Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan
Khan at Lux Style Awards in 2013.
Born	Mahira Hafeez Khan (1982-12-21) 21 December 1982 Karachi, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Alma mater	Foundation Public School University of Southern California
Occupation	VJ, Actress, Model
Years active	2008 – present
Spouse(s)	Ali Askari (2007–present)
Children	2

Mahira Khan (Urdu: ماہرہ خان‎ Māhirah Ḵẖān), (born Mahira Hafeez Khan (Urdu: ماہرہ حفیظ خان‎ Māhirah Ḥafīz̤ Ḵẖān) 21 December 1982 ^[1]) is a Pakistani VJ, model and actress. Noted for playing a variety of characters in a range of films and serials—from contemporary social to romantic dramas—Khan has received one Lux Style Awards, one Pakistan Media Awards and two Hum Awards, and has established herself as one of Pakistan's most high-profile celebrities.

Khan made her screen debut with the 2011 social drama Bol, which rank among the first highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time. Her portrayal of (Ayesha, a feisty tomboy) who keeps harassing by her father, drew critical appreciation. Khan went on to nominate for Lux Style Award for Best Actress. She got a considerable amount of attention and appreciation with the highly successful serials such as Neeyat (2011), Humsafar (2012) and Shehr-e-Zaat (2012). In 2012, she was named as the Most Beautiful Women in Pakistan.^[2]

In addition to acting in films, she is active in humanitarian work, has a number of endorsement deals.

Early life

Khan was born into a Muslim family in Karachi, Pakistan.^[3] She did her matriculation from Foundation Public School, she then went to California for higher education at the age of 17, where she studied at the University of Southern California, but did not complete her degree, before returning to Pakistan in 2008.^[4]

Career

Early career & VJ

Khan began her career as a VJ when she was 16 years old. Khan hosted the live show Most Wanted three days a week on MTV Pakistan, and she then hosted Weekends with Mahira on Aag TV. In 2011 Khan hosted 10th Lux Style Awards with Faizan Haque in 2008 and in 2013 she hosted 1st Hum Awards with Mikaal Zulfiqar.

Modeling

Khan participated in the opening of PFDC-The Boulevard for Pakistani designer wear in India. She has walked the ramp for fashion designer Deepak Perwani. Since then she has appeared in fashion shows for numerous designers.

Film debut & breakthrough

In 2011, Khan made her film debut with Bol directed by Shoaib Mansoor, produced by Shamoon Abbasi, which was the first highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time. Khan played the role of (Ayesha, a feisty tomboy) who keeps harassing by her father and marries to a Shia Muslim boy without telling her father, earned her unanimous critical appreciation and recognition. Taran Adarsh said, "Mahira don't get much scope and she is strictly okay, her screen space is limited to a few sequence and two songs".^[5] NDTV Movies described Khan as "Mahira and Atif is in love with each other was terribly tragic consequence". Galaxy Lollywood observed, "Mahira and Atif were not required at all. By the end of the film it was obvious that they had been used for the youth factor and they did not had to do other than dance and sing." Komal Nahta of Koimoi added that "Mahira and Humaima played the role of girls who wants to lead a life of respect and honor, who were born in an orthodox family, which is undoubtedly the best."^[6] Khan went on to nominate for Lux Style Award for Best Actress.

Khan will be star as a lead actress in the 2014 Pakistani film Uninhibited and Yash Raj's Bollywood film opposite Ranveer Singh.^[7][8]

Television

Khan with her Husband and family praying Dua.

Khan first appeared in ARY Digital serial Neeyat alongside Humayun Saeed and Ahsan Khan. Her portray of outspoken and rebellious Aaila, drew critical appreciation.

She achieved further critical and commercial success for her role of Khirad Ehsan, a middle-class girl who marries with her wealthy cousin gives birth to new rivalry, in the 2011 TV serial Humsafar (based on Farhat Ishtiaq's novel of the same name) opposite Fawad Afzal Khan, which received Pakistan's highest rating ever, at 9.75 and proved her biggest role yet making her a famous actress across the country. Her acting was very much well praised in Humsafar along with her chemistry with her co-star Fawad Afzal Khan.^{[9][10] [11]}

Since June 2012, Mahira started working in Shehr-e-Zaat (based on Umera Ahmad's novel of the same name) opposite Mohib Mirza and Mikaal Zulfiqar, aired on Hum TV. She received a lot of appreciation & recognition for her role of Falak "an epitome of beauty and brains, belonging to the elite class who falls in love and gets married to Salman", which made her one of the best actresses of Pakistani television. Shehr-e-Zaat ran successfully for two years with consistent good TRPs. She made a cameo appearance in Urdu 1 serial Coke Kahani.^[12]

As of October 2013, Khan has several projects in various stages of production. She has completed Farhat Ishtiaq's Hum TV serial Bin Roye Ansoo! opposite Fawad Afzal Khan and Sanam Baloch, directed by Haissam Hussain and produced by Momina Duraid.^[13] Khan is currently working in her up-coming Music Video "Iconic" starring opposite French actor Abbas Hasan and "Slumdog Millionaire" actress Frieda Pinto.

Personal life

Khan met Ali Askari at Indus TV studios during her vacations and fell in love. They married on 13 July 2007 in an Islamic wedding ceremony. They have two children: a daughter and a son.^[14]

Off-screen work

Magazine covers

Khan has graced the covers of several major magazines including Luscious, Beauty, Paper, Magnet, Sunday, Women's Own and Libas.

In The Media

Khan is the face of Nestle Nesvita and Feeha Jamshed Lawn which is a popularly growing brands of Pakistan. She is chosen as the face of top brand Luscious Cosmetics which was earlier endorsed by actress Iman Ali.

In 2012, she was named as the Most Beautiful Women in Pakistan.

Filmography

Television

Fiction

Non-fiction

Awards and recognition

References

External links

• No Bollywood dreams: Mahira Khan