is pursuing it. When she was in 7th grade she changed her family name spelling to Hocane from Hussain, as she wanted it to look cool. Her first crush was Cristiano Ronaldo and later attracted to bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor. She likes Ranbir Kapoor so much and interested to work with him in a bollywood project.
She started her career at the age of 13. During her schooling she use to participate in various cultural activities. She started her professional career working as VJ actor. She gained popularity from the very first show as a VJ.
She started her debut on TV with a show called Mere Huzoor in 2012 aired at Hum TV. She was applauded for her performance. She came into spotlight with her performance in Pakistani television serial dramas like Aahista Aahista, Ik Tamanna Lahasil Si, Maryam and Main Bushra. With her heart touching emotions and terrific acting talent she lots of love from the audience. After becoming an established actress with huge fan following in Pakistan, she entered into Bollywood with her debut movie "Sanam Teri Kasam". Indian audience welcomed her with much love and praised her work in the movie. With her debut she made a place in the hearts of indian audience and her fandom increased.
She is a very talented, hard working and beautiful girl. Audience get attached to her emotionally. When she cries audience cry along with her. She is so real with her performance. She is a dreamer. - Producer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Labeled the eternal romantic and with one of the best musical senses in the business, Yash Chopra is arguably India's most successful director of romantic films. Although he made action-oriented films like the ever-popular Deewaar (1975), it is in tackling love and its various aspects that he has been at his best. One of the few remaining commercial Indian directors who started their careers in the 1950s, he has successfully moved with the times from the socially significant Dhool Ka Phool (1959) to the young and cool Dil To Pagal Hai (1997).
Yash Chopra was born in Lahore in 1932, to an accountant in the PWD division of the British Punjab administration, the youngest of eight children. He began as an assistant director to I.S. Johar before working with his elder brother, the legendary B.R. Chopra; while another brother, Dharam Chopra, worked as his cameraman. He was given his first directorial opportunity with Dhool Ka Phool (1959), a melodrama about illegitimacy; it became a hit and even now remains popular today. Encouraged by this success, the Chopra brothers made a few more movies together, the most notable being Waqt (1965), India's first multi-starrer; and Ittefaq (1969), a thriller. On the personal front, Chopra married Pamela Chopra (née Singh) in 1970, and they had two children, Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra, both working in the film industry today.
In 1973, the Chopra brothers separated, with Yash Chopra founded his studio, Yash Raj Films, and launched it with Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), a successful melodrama about a polygamous man. He then entered one of his best phases with two Amitabh Bachchan classics: Deewaar (1975) and Kabhi Kabhie (1976). These movies set the standard for the 1970s and 1980s, establishing Bachchan as the greatest and most beloved Indian film star of all time. His respective roles--a bitter criminal and a sensitive, brooding poet--are considered to be his greatest performances, although complete opposites of each other.
In the 1980s, Chopra went through a rough time. Two of his melodramas, Silsila (1981) and Faasle (1985); and two action-oriented films, Mashaal (1984) and Vijay (1988), flopped at the box office, although the latter became a critically acclaimed classic years later. However, he made a comeback with his musical love triangle Chandni (1989). The film was a huge success, with great performances by established heroine Sridevi and action hero Vinod Khanna. Then came what critics and Chopra himself considered his best film, Lamhe (1991), a beautiful film about cross-generational love. It couldn't survive the box office, however, due to its incestuous nature.
Parampara (1993), done for an outside producer, was a misfire, but then came the box-office hit and trend setter Darr (1993). Starring the then-débutant Shah Rukh Khan, it showed a sympathetic look at obsessive love and an emotion often overlooked in love--fear--and its success catapulted Khan to super-stardom. In 1995, Chopra turned to production and Aditya Chopra made his directorial debut with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), which had the longest-running initial release in cinema history. He directed one more film, Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), a love story set against the theater, which became a huge success and a cult hit, before he retired from directing. However, in 2004, he made a grand comeback with Veer-Zaara (2004), a touching cross-border love story, which he said would be his last directorial effort.
The ages of the director and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, his muse, proved you need to be young, as well as crazy, at heart, to be a true romantic....- Nikohl Boosheri is a Canadian actress based in Los Angeles. She made her film debut in 2011 with the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award Winner, "Circumstance." Her acclaimed performance in the film won Best Performance at three other Film Festivals: LA Outfest, International Rome Film Festival, and the Noor Film Festival.
At the Tribeca Film Festival, 2013, Nikohl was named among the 10 Actors to watch for by IndieWires for her performance in Meera Menon's feature "Farah Goes Bang."
