Sanam Saeed

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Sanam Saeed
Pakistani Actress Sanam Saeed.jpg
Saeed on the sets of Diyar-e-Dil in 2015
Born1984or1985(age 40)
London, England, UK
Alma mater L'Ecole College
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present
Spouses
Farhan Hassan
​
​
(m. 2015;div. 2018)​
​
(m. 2021)​

Sanam Saeed (born 1984or1985) is a Pakistani actress, singer and former model who predominantly works in Urdu cinema and television.

Contents

She is best known for portraying the role of Kashaf Murtaza in Momina Duraid's Zindagi Gulzar Hai , [1] for which she received numerous accolades, including Lux Style Awards for Best Television Actress.

Saeed made her television debut in the 2010 romance Daam . Saeed had her first commercial success with the 2013 romantic television series Zindagi Gulzar Hai . She rose to prominence by featuring as the female lead in several top-grossing series, including Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu (2013), Talkhiyaan (2013), Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2013) and Kadoorat (2013), Kahin Chand Na Sharma Jaye (2013), Firaaq (2014). She received critical recognition for playing an antagonist in the 2015 family drama Diyar-e-Dil , that earned her a nomination for Best Villain at Hum Awards. Saeed was last seen playing the main protagonist in Deedan opposite Mohib Mirza.

After establishing herself as a leading actress in television, Saeed made her film debut with the 2016 romantic comedy Bachaana and later appeared in a supporting role in Dobara Phir Se in the same year. Both of which earned her nomination for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively at Lux Style Awards. Her other film appearances include the biographical drama Mah-e-Mir, the period drama film Rahm (both 2016), the melodrama Azaad (2017) and the family drama Cake (2018). In 2019, Saeed was named "Pride of Pakistan" by Daily Times.

Early life and education

Sanam Saeed was born in London, England, in 1984or1985. [2] Her father is a retired interior designer, while her mother was an art teacher. She has a brother and a sister. [3] The multi-ethnic family (her father is a Punjabi while her mother is a Memon) moved back to Karachi in 1990 [4] or 1991. [2]

Saeed did her O-levels at Bay View High School, Karachi and her A-levels at L'Ecole College, also in Karachi.[ citation needed ] She acted on stage in school plays. [5]

She started modelling at the age of 17; she said that her height, at 5'9", helped. [6] She later said that she had quit modelling because she was becoming increasingly conscious about her looks for the first time in her life. [7] She said it was a "great way to earn money, but [she] never particularly enjoyed it". [5]

Career

Live comedy and theatre

In 2004 Saeed was a member of Pakistan's first English-speaking improv comedy troupe, Blackfish. Created by Saad Haroon, the troupe represented Pakistan in an international youth theatre festival called "Contacting the World" at Contact Theatre in Manchester, England, in 2004. [8] [9] [2]

Saeed has worked on stage in various types of theatre. She performed in Nida Butt's successful musicals, [5] Chicago (2007), [10] and Mamma Mia! (2009), [11] which required her to sing, act, and dance. In 2010, she joined the Coke Studio entourage as a background vocalist. [5]

She also acted in the stage plays Carnage (2009), [12] Dhaani (2013), [13] and Grease (2013). [14]

VJing

Saaed became a VJ on the Indus Music channel soon after its launch [5] in 2003. [15] [16]

Television

Saeed started her acting career with a supporting role in the 2010 ARY Digital serial, Daam, the adaption of Umera Ahmad's novel of the same name, opposite Aamina Sheikh and Sanam Baloch. Directed by Mehreen Jabbar, Saeed played the role of Fiza, a "selfish and arrogant girl" who develops feelings for her sister-in-law's brother, which later become a burden for her. [17]

The following year she played the lead female role in Adnan Ahmed's Hum TV serial Mera Naseeb, along with Syra Yousuf, Imran Aslam and Imran Abbas Naqvi. Her portrayal of Shazia, an outspoken and rebellious girl, was particularly praised. [18]

