Pakistani actors and actresses are known for their natural talent and the way they have brought important stories and characters to our screens. The range which an actor can showcase defines how long and impactful their career will be. Many artists in the drama industry have reinvented themselves over the course of their careers, which not only put them on the map in some cases but also elongated their careers in others.
Many Pakistani actors were going through either a down patch or their true talent was not getting recognised when these roles came their way, and changed the complete trajectory of their careers on television. Here are a few names:
Ahsan Khan
Ahsan Khan is among the top Pakistani actors, and his talent is unmatched. He started his career as a teenager in films, and he later transitioned completely towards television. He is among the top artists in the country, but his career also saw a dip in the early 2010s. At the time, he was largely playing the crying male lead, and his roles started to look similar and monotonous. Then came the role of a lifetime for the star, Imtiaz, in Udaari. The role of a child abuser was declined by many stars when Ahsan Khan finally said yes to it. This was a risk for a leading actor, and he was not confident about how the role would be perceived. But it ended up paying off, and his character led to open discussions about child abuse in our society.
Wahaj Ali
Wahaj Ali is another top Pakistani star currently ruling the television screens. He is another self-made actor who worked behind the camera initially, and he later transitioned to acting roles. Though Wahaj had carved a niche for himself, he remained pretty underrated still. It was his role as Murtasim Khan in Tere Bin which changed the trajectory of his career. He became a superstar, and fans were drooling over him globally. The actor has not looked back since, and he will be starring opposite Mahira Khan in his next project.
Yumna Zaidi
Yumna Zaidi is a female Pakistani superstar who is known for her immense acting talent. Yumna’s ability to outshine some of the veterans from the very start of her career won her millions of followers. She has appeared in difficult characters in dramas like Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi, Dar Si Jati Hai Sila and Inkaar. She was acknowledged as a top actress starring in mostly socially issue-based dramas, but Tere Bin is what turned her into a huge commercial star. She played Merub Murtasim Kahn in Tere Bin, and that one role turned her into a top commercial choice for producers.
Danish Taimoor
Danish Taimoor is currently the most bankable Pakistani drama star. His shows earn over 20 million views per episode, whatever may be the script or supporting cast. His stardom is unmatched, and all of this happened when he took a big risk in his career. Danish has been working in dramas since the early 2000s, and he was doing decent in showbiz when he finally took a plunge and starred as Jaan e Aalam in Abb Dekh Khuda Kya Karta Hai. This role brought his alpha side on screens, and he has since not looked back. He went on to star in all-time blockbusters like Deewangi, Ishq Hai, Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi and Sher after this.
Ahmed Ali Akbar
Ahmed Ali Akbar is another Pakistani artist who cares more about the craft and less about the shenanigans of stardom. The actor was already loved, and he had appeared in several dramas like Ye Raha Dil and Ehd e Wafa, which were all blockbusters. But then he signed Parizaad, a character refused by many others as it had no visible heroics or the hero look. Parizaad made Ahmed Ali Akbar’s fame global, and now he is an actor whom fans wait to watch on their television screens.
Mawra Hocane
Mawra Hocane is currently considered one of the most intelligent Pakistani stars in the drama industry. She is known for picking up the best scripts, which always have a strong theme and a story with important messages. But this was not how her career always looked. She was initially known for playing the damsel in distress, and that is how she got her Bollywood film Sanam Teri Kasam. The film initially flopped, and the Pakistani artists were banned in India. She was back, and she was scared of making a comeback. That is when she picked a strong story like Sammi, and she has not looked back since. She kept picking social awareness stories, and today, she is one of the most loved stars.
Ayeza Khan
Ayeza Khan is a Pakistani superstar, and she is known for her strong on-screen presence. She was already a top star, and she used to play the most positive roles on television when she went and picked Mehwish in Mere Paas Tum Ho. The starlet played the biggest villain on Pakistani television, and fans all over the world wanted Mehwish to just die. Ayeza’s risk paid off, and she became equivalent in stardom to many of her male counterparts after that.
Syed Jibran
Syed Jibran is a strong Pakistani star who knows how to bring that edge to his characters. The actor was not enjoying this success a few years back. He was mostly not getting the right characters, and he decided to move to the UK when he was offered Chup Raho. He was sceptical about the character as he was a harasser and molester, but he said yes to it anyway. Turns out, Chup Raho became a defining moment for his career, and he went on to play some of the big bad guys on Pakistani dramas.
Emmad Irfani
Emmad Irfani is a Pakistani star who started his career as a model. He was a supermodel when he jumped into acting. He did good projects and got noticed in Cheekh, Jalan and Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. But he was always this suave and urban guy who would charm, even if he plays a negative character. Thus, when he showed us as Jamshed aka Jami in Kafeel, people had doubts. Jami was a lower-middle-class narcissist, and Emmad had to play a father to grown-up children. But the actor has proved his acting prowess. This is the first time that people hated Jami, and no one noticed Emmad’s good looks. This role has shown how talented he is, and he is doing great.
Sehar Khan
Sehar Khan is a young Gen Z Pakistani star who became a household name after her drama Fairy Tale became a hit. She is a good actress, but she was being boxed into these bubbly girl roles one after the other. That is when she signed up for Ta Man Neelo Neel, where she played Rabi. The role and how the character ended were hard-hitting, and the actress carried it brilliantly. She has since starred in Aik Aur Pakeezah, and now she is being looked at as a serious talent being considered for difficult characters.
Which other characters do you think changed the career trajectory of an actor or actress? Share with us!