Nikohl's credits include acting opposite Thandie Newton in DirectTV's "Rogue", and portraying the colorful character Sara in Daniel Grove's "The Persian Connection." This has been a busy year for Nikohl, she is playing a wide range of roles across several Networks this fall. Nikohl is also a songwriter, frequently collaborating with LA artist Wild the Coyote. - Saba Qamar is a Pakistani actress and television personality. One of Pakistan's most popular and highest paid actresses, Qamar is the recipient of several accolades, including the Lux Style Award, Hum Award, and a Filmfare Award nomination. Qamar made her acting debut with a role in the television series Mein Aurat Hoon (2005).The 2010 pre partition drama Dastaan proved to be Qamar's first success in which she played the parallel female lead, earning her the Pakistan Media Award, and starring roles in the drama Pani Jaisa Piyar and the socio drama Thakan (both 2011) established her as a leading actress in Urdu television. She earned wide critical praise for her portrayal of a manipulative and self-obsessed women in the 2011 romantic series Maat, a middle class girl in the 2011 series Jo Chale To Jaan Se Guzar Gaye, a character Sarwat in the 2012 telenovela Shehryar Shehzadi, and as orphan in the 2013 drama Kaash Aisa Ho. Khan's greatest commercial success came with the 2016 rom-com Lahore Se Aagey. Internationally, she received critical praise for her character Meeta in the 2017 romantic-comedy Hindi Medium. The film ranks among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time and earned her the nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award.
- Actor
- Director
- Music Department
Om Prakash, born in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan), was a highly regarded Indian character actor who made significant contributions to the Hindi film industry. With a career spanning over four decades, Om Prakash became known for his versatile performances and memorable portrayals of supporting characters.
Om Prakash made his debut in the film industry in the 1940s, initially playing small roles. However, it was in the 1950s that he gained recognition for his acting skills. He often portrayed the affable, humorous, and sometimes scheming characters in Hindi films, earning him a place as one of the prominent character actors of his time.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Om Prakash appeared in numerous Bollywood films, collaborating with legendary actors and directors. Some of his notable works include "Chupke Chupke" (1975), "Jab Jab Phool Khile" (1965), and "Dus Lakh" (1966). His ability to infuse humor and warmth into his characters, coupled with his distinctive voice, made him a favorite among audiences.
Apart from his acting career, Om Prakash also ventured into film production. He produced several films, including the critically acclaimed "Chupke Chupke."
Om Prakash received recognition for his contributions to the film industry and won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Aadmi Aur Insaan" (1969). He was known for his professionalism, dedication, and the ability to add depth to even the smallest roles.
Tragically, Om Prakash passed away on February 21, 1998, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a significant impact on Hindi cinema. His contribution as a character actor, often playing the lovable and wise elderly figure, continues to be celebrated, and he remains a respected figure in the history of Bollywood.- Imran Khan was born on 5 October 1952 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He is an actor, known for Silk Cut Cricket Challenge (1984), 1992 Cricket World Cup (1992) and World Championship of Cricket (1985). He has been married to Bushra Bibi since 18 February 2018. He was previously married to Reham Khan and Jemima Khan.
- Danish Taimoor was born on 16 February 1983 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. He is an actor, known for Jalaibee (2015), Wrong No. (2015) and Jawaani Lay Doobi. He has been married to Ayeza Khan since 2014. They have two children.
- Alyy Khan is a British Asian actor and host who has worked in Hollywood, Bollywood and Lollywood films and television series. He is known for his roles in the films A Mighty Heart (2007), Traitor (2008), Don 2 (2011), 3 Bahadur (2015), Actor in Law (2016) and Mogul Mowgli (2020), and also played a parallel lead in the telefilm Anjuman (2013). Alyy Khan has also appeared in several television series, including The Bill (2006), Strike Back (2011), Saat Pardon Mein (2012), Indian Summers (2015) and Pakeezah (2016). In 2012, Khan hosted the television reality show Foodistan for NDTV and Geo TV. Recent credits include The Serpent (2020) for Netflix, Shantaram (2021) for Paramount/Apple+ TV and The Archie's (2022) for Netflix India.
- Imran Abbas was born on 15 October 1982 in Islamabad, Pakistan. He is an actor, known for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), Khuda Aur Muhabbat (2016) and Akbari Asghari (2011).
- Hussyn was born in Karachi into a Sindhi family. Her father is a businessman in construction works. Sonya Hussyn Bukharee is a Pakistani actress and former video jockey. She made her acting debut with a supporting role in the 2011 television series Dareecha. She then played leading roles in several hits series, She made her debut on the big screen with Jami's Moor in which she played the supporting character of Amber and later starred in the leading role in Azaadi.[8] She has since starred in the films Tich Button (2022) and Sorry: A Love Story (2023).
- Maya Ali was born as 'Maryam Tanveer Ali' on Thursday, 27 July 1989 in the Lahore City of Punjab, Pakistan. She is a well-known Pakistani actress who works in high-budget films and television serials, and has won the hearts of a zillion fans and viewers. She was also nominated for the Lux Style Award and has won many others for giving the best performances during her career life. She is mostly known for playing a variety of roles in numerous super hit dramas.
