Pakistani dramas have found a global audience in the past decade. The smaller number of episodes, realistic stories and natural performances have contributed to this success. Our actresses play a crucial role in bringing these characters to life and making any project a success.
The year 2025 saw many standout performances from actresses who shone not just in lead roles but also in supporting parts. A combination of good writing and brilliant acting brought some memorable characters to our screens. Here is a list of Pakistani actresses who won hearts, not in any particular order:
Aamina Sheikh (Case No.9)
Aamina Sheikh is one of the top talents of Pakistani dramas. She has been working in the industry for nearly two decades, and recently took a break to focus on her children and family. She has made a strong comeback with Case No. 9, where she stars as Beenish. She represents many accomplished lawyers in Pakistan who work for the betterment of women.. Her voice is strong, her demeanour is unshakable, and she wants to make you applaud for her in every scene. A strong comeback for Aamina Sheikh and a great performance indeed.
Amna Malik (Sher & Jama Taqseem)
Amna Malik is a well-known Pakistani celebrity who began her career as a host before transitioning into an actress in Pakistani dramas. She delivered an outstanding performance this year, starring in two major dramas with very different roles. She was seen as Sher’s fierce sister, Marjaan, in the drama Sher, and people loved how she showed the spark and aura required for being Sher’s sister. In Jama Taqseem, Amna Malik plays Rashda, a woman we have all seen in our surroundings. She is oppressed, underconfident, and she carries the burden of the whole world on her shoulders. Aman Malik was able to impress in both dramas and proved her mettle as an actress.
Arjumand Rahim (Sher)
Arjumand Rahim is a notable talent in Pakistani dramas, recognised for her choice of strong roles. She once again demonstrated her skill by portraying Shahtaj Begam in the drama Sher. This character was complex and multifaceted, prompting ongoing discussions among viewers throughout the series. Initially, Arjumand successfully made the audience dislike her character, only to later evoke sympathy for her. She also effectively highlighted the challenges faced by many unmarried daughters in our society. It highlighted the challenges faced by many unmarried daughters in our society.
Bakhtawar Mazhar (Parwarish)
Bakhtawar Mazhar appeared in the Pakistani drama Parwarish as Aina Asif’s mother. She is an artist with a strong background in theatre. She was called up for this character, and she was able to do complete justice to it. The character represented a wife who is meek in front of her husband, but she is also a mother who will not let anything happen to her daughter. She stood up for her daughter and protected her when she was in danger. Many women were able to relate to her character due to her natural acting.
Beo Rana Zafar (Jama Taqseem)
Beo Rana Zafar is a great talent in Pakistani dramas and films. She is the coolest off-screen, and her work in the film Cake is dubbed as one of the best from modern Pakistani cinema. She joined the star cast of the blockbuster Jama Taqseem, and her presence gave another boost to the drama. She is playing a character who is the polar opposite of her original personality, and she has done an amazing job. The way she has portrayed a normal middle-class matriarch who is always embroiled in family politics, but whose heart is in the right place, is commendable.
Dananeer Mobeen (Meem Se Mohabbat)
Dananeer Mobeen appeared as Ayat/Roshi in the hit Pakistani drama Meem Se Mohabbat. Her role started out as a naive college girl, and the story’s arc shows her transformation into a wise, young woman. The actress received criticism initially for acting too cute in the beginning, but she showed her range according to the script. She was able to portray Roshi’s naivety in the beginning, her heartbreak after rejection and her guardedness in the latter half of the drama perfectly. A performance that deserves a spot on this list.
Irsa Ghazal (Aye Ishq e Junoon)
Irsa Ghazal was brilliant in the Pakistani drama Aye Ishq e Junoon that aired on ARY Digital. It was a crime thriller, and Irsa had one of the most important roles in the show. She played a woman who comes from an affluent background, and Irsa looked rich. She sounded like she came from an elite background. She was also able to brilliantly showcase the manipulative abilities of her character, and people hated her for what she did to Sheheryar Munawar’s character. Irsa is a brilliant performer, and she was able to show that once again.
Madiha Rizvi (Jama Taqseem)
Madiha Rizvi is playing Nighat in the hit Pakistani drama Jama Taqseem, and she has given one of the strongest performances in the show. She plays the character of a woman whom we have all seen around us. She is egotistical; she has a superiority complex because she gave birth to a male child, and she belittles those who have lesser financial resources than her. Madiha Rizvi is brilliant as she makes the audience frustrated by her antics, but her character is still relatable and close to reality.
Mawra Hocane (Jama Taqseem)
Mawra Hocane is the lead of the much-loved Pakistani drama, Jama Taqseem. Though it looked like a typical saas-bahu saga when the teasers dropped, it turned out to be much more. Maqra is playing the character of Laila, a girl of today, and she is brilliant. She is portraying a character who navigates life wth a positive outlook, but she never backs away from her principles. She called out the wrongs when she encountered what Zeeshan was doing to Sidra, but she remains respectful towards Qais’s parents despite their bitterness. Mawra’s natural performance has endeared her to fans, and she is receiving praise for her work.
Momina Iqbal (Do Kinaray)
Momina Iqbal lands a spot on this list for her character Durreshehwar. Her performance single-handedly made Do Kinaray one of the most popular Pakistani dramas of 2025. She signed up for a project with a very predictable story, but she made her character likeable. Despite Dureshehwar being extremely toxic, Momina Iqbal’s styling, attention to detail, and subtle naivety showcased in performance made it a fan favourite. Momina Iqbal deserves to be on the list for making a rather mediocre script into a superhit with her strong performance.