Saeed followed with the role of Yamina, a British Pakistani who is married to a materialistic snob, a wife beater (played by Junaid Khan) in Mehreen Jabbar's Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu an adaptation of Farhat Ishtiaq's novel of the same name . [19] Sultana Siddiqui's romantic drama Zindagi Gulzar Hai an adaption of Umera Ahmad's novel of the same name was Saeed's next series. Co-starring Fawad Khan, she was cast as Kashaf Murtaza, a very sensible and mature girl, coming from a middle-class family background. It marked a departure from the glamorous characters that she had a reputation for portraying. [2] [20] The pairing of Saeed with Khan proved a major commercial success, [21] as well as earning her three Best Actress awards.[ which? ][ when? ]

Saeed played Bibi, a Syrian Christian single mother in Bee Gul's 2013 drama series, Talkhiyan , based on Arundhati Roy's novel The God of Small Things . [22] The series, which was directed by Khalid Ahmed and set in Murree, received positive feedback from the critics and Saeed's performance was especially praised. [23] [24]

Saeed next played opposite Junaid Khan in the 2013 mystery drama Kadoorat , aired on Hum TV from Momina Duraid. Her role was Minah, who took revenge from her stepmother and stepsister and later felt guilty. [25] The same year, she appeared in Geo TV serial Ek Kasak Reh Gaye opposite Mikaal Zulfiqar and ARY Digital's Shukk opposite Adeel Hussain and Ayesha Khan.[ citation needed ]

Saeed next appeared opposite Ahsan Khan and Sarwat Gilani in the romantic telefilm Dil Mera Dhadkan Teri , her third collaboration with Mehreen Jabbar. The telefilm was the remake of Waheed Murad's 1968 film of the same name . She featured in the role of "a rich and spoiled brat". The telefilm received mixed reviews from critics, but Saeed's performance was praised by both critics and viewers. [26] Saeed also starred in two other Eid special telefilms Kahin Chand Na Sharma Jaye opposite Goher Mumtaz and Tamana ki Tamana opposite Bilal Khan and Mathira.[ citation needed ] Her only serial of 2014 was the Hum TV serial Firaaq, opposite Mohib Mirza, Noor Hassan Rizvi, and Junaid Khan.[ citation needed ]

In the highly successful 2015 series Diyar-e-Dil , Saeed portrayed Ruhina Behroze Khan, a young middle-class girl who marries her rich class fellow Behroze Khan (played by Zulfiqar), against his family members and leaves home and gives birth to new rivalry in both families. Directed by Haseeb Hassan, and based on Farhat Ishtiaq's novel of the same name , she was cast alongside Maya Ali, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Osman Khalid Butt, and Abid Ali. [27]

Film

In 2016, she was seen in four Pakistani films. She made her film debut in Nasir Khan's romantic thriller Bachaana [28] with Mohib Mirza [29] [30] [28]

She next appeared in Anjum Shahzad and Sarmad Sehbai's Mah-e-Meer , along with Fahad Mustafa and Iman Ali, describing it as the first "glamorous" role of her career. [31] [32] She was also seen in Ahmed Jamal's Rahm . She then appeared in Mehreen Jabbar's Dobara Phir Se , alongside Adeel Hussain, Hareem Farooq, Ali Kazmi and Tooba Siddiqui, which earned her an award for Best supporting actress (film) at the 16th Lux Style Awards.

In 2018, she appeared as the younger sister Zara in the critically acclaimed film Cake. [33] Reviewing the film for The Express Tribune , critic Rahul Aijaz appreciates Saeed's extraordinary performance in the film and wrote "Saeed portrays Zara with suppressed emotions, running away from her past. Hers is the journey we try to keep digging into, slowly. The actor's naturally calm exterior and controlled style of speaking aid her project Zara's insecurities". [34]

Music

Saeed briefly appeared in the third season of Coke Studio Pakistan, where she sang background vocals on "Alif Allah (Jugni)" by Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi, "Aisha" by Amanat Ali and "Chori Chori" by Meesha Shafi as a backing vocalist. [35]

Other activities

In 2010, Saeed was selected to be the brand spokesperson for the international cosmetics brand L'Oréal Paris, the only one in Karachi. [2]

Personal life

Saeed married her childhood friend, Farhan Hassan, a banker from Karachi, on 2 January 2015. [36] [37] In 2018, Saeed stated that they had divorced. [38]

In 2021, Saeed married actor Mohib Mirza in a private ceremony, and announced their wedding in 2023. [39] Their son was born in May 2025. [40]