- A writer, filmmaker and actress with a Master's Degree in Film from Columbia University, Samia Shoaib began studying her craft by performing Shakespeare while growing up in London. She has performed in theatrical productions: "The Tempest", "As You Like It", "No Exit" and "The Women",
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
I.S. Johar was born on 16 February 1920 in Tollagannj, British India [now in Pakistan]. He was an actor and writer, known for Death on the Nile (1978), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Johny Mera Naam (1970). He died on 10 March 1984 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.- Aina Asif is a distinguished Pakistani actress and model, renowned for her versatile talents. With a prolific career spanning across leading Pakistani TV channels such as Geo, ARY, Hum, and Aan TV, she has graced numerous dramas with her remarkable performances. Some of her notable works include "Mayi Ri," "Jannat Say Agay," "Baby Baji," "Aitraf," "Pinjra," "Pehchan," and "Pehli Si Mohabbat." Aina's portrayal of diverse characters in these dramas has garnered widespread acclaim, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
In 2021, Aina made her acting debut, captivating audiences with her portrayal of 'Milli' in the widely acclaimed Ramzan play 'Hum Tum'. Building on this success, she embraced the lead role in the hit drama 'Mayi Ri', aired on ARY, which received widespread acclaim for its poignant narrative and impactful portrayal of social issues. Through its compelling storyline and resonant songs, 'Mayi Ri' sheds light on prevalent societal challenges and the plight of women, offering a reflective exploration of our society's complexities. - Actress
- Producer
Mahira Khan, born December 21, 1984, is a Pakistani actress often regarded as Pakistan's biggest superstar. She is adored and lauded for playing a variety of roles and characters since she embarked on her acting career in 2011. Mahira first started out as a VJ on MTV Pakistan hosting a widely popular live show 'Most Wanted'. She then went on to make her film debut with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful 'Bol' directed by Shoaib Mansoor, in 2011. The film went on to become one of Pakistan's highest grossing films of all time. Mahira rose to prominence by playing the lead role in the Pakistani drama 'Humsafar'. The TV drama is regarded as a turning point for the Pakistani Television industry with many attributing the series for playing a huge role in the revival of the local drama industry. Since then Mahira has played lead roles in the country's most popular television dramas and movies, including Humsafar, Shehrezaat, Sadqay Tumhare, Bin Roye, Ho Mann Jahan and Verna. With three Pakistani box office hits to her name now, Mahira was cast opposite Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan in Hindi film 'Raees' in 2017. This marked an important milestone for Pakistani actors since no actor before her had ever been handed a Bollywood debut opposite any of the three Khans of Hindi cinema. She also achieved a unique feat when she became the first and only Pakistani actress to enter Bollywood's '100 crore' (100 million) club after her latest movie Raees amassed more than 100 crore rupees at the box office. Mahira's recent performance in Shoaib Mansoor's 'Verna', where she plays the lead, garnered tremendous praise and appreciation from the world over. This was a small film with a big message highlighting rape, misogyny and the worth of women in Pakistani society and culture. According to the New York Times "The film - which overcame an initial ban imposed because of its subject matter - has inspired Pakistani women to tap into the spirit of the viral #MeToo campaign to expose sexual harassment and create their own public platform for victims and their supporters. With the Pakistani film industry struggling to survive and wary of issue-oriented projects, the film's release has provided a timely opportunity to talk about a difficult topic," You can read the full article online. Throughout the short span of her acting career, Mahira has garnered immense love, admiration and accolades. She has won a series of local awards for 'Best Actor Female'; including Lux Style Awards, Hum Awards, and ARY Awards, and international recognition; the Masala Awards, the Femina ME Awards, Vogue Beauty Awards and most recently the Beirut International Awards Festival for her work in the Film and TV Industry. Mahira was recently announced as the very first Pakisani ambassador for Loreal Hair Care. She is also the face of many big brands in Pakistan; Lux, Veet and Coca Cola to name a few. Mahira has transcended borders when it comes to her fan base with millions following the superstar's dramas and films in India, Bangladesh, the Middle East and the US and UK. Her TV drama Humsafar has been dubbed into Arabic and broadcast by MBC in the Middle East, while it was also broadcast in India on Zee Zindagi. She is the number one Pakistani Actor with the largest following on social media with numbers surpassing millions on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Mahira is a source of inspiration for many and has actively spoken on many platforms such as the Global Teacher's Prize Ceremony by the Varkey Foundation in Dubai, the Aga Khan University Special Lecture Series in Karachi and TEDxLahore, motivating audiences of all ages with her zest and wisdom. An avid reader and Mahira enjoys writing in her spare time. She dreams of one day directing her very own film and working in an Academy Award winning movie. With three new projects in the pipeline, Mahira will be starring in 'Saath Din Mohabbat In' opposite Sheheryar Munawar this Eid followed by Bilal Lashari's 'Maula Jutt 2' opposite Fawad Khan later this year.- Actor
- Director
Hamza Ali Abbasi is a Pakistan based actor, model, director and film maker. His movie count is 4, He has directed one also. His cause of fame is the character played in a Television soap serial "Pyarey Afzal". His studies are USA based and has appeared in many commercials and theater productions as well.- Actor
- Producer
Anglo-Pakistani actor Zia Mohyeddin was born June 20, 1931 in Faisalabad, British India but lived his early life in Karachi, Pakistan. His father, Khadim Mohyeddin, was a mathematician and musicologist, and also a playwright and lyricist associated with various theatre groups.
Zia trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London from 1953-1956. Following important stage roles in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" and "Julius Caesar" in 1957, he made his West End bow as Dr. Aziz in "A Passage to India" in 1960.