Nadia Afgan (Tan Man Neelo Neel)
Nadia Afgan starred in the hard-hitting Pakistani drama, Tan Man Neelo Neel. She played a character which is not usually written for female actresses in Pakistan. The character, though a middle-class and middle-aged woman, had a love story. She had dreams for her daughter, and she could move on with the times. The way she portrayed the emotions of a wife who is waiting for her husband’s love, even after years of marriage and a mother who supports her daughter’s big dreams was beautiful. A beautiful performance by Nadia Afgan, and she definitely deserves a spot on this list.
Reham Rafiq (Parwarish)
Reham Rafiq starred in Parwarish, and the drama became a breakout project for her. Parwarish was a Pakistani drama that started discussions surrounding modern parenting. All the younger cast members had significant roles, and Reham Rafiq also shone in her character. She was able to portray an overburdened eldest desi daughter, and so many girls felt like it was their story.
Saba Faisal (Main Manto Nahi Hoon)
Main Manto Nahi Hoon is a Pakistani drama which received somewhat success due to its star cast and their strong performances. Saba Faisal played the character of Naseeba, a matriarch of the Amritsari family who was always concerned about her sons. Her screen presence was strong, and she was able to portray the angst of a mother who is always scared to lose her sons to a decades-long rivalry. A mediocre performance in a mediocre script.
Saba Hameed (Main Manto Nahi Hoon)
Saba Hameed also featured in the Pakistani drama as the matriarch of Binyamin’s family. Saba Hameed is one of the most talented artists of Pakistan, and she can even make a mediocre story interesting. Although she had a limited role in Main Manto Nahi Hoon, she managed to steal every scene she was in. She was able to overpower actors like Babar Ali and Asif Raza Mir. She is an impressive performer, and her scenes made the show bearable towards the end, when most people were no longer invested in it.
Saba Qamar (Case No. 9 & Pamaal)
Saba Qamar stands out as one of the most gifted stars in the Pakistani drama industry, and she has once again showcased her extraordinary talent, captivating audiences with her remarkable performances.. She has appeared in two dramas, in two different characters, and she has been able to floor the audience with both roles. Saba Qamar is playing Malika in Pamaal, and her strong performance has divided the audience into Team Malika and Team Raza. Her portrayal of an oppressed housewife has triggered so many women who feel that Pamaal is their story, such is the brilliance of Saba Qamar.
Her second performance is in Case No. 9, where she is playing the character of a rape survivor. She has showcased the pain, angst and fire to seek justice in Sehar so well. People have cried with Saba, and they are anxious to see if Sehar, the character played by her, will get justice or not.
Saima Noor (Main Manto Nahi Hoon)
Saima Noor made a comeback in Pakistani dramas with a bang. She starred as Surraiya in Main Manto Nahi Hoon, and her performance carried the whole show. She was able to overshadow every senior actor and actress, and she had the screen presence and aura that no one could hold a candle in front of. Saima Noor’s dialogue delivery, dramatic presence, and film star aura were loved by everyone. She gave one of the top performances of the year.
Sakina Samo (Qarz e Jaan)
Sakina Samo is one of the biggest stars and impeccable talents of Pakistani dramas. She knows how to get under the skin of any character, and that is what she did in Qarz e Jaan. She played the grandmother of the household and a woman who powerfully controls the whole family. Her character’s hypocrisy and negativity were able to shake the audience. She is a chameleon and proved it in Qarz e Jaan once again.
Saman Ansari (Parwarish)
Saman Ansari appeared as Panna in the hit Pakistani drama, Parwarish. The actress who is extremely confident in her real life, played a sweet homemaker in the show. She represented all our mothers who maintain our homes, and they are the backbone of raising children. Saman Ansari as Panna was a mom who stood by her kids and gave them enough confidence to navigate through their lives.
Savera Nadeem (Parwarish)
Savera Nadeem played Mahnoor in Parwarish. She was a strong and modern mother. She navigated through issues of addiction and rage, which her kids were facing. She did not let these issues take away from her own personality and did not lose her own identity. Savera was brilliant in the role and showcased the problems of a mother and a wife who is going through issues in her marriage well and in a natural manner.
Sehar Khan (Tan Man Neelo Neel)
Sehar Khan is a young star of Pakistani dramas. She has largely played fun and bubbly characters, but she entered a completely new territory with Tan Man Neelo Neel. Her character, Rabi, was raw and required a lot of hard work. Sehar Khan’s dedication was shown in how she got the accent, mannerisms and right mindset of the character. The last scene of the drama and the pain in Sehar Khan’s eyes are still etched in everyone’s mind, such was the scale of her performance.
Tazeen Hussain (Qarz e Jaan & Jama Taqseem)
Tazeen Hussain is a very natural performer. She has been consistently starring in some great scripts, and people love her range. She performed two characters, which are poles apart from each other. She was able to make them both look effortless. She played an oppressed woman who is going through hell while she raises her daughter in Qarz e Jaan, and she made everyone sympathise with her. Her chemistry with both Faisal Rehman and Yumna Zaidi was commendable.
Tazeen Hussain has also appeared as Zubiya’s headstrong, opinionated and professor mother in Jama Taqseem, and she is receiving all the love. She is the total opposite of Bisma from Qarz e Jaan, and the audience is here for it.
Yumna Zaidi (Qarz e Jaan)
Yumna Zaidi is a superstar of Pakistani dramas. She has earned this position due to her 1. powerful performances over the years. Her role as Nashwa Behzad in Qarz e Jaan was strong yet subtle. She gave a brilliant performance as a daughter fighting for her mother’s freedom, a lawyer who stands for the right and a woman who kept fighting despite the situation not favouring her. She is a brilliant performer, and she can pick a script like Qarz e Jaan after commercial hits like Gentleman and Tere Bin.
These starlets lit up the screens in 2025. Which one is your favourite? Share in comments!