Filmography

Films

Key
†Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2016 Bachaana AaliaFilm debut [31] [41]
Mah-e-Meer Naina KanwalBased on the life of Mir Taqi Mir [31] [32]
Dobara Phir Se Samar [31] [42]
Rahm Samina [31]
2017 Azad Sabreen HisbaniScreened at South Asian International Film Festival [43] [31]
2018 Cake Zara [44] [45]
2022 Ishrat Made in China Akhtar [46]
2024 Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning Meena [47] [48]
TBAAan†TBAFilming [49]

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkRef.
2010 Daam Fizza ARY Digital [50]
2011 Mera Naseeb Shazia Hum TV [50]
2012 Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu Yamina [19]
2012–2013 Talkhiyan Bibi Express Entertainment [22]
2012–2013 Zindagi Gulzar Hai Kashaf Murtaza Hum TV [50] [1]
2013 Kadoorat Minah [50]
Ek Kasak Reh GayiParas Geo TV [ citation needed ]
Shukk Sania ARY Digital [50]
2014 Firaaq Paimaan Hum TV [50]
2015–2016 Diyar-e-Dil Ruhina Behroze [51]
2016–2017 Dil Banjaara Nida Nafees [52]
2018 Aakhri Station Tehmina ARY Digital [53]
2018–2019 Deedan Resham A-Plus TV [54]
2025Doosra ChehraZaraGeo TV [55]
Mein Manto Nahin HoonMiss Maria Ary Digital

Other appearance

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2013 Dil Mera Dharkan Teri BeenishTelefilm [56]
Kahin Chand Na Sharma Jaye Mishal/Sameer
Tamanna ki TamannaZainab [57]
2015 Mr. Shamim MayaSitcom

Web series

YearTitleRolePlatform(s)Ref.
2021 Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam Zuvi Zee5 [58]
2024 Barzakh Scheherezade

Theatre

YearTheatre PlayRoleNotes
2007ChicagoRoxie Hart [10] [59]
2009Mama MiaRosie [11]
Carnage [12]
2013GreaseRizz [14]
DhaaniRuqayya [13]

Discography

YearSongNotes
2010"Alif Allah (Jugni)"on Coke Studio Pakistan (Season 3) as a backing vocalist [35]
"Aisha"
"Chori Chori"

Awards and nominations

YearWorkAwardResultRef
Hum Awards
2013 Zindagi Gulzar HaiBest Actor Female (Jury)Nominated [60]
2013 Zindagi Gulzar HaiBest Actor Female (Popular)Won [60]
2013 Zindagi Gulzar HaiBest On-screen Couple (Jury)Won [60]
2013 Zindagi Gulzar HaiBest On-screen Couple (Popular)Won [60]
2015 Diyar-e-Dil Best Actor in a negative roleNominated [61]
Lux Style Awards
2013 Zindagi Gulzar HaiBest Television Actress - SatelliteWon [62]
2017 Dobara Phir Se Best Supporting Actress in a FilmWon [63]
Bachaana Best Lead Actress in a FilmNominated
2019 CakeBest Film ActressNominated [64] [65]
Hum Style Awards
2016 Dobara Phir Se Most Stylish Actress - FilmNominated [66]
2017 Cake Most Stylish Actress - FilmWon [67]

Other recognition

References

  1. 1 2 "India uses cinema to tell its stories, we use TV, says Kashaf of Zindagi Gulzar Hai (actress Sanam Saeed)". The Indian Express newspaper. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Saeed, Sanam (15 August 2010). "Interview of Sanam Saeed (Brand Spokesperson – L'Oreal Pakistan)". fashioncentral.pk (Interview). Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2025. I was born in London, lived there till I was 6 years old and moved to Karachi in 1991
  3. ↑ Salima Feerasta (9 March 2014), "Sanam Saeed & Sanam Jung: Double act", The Express Tribune . Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Interview with Samina Peerzada. "Sanam Saeed Like Never Before | Speak Your Heart With Samina Peerzada | Part I", uploaded on YouTube on 8 November 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Saeed, Sanam (23 February 2013). "First person: Outspoken? Self-righteous? "Not me!" says Sanam Saeed". DAWN.COM (Interview). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Sanam Saeed: Biography, Interview, and Pics". Showbizpak.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Oh Sanam!". styleonpaper. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Fish out of water". Dawn. 1 August 2004. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008.
  9. ↑ Rashed, Fariha. "Theatre: a mirror