After making his 1960 film debut in Pakistan, Mohyeddin made an impression as Tafas, Lawrence's ill-fated Arab guide, in the British classic film Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He continued with work on the BBC on several TV series including "Danger Man," "Sir Francis Drake" and "The Doctors and the Nurses." Other British films followed with supporting roles in A Boy Ten Feet Tall (1963), Behold a Pale Horse (1964), Deadlier Than the Male (1967), The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967), They Came from Beyond Space (1967) and Bombay Talkie (1970).
Zia returned to Pakistan at the request of the Bhutto regime in the late 60s and set up the PIA Arts and Dance Academy, which received critical merit for its classical as well as folk dances and music. He met the noted Kathak classical dancer Naheed Siddiqui and showcased her frequently in the company. They had a son, Hassan Mohyeddin, but later divorced. Zia also became a noted talk show figure on Pakistani TV (1969-1973).
Highly critical of the political regime, he left Pakistan in the late 1970's and returned to England, resuming his career there. Among his later films were Ashanti (1979), The Assam Garden (1985), and Immaculate Conception (1992), as well as the highly touted miniseries The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten - The Last Viceroy (1986) and Shalom Salaam (1989), among other guest appearances on such TV programs as "Z Cars," "Minder" and "King of the Ghetto" (recurring).
Of his three marriages, Zia has four children. After divorcing second wife Sarwar Zamani, he married Azra Mohyeddin in the middle 1990's with whom he has a daughter, Aaliya Mohyeddin (born in 2002 when Zia was nearly 70). His other two children are sons Risha and Minos. In later years, he traveled the world promoting his Urdu poetry and prose recitations to international acclaim. His memoir, "A Carrot is a Carrot: Memories and Reflection," was published in 2012.
In February, the then President of Pakistan invited Mohyeddin to form the National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi and thereafter became its president. The octogenarian has continued to appear as a lecturer/speaker, hosts occasional TV programs and narrates short films and commercials.- Renu Setna was born in Karachi, Pakistan. He is known for Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), The Physician (2013) and World War Z (2013).
- Immensely popular, extremely handsome, and highly versatile, Sami Khan is a name that is well known not only in Pakistan but across the globe. He was awarded the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (which is the fourth highest civilian award), in the Performing Arts Category in 2012; he has also won the Best Actor Awards for TV series Ghar Ki Khatir in 2012, and for the film Devar Bhabi in 2013. He was also nominated for Best Actor at Lux Style Awards for his exceptional performance in drama series Main (2013).
He started his acting career with the film Salakhen in 2004, and then turned to television showing his versatility and caliber by doing plays of every genre and performing diverse characters. With TV serials like Sirate Mustaqeem (2012), Teri Rah Main Rul Gayee (2012), Do Qadam Door They (2014), Piya Mann Bhaye (2015), and Dhaani (2016), he garnered wide critical acclaim and established himself as one of the best actors of Pakistan.
Born and brought up in Lahore, Sami Khan completed his 10th grade from Divisional Public School, Model Town, Lahore; then went to Government College Lahore where he graduated high school in 1998. Always excelling in studies, he then went on to pursue a degree in Engineering at UET, Lahore, from where he graduated in 2003. His first step in the acting career came with the film Salakhen in 2004. Besides acting, he has also done several commercials and modeling.
His other works include Rasmeduniya (2017), Beinteha (2017), and Tere Bina (2017) which were appreciated by the audiences and critics alike. He was especially praised for his character Harib in Rasmeduniya with one reviewer saying "his acting is so real it blurs the line between fact and fiction."
Recently, Sami Khan attained further international acclaim with his yet to be released film Gumm (2018), for which he has won best actor award at Madrid International Film Festival in Spain and International Creation Film Festival in Canada.
When not working, Sami Khan likes to spend quality time with his family, wife and daughter. Besides acting, his other passions include traveling and exploring new places and cultures, and listening to music. He is also a cricket enthusiast and excels in the game as well. In his free time, you can find him enjoying his PlayStation 4. His current residence is in Karachi, but he still considers Lahore home.
For most current updates on Sami Khan, follow him on Twitter: samikhan421, Instagram: sami_khan.official, and like him on Facebook: TheSamiKhanOfficial. - Javed Khan was born in Karachi, Pakistan. He is an actor, known for A Murder at the End of the World (2023), Lapwing (2021) and Pour vivre heureux (2018).
- Producer
- Actress
- Writer
Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997 in Pakistan. She is a human rights activist who advocates for the rights of women and girls and worldwide access to education. She survived an assassination attempt in 2012 and continued her activism. She is the co-founder of the Malala Fund, an organization to empower girls through education in developing countries. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.- MaameYaa Boafo was born in Pakistan. MaameYaa is an actor, known for Thru 25 (2013), The Blacklist (2013) and Iron Fist (2017).
- Haroon Kadwani (born 6 September 1999) is a Pakistani actor.
Recently he has also appeared in one of Geo Entertainment's mega-project "Ruposh" which was able to garner 100 million-plus views within 2 months and trended at number 1 for 10 consecutive days on YouTube in Pakistan.
