Yumna Zaidi is a superstar and a talent power house of the Pakistani entertainment industry. Starting her career in 2012, the actress has risen through the ranks to become the top star in the country. Her journey is quite different from her contemporaries and she is loved widely, not just for her commercial hits but also critically acclaimed projects. She is ruling dramas, films and advertisements and her following is not just limited to Pakistan.
From Thakkan to Qarz e Jaan, Yumna Zaidi has come a long way in her career. Let’s take a look at her journey and what makes her a well-rounded superstar:
Thakkan To Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahin – The Debut
Yumna Zaidi made her acting debut with ARY Digital’s Thakkan. The following year, she played the role of Aasiya in Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahin. This drama featured stars like Nauman Ijaz, Sohail Ahmed, Uzma Hassan, and Saba Qamar. Yumna captured the audience’s attention even while working alongside such established names. From the beginning, she proved to be a strong performer and was unafraid to take on complex characters that were challenging to portray on screen. Since her debut, Yumna has consistently chosen scripts that hold meaning, a decision that has positively impacted her career and showcased her acting talent.
2014-2017 – Steady Choices
Yumna Zaidi did not rise to stardom due to one breakout role or her social media presence. Her consistently good choices in scripts and her faith in good content are what made her the superstar that she is today. She did not sign typical dramas. Instead between 2014-2017, she took up shows like Mausam, Jugnoo, and Zara Yaad Kar. Her choices resonated with the audience, and she slowly became a guarantee for a good drama.
2017-2019 – The Recognition
Ye Raha Dil brought Yumna Zaidi her first big commercial success. She became a fan favourite as Hayat. The positive and chirpy girl won everyone. She also signed up for the intense character Shakira in Ishq Zah e Naseeb, a character that was turned down by big stars back then. She showed her immense range once again and she finally had the commercial success the star deserved. Once again, her script choices were top-notch and instead of following trends, she became the trendsetter in the industry.
2020-2025 – The Rise
With Pyar Ke Sadqay’s beloved Mahjabeen, Yumna started bagging the top dramas of the year. Once again it boiled down to the actress picking up a role which was not your conventionally pretty lady with a flowing dupatta and long hair. She was a naive girl with a funny side. She looked beautiful in the role and won everyone with her innocence. This was a character which could have looked annoying but it was a winner through and through.
She then did an Allah Rakhi in Dil Na Umeed To Nahin. She picked up a dark and real project when she had just become the most in-demand actress with Pyar Ke Sadqay. A show on human traficking and a role that was once again turned down by many was not only done by Yumna Zaidi, she also brought a huge viewership to the masterpiece which would have gone unnoticed otherwise.
Yumna Zaidi gave huge commercial hits from then on with Tere Bin becoming a blockbuster and cementing her position as the new superstar. With Tere Bin being a purely Masala project, many viewers thought that they would be spotting Yumna in more commercial dramas but she proved everyone wrong again. She chose stories that resonated with her and not just based on their commercial value. Qarz e Jaan is the latest example of how she chooses quality over quantity.
Yumna’s Spectacular Filmography
What sets Yumna Zaidi apart as a new age superstar is her spectacular filmography. She was no one-hit wonder or someone who became viral through a video. She built her fan base by doing good projects and giving her 100% in every performance. By the time Pyar Ke Sadqay came on-air, fans used to associate the actress’s name with quality work. She is also a star who attracts the audience towards a drama before people see who is the leading man. She also showed her range multiple times when she was able to do an Allah Rakhi in Dil Na Umeed To Nahin and a Merab in Tere Bin. Her choice of projects is also a guiding path for many newcomers on how to build a steady and loyal fan base with good work.
Support For Newcomers
Yumna Zaidi is a star who has never shied away from taking up a project with newcomers, something which many established stars avoid. She has always been praised for supporting new talent. Her latest Qarz e Jaan had Nameer Khan & Fajr Sheikh and she was a great support in all their scenes. She worked with Azaan Sami Khan in Ishq e Laa and Junaid Niazi in Sinf e Aahan. She has also starred with Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz in Bakhtawar when he was really new. She does not let her stardom get to her head and still focuses on giving out her best.
Praises By Her Co-Stars
Humayun Saeed shared screen with Yumna Zaidi in Gentleman. The superstar said that he loved working with her as she is always focused on the craft. She does not care about her makeup and looks and she is concentrated on her work. She is very hardworking and punctual.
Nauman Ijaz has worked with Yumna Zaidi in Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahin and Dar Si Jati Hai Sila. The actor said that he knew Yumna was a great talent when they worked in Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahin. He added that Yumna’s performance confused him, something which no one else has been able to do.
Tazeen Hussain revealed that as soon as she found out Yumna was a part of Qarz e Jaan, she spoke to other senior actors and everyone praised how professional Yumna Zaidi is.
Zahid Ahmed and Yumna Zaidi have worked together for around five times. The actor once said that Yumna is a brilliant actress. If he were a woman. he might have been Yumna Zaidi.
Yumna Zaidi – A Well-Rounded Superstar
Yumna Zaidi is a multifaceted superstar who is adored both on social media and in the mainstream entertainment industry. She is recognized for her involvement in quality projects and is one of the few artists who has chosen not to engage in the competitive rat race of showbiz. Following the success of Tere Bin, she opted to take on roles in dramas such as Qarz e Jaan and Gentleman, instead of chasing after flashy mega-projects that lack substance.
Her talent has garnered praise from various co-stars, including Mahira Khan, Tazeen Hussain, and Nameer Khan, and she is equally cherished by the public. Yumna has also represented Pakistan beautifully and participates in philanthropic endeavors. Her career serves as an inspiring example for young actors on how to navigate the industry thoughtfully and steadily, especially for those who do not come from prominent showbiz families.