Prior to his telefilm debut with the lead role in a romantic comedy Teri Meri Kahani (2021), Haroon cleared a Screen Acting course at City Academy, London, and pursued Acting for Film, TV, and the Theatre at Toronto Film School, Canada.
Son of a renowned actor and producer Abdullah Kadwani, Haroon carried on his father's legacy much earlier in life and actively appeared in drama serials, telefilms, and TV commercials during his high school years in Pakistan.
He stepped into the entertainment industry with a telefilm Humari Tumhari (2008), a presentation of 7th Sky Entertainment. Shortly after, he bagged a role in another telefilm Flirting Ke Side Effects (2009). In 2010, he landed a role in Aurat Ka Ghar Konsa, the first drama serial on his portfolio.
He appeared in plenty of TV commercials including Bisconni chocolate chip cookie commercial in 2010, Tapal Green Tea Commercial in 2012, Coca Cola Commercial in 2014. Kadwani also featured in the music video of a song released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - Pakistan Army as a tribute to APS students in 2015.
He bagged roles in two more highly-rated drama serials Izn-e-Rukhsat (2015) and Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai (2017) that broadcasted on Geo TV before taking a three-year hiatus for further education.
In addition to his acting career, Kadwani remained an outstanding athlete throughout his academic years as he excelled in cricket, football, taekwondo, and mixed-martial arts (MMA).
Early Life and Background
Haroon Kadwani was born on 6 September 1999 in Karachi. He is the son of actor and producer Abdullah Kadwani, the founder of Pakistan's leading production house 7th Sky Entertainment. Haroon attended British Overseas School where he completed his O-Levels. He then passed his A-levels from Cedar College in 2018.
He perfectly balanced school with his early acting career as well as sports. He actively participated in Taekwondo for six years (2006-2012) and earned a Kukkiwon Red-Black Poom belt and a total of 5 Gold trophies. He went on to pursue Kickboxing/Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in 2015 for another two years. In 2010, he participated in a 15-day football interschool tournament. He then excelled at cricket and was awarded Man of the Series in a Cricket tournament (T10 Match) at British Overseas School 2015.
In 2018, he flew abroad for his Foundation year at INTOCity, London and also opted for a short course in Screen Acting in 2019. Later, he spent a year doing BSc (Hons) in Business Management, Digital Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at CASS Business School, London. He then dropped out and relocated to Canada to hone his acting skills at Toronto Film School in 2020.
Career Debut as Male Lead
Following his return to Pakistan, Kadwani took on the lead role of Armaan in 7th Sky Entertainment's signature telefilm Teri Meri Kahani, an uplifting romantic comedy about family, first love, and second chances.
Kadwani re-emerged as an aspiring talent with his debut as the male lead in Teri Meri Kahani that bagged nearly 6 million views on YouTube after premiering on Geo TV on April 4, 2021. He formed a closer bond with director Aehsun Talish who further trained the young actor to perfection for this project.
Kadwani's performance with veteran actors Javed Sheikh, Bushra Ansari, Usman Peerzada, and another aspiring talent Sehar Khan allowed him to stand out in the entertainment industry and earned him plenty of fandom on social media. - Music Artist
- Music Department
- Actor
Atif Aslam is a Pakistani musician. He was born in Wazirabad, Gujranwala, Punjab, pakistan and educated in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Working together, the pair recorded the song Aadat. It became popular on different musical websites in Pakistan. The song was also played on such Pakistani radio stations as FM100 and FM105. The music video for Aadat was shot one day in a warehouse in Karachi. Due to personal problems in the band, Atif Aslam left Jal and became solo.
Atif Aslam's soulful voice crossed the Pakistani border and reached India when Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt called Atif Aslam to seek his consent to put "Woh Lamhey" as a song in the soundrack of his new motion picture, Zeher. After that, Atif Aslam's music spread across to people and radio stations that play it all over the subcontinent now.- Actor
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adnan Siddiqui was born on 23 October 1969 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He is an actor and producer, known for A Mighty Heart (2007), Sammi (2017) and Mom (2017). He has been married to Palwasha since 1999. They have three children.- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Reema Khan (known anonymously as Reema) is a Pakistani Lollywood film actress, director and producer. Borne in Lahore (Pakistan), Reema belongs to a very renowned branch of Aghas, The Qazilbash Clan. Her illustrious career lasted two decades in Pakistani cinema and she passed through almost 200 films, many of which were box office hits. She is one of the top notch, talented, successful, and beautiful actresses of Pakistani film industry. For many decades, she ruled the film industry. Reema Khan hails from a time when one needed actual talent to become famous - not just a fancy phone with a good selfie feature.
Some of her most acclaimed films include 'Bulandi', 'Zameen Aasman', 'Jo Darr Gya Woh Marr Gya', 'Munda Bigra Jae', 'Love 95', 'Umar Mukhtar', 'Nikah', 'Mujhe Chand Chahiye,' 'Pehchaan', 'Fire', 'Shararat', 'Koi Tujh Sa Kahaan', 'One Two Ka One' and 'Love May Gum'. Reema has gotten behind the camera for two films so far which were 'Koi Tujh Sa Kahan' in 2005, that starred Moammar Rana, Nadeem Baig, Veena Malik and Babrak Shah. And in 2011, 'Love May Gum' that starred Jia Ali, Ali Salim, Javed Sheikh, Afzal Khan, Nabeel Khan, Araida and Johnny Lever. She has appeared in a number of drama serials as well that are 'Ye Ghar Aap Ka Hua', 'Yaad Tou Ayengey', 'Sahi Jodi ki Talaash' and 'Raati Masha Tola'.
She also represented Pakistan at SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and spoke about the need of cultural collaboration between all the member countries of SAARC (including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka). Not only this, she also had discussion sessions on the same topic with Nepali-Indian actress Manisha Koirala and Indian actress Poonam Dhillon who were also part of the event representing their respective countries.
Ironic as it may seem, Reema remains grounded because of her interaction with world-renowned figures like Bill Clinton, Angelina Jolie and Amitabh Bachchan, over the years. She has performed in India on various award shows and events, rubbing shoulders with leading actors such as Shahrukh Khan and Priety Zinta. Reema has also won numerous awards for her work and performances in not just her home country but abroad as well. In 2011, India's leading newspaper Hindustan Times, labeled her as the Aishwarya Rai of Pakistan.
She also bagged the Excellence in Cinema Award which was presented to her by Canadian Minister Ahmed D Hussain for her contributions to Pakistani cinema. She has won many Lux Style Awards for her performances and work and in 2004; she won the Bollywood Movie Award for being a Goodwill Ambassador. Reema is considered to be the Golden Girl of Pakistani film Industry, the epitome of professional excellence and a rare combination of beauty and brains who carries her motherland in her heart wherever she goes!
Reema is also a very strong humanitarian and has actively worked for charity organization Sahara for Life Trust (Pakistan), Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital (Pakistan) and other institutions where she helped the needy. She personally went to earthquake stricken areas and made a noticeable contribution by generating funds and facilities for the victims and the bereaved families.
She took a break from showbiz to settle down with USA based cardiologist Tariq Shahab and start a family but then - to the delight of her fans - she made a surprise appearance at the Lux Style Awards last year and her elegant performance reignited a passion for the craft that drew her back to the spotlight. She loves her country a lot. She is not doing movies any more, but this wonderful lady is often seen in television shows which she claims that she equally watches in America as well. She also refused to go to India for work, despite being approached by the likes of Rakesh Roshan and Yash Chopra, even though that was the only option left to survive in cinemas here in Pakistan and she foresaw political extremists seeping into the trade of talent.- Actor
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Shaan is a Pakistani actor, writer and director. Upon making his debut in Javed Fazil's Bulandi alongside Reema Khan, Shaan has acted in numerous commercially successful films and has established himself as one of the critically acclaimed leading actors of Pakistan.
Armaghan Shahid was born in Lahore to the well-known director Riaz Shahid and television, theater and film actress Neelo. His father was a Muslim whereas his mother was Christian. He himself is a practicing Muslim. His paternal uncle Fiaz Shahid was a cameraman and producer for PTV in Islamabad. He started out his early education at the prestigious Aitchison College. His first acting venture came out at a boy scouts bonfire. He won the best actor's award in a play called Alif Noon, playing a comedy character but never took acting seriously as a career. After leaving Aitchison, he left for New York, United States and joined Newtown High School. Dreaming of becoming a lawyer due to his extraordinary talent of convincing people, he always thought he had a talent to become a lawyer. He stayed in New York for 7 years and then returned to Pakistan for vacation where he took up the family business, Riaz Shahid Films. At the age of 17, he did his first film as a debutante in "Bulandi" which was released in 1990 & was a huge success.
Shaan made his acting debut in Javed Fazil's Bulandi (1990), in which he starred opposite Reema Khan. The film received generally positive reviews, making it a commercial success and caused Shaan to be flooded with offers by directors at the time. Bulandi was followed up by Nagina, another hit in which he starred opposite Madiha Shah. However, due to inexperience and signing of too many films, it resulted in many back to back flops. He took a break from the cinema industry in 1994 and went abroad. In 1996, he returned and starred in Syed Noor's Ghoonghat, which was his first villain role. The film went on to become a success. He then appeared in the same director's Sangam, yet another commercial success across Pakistan. In 2000, he appeared in Mujhe Chand Chahiye, which also starred Atiqa Odho and Javed Sheikh. The film turned out to be a major hit at the box office and established Shaan's credentials as an actor. In 2007, he starred in Shoaib Mansoor's commercially successful Khuda Kay Liye, for which he won the "Best Actor" award at the Lux Style Awards. In 2009, he appeared in Zill-e-Shah and Nach Ke Yaar Manana. As of 2010, Shaan has acted in more than 200 films, most of which became commercial successes in Pakistan. He is filming his own directional venture, Chup, alongside Juggan Kazim. Shaan opted out of Reema Khan's Love Mein Gum due to scripting problems. Shaan has revealed that he had been offered small roles in films by Aamir Khan's Ghajini and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi-6 which he declined as the roles portrayed Pakistanis as villains and were thus unacceptable for him.
Keen on making a difference to filmmaking in Pakistan, Shaan launched himself as a director. He directed his ambitious project Guns and Roses - Ik Junoon, which was released in 1999. The film was produced by the art entrepreneur Tanvir Fatima Rehman. In the film, he co-starred with Faisal Rehman, Meera and Resham. The music was scored by M. Arshad while the cinematographer was done by Azhar Burki and the film was written by Pervaiz Kaleem. He then directed Moosa Khan (2001), which starred himself, Saima, Abid Ali, Jan Rambo and Noor. The film received genuinely positive reviews from critics. Shaan is working on Chup alongside Juggan Kazim. The film is written by Mashal Peerzada and distributed/produced by Lux productions. The film will feature Pakistani actress Resham in an "item number". The shooting of her song was shown on ARY Digital show Happenings in July 2010. According to Shaan, the music soundtrack is composed by Zeb and Haniya with several newcomers. In a interview with Instep Magazine, Shaan confirmed to be working on three more projects with will feature Juggan Kazim whilst talks are on with models Natasha. The film is a commercial drama film set in Pakistan winter time and unfolds a dramatic but thoughtful film. Later, he confirmed that he will be directing, producing and writing the other pojects by himself. His second project working with the title Masakali is written by himself and scripted by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. The film features Juggan Kazim and newcomers. The filming will begin in mid-2011.
Shaan is a successful writer and has written short stories and works during his career. Recently, he scripted Reema Khan's Love Mein Gum and was contracted to star in the film but opted out, as Reema was unable to direct the script in the way he planned. Shaan joined with Mashal Peerzada, an director, scriptwriter and produced to work on his film Chup. He wrote the story whilst Peerzada wrote the script for the film. He is writing the story for his three upcoming projects.
Shaan has joined Geo TV Network and he will host a morning show on Geo News. His show's name is Geo Shaan Say, which will be aired on Geo News from the 23rd of April, 2012 at 8:30 in the morning.
Shaan, with his extensive education and grooming and the ability to project class and elegance through his stature and expressions has been a hot attraction for many brands and campaigns, several of which have had the pleasure of hosting him. Unilever Pakistan: On 17 February 2009, Unilever Pakistan launched their latest offering, the LUX Limited Edition soap, at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore, Pakistan. Pepsi: Shaan also endorsed another mega brand, Pepsi where he along with the singing sensation Ali Zafar helped strengthen the brand in Pakistan. Mobilink: Pakistan's telecom giant Mobilink also hosted Shaan as a spokesperson for Mobilink Indigo, with the launch of the new face of Mobilink's premium post paid brand Indigo in 2004. It was projected as the brand for the elite executive and families. His character was a man who's demanding lifestyle has him juggling between work and family and Indigo helps him breeze through this life successfully. One Pack = One Vaccine: Shaan was also the Goodwill Ambassador for One Pack = One Vaccine, a campaign launched by UNICEF, Procter & Gamble and the Ministry of Health in a bid to eradicate tetanus from Pakistan. Shaan has committed himself to the cause and has been visiting different areas and cities across the country including malls and stores in Karachi and Lahore, to bring awareness amongst parents, especially mothers, about this deadly disease and how one can fight to eliminate it.- Director
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- Editor
Saim Sadiq is a Pakistani filmmaker currently finishing his MFA at Columbia University, School of Arts. With a background in anthropology, Saim's earlier documentary work was showcased by various national networks on television, went viral on social media in Pakistan, and was featured by BBC's Free Speech Stories. His first short film Pasban ('17) screened at numerous festivals around the globe. His latest short Nice Talking to You ('18) was awarded Vimeo's Best Director along with five other awards at the 2018 Columbia University thesis film showcase. He is the recipient of the Kodak Student Scholarship Gold Award 2018, selected as the top winner from students across the world. He is currently in development of his first feature, Gulaab, which was accepted at the Open Doors Hub at the Locarno Film Festival 2018.- Fuad Ahmed was born on 1 October 1982 in Karachi, Pakistan. He is an actor, known for Covert Affairs (2010), Lost Girl (2010) and We (2018).
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Born and raised in Pakistan, her family lived throughout South East Asia before settling down in Vancouver, BC. She not only brought her suitcase, but her passion for performing as well. Zara has been a prominent figure in the Vancouver entertainment industry for almost a decade. She has held many titles including actress, model, television host, producer, director and activist. Through her work, she strives to make a positive difference in the world.
2010 was an intensely busy year for Durrani, as she juggled several different projects and roles. Sindoor, a short film Zara garnered a lead role in opposite Balinder Johal, had a great festival run around the world alongwith getting nominated for 4 Leo Awards and opening the Vancouver Asian Film Festival that year. Sindoor also won the best short film award at VAFF, and Golden Kahuna Award at the Honolulu Film Awards. Zara was announced as the Official Reporter for We Canada campaign, the Canadian Initiative for the 2012 Earth Summit in Rio. She represented the organization at various charity events and interviewed celebrities and campaign ambassadors to help raise awareness on sustainable living. Same year, Durrani was handpicked as the Field Producer and Host for VISAFF (Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival). The festival's purpose and vision is to "bridge the gap" between South Asian talent and mainstream audiences and Zara played a huge part in being an ambassador for the festival in 2010 and 2011. Shortly afterwards, Zara was approached to produce and host VanEssence with Novus TV and Suhrwardy Brothers. 'VanEssence' aimed to promote fashion, music, arts and culture that make Vancouver what it is, 'one of the best cities in the world' and a champion for diversity. The show was well received and it led to Durrani starting her own production company and creating the infamous talk show, as seen on 4 networks across Canada, Life & Style with Zara. Zara interviewed many influential Canadians and Hollywood celebrities for the show including David Suzuki , Severn Suzuki, Bif Naked, Rick Campanelli (ET Canada), Adam Beach (CBC Arctic Air),Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Lana Parrilla (CW Once Upon a Time), Thomas Dekker (CW Secret Circle), Agam Darshi (Sanctuary, Played), David Sutcliffe among many others. Founded on the principles of fairness, equality, spirituality and inspiration, Life&Style with Zara wrapped up it's 13-episode first season which began airing in July 2011. The show aired on 4 networks in Canada including CHEK and JOY TV nationally, and Shaw TV and Novus Community Channel in the Vancouver Lower Mainland. The show nabbed prime-time spot on CHEK News, airing at 7pm until fall 2012. For almost a year the show aired 10 times a week on three networks across Canada and was hard to miss for anyone who a owned a television. Currently, Zara is still producing online content for the show.
2012 was a very exciting and busy year for Zara as she returned to her first love; acting. She finished 4 feature films in 3 different countries, Canada, US and Mexico. She worked as supporting lead in Kavi Raz's 3 part feature film Maple Heart/Rukh/BC Gangs. Mr.Raz (director/writer) handpicked her for this role after auditioning 300 actresses between Los Angeles and Vancouver. For her role in Maple Heart Zara trained physically to get in shape for the character and also had to learn Punjabi. The film is loosely based on Bindy Johal, a deceased South Asian gangster's life and deals with drugs and human trafficking. In December, she wrapped filming on Cancel written and produced by famous Iranian director Mohammad Rahmanian. Durrani played the lead role of a street performer battling depression and addiction.
In January 2013, the long-awaited selection of the international Spokes Model Ambassador for Fashion Hope resulted with the choice of Pakistani born and Canada native Zara Durrani. Fashion Hope builds awareness and raises funds in the fashion industry, then partners with Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) that are doing the front line work to rescue and rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking. "To us, Zara will be triple threat with her grace, beauty and humanitarian compassion - along with the tenacity to speak her passion. She will speak for Fashion Hope touching places only her voice could reach. We are truly grateful for this period in the early growth of our organization, and look forward to working with Zara on awareness campaigns." Fashion Hope CEO Marc Palmer Most recently, Miss Durrani booked a fantastic guest star role on the USA Network show Psych, which is in it's 8th season. She is working on several film projects while juggling her duties as the Fashion Hope Global Ambassador.- Actress
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Somy was born on March 25, 1976 in Karachi, Pakistan, to an Iraqi mother and a Pakistani father. She has a younger brother, Mohammed. She studied in Convent of Jesus & Mary High School in Karachi up until the age of 7, then re-located to Florida, USA, along with her mom and brother.
She re-located to Bombay and was involved in several modeling assignments as well as appearances in 9 movies. Her successful career in Bollywood spanned from 1992 to 1999. She was leading actor Salman Khan's girlfriend until she ended the relationship.
Somy Ali pursued education seriously - she has obtained a degree on film making, psychology and journalism from schools like Nova Southeastern University, The New York Film Academy, Connecticut School of and the University of Miami.
She has produced documentaries on issues such as 'Abortion', 'Teenage Suicide', 'Domestic Violence' and 'Lives of Muslim Women'.- Actor
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Jawed Sheikh was born on 8 October 1954 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. He is an actor and director, known for Na Maloom Afraad (2014), Om Shanti Om (2007) and Tamasha (2015).- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Ayesha Omar was born on 12 October 1981 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She is an actress, known for Dhai Chaal (2023), Money Back Guarantee (2023) and Bulbulay (2009).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Rugged looks, brawny and stocky, with an aggressive style of dialogue delivery. Sultan Rahi the Pakistani film superstar was the ultimate action hero and firmly established himself as the biggest film personality from Pakistan. He was a Pakistani version of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone, and James Bond all rolled into one with a Punjabi touch. He appeared in over 800 movies. Starting his career playing as a villain or character roles he gradually progressed to a hero. However, following the phenomenal success of Maula Jat (1979) he, in tandem with Mustafa Qureshi, was considered essential in any Punjabi movie hoping to succeed. He played the most number of 'title roles'.
Some of his major films include Maula Jatt, Sher Khan (1981), Chan Veryam (1981), Kaley Chore, and Sakhi Badshah (1996). A one-man film industry power-house during the 1980s and 90's he had an extremely successful film career which came to a tragic and premature end with his assassination in January 1996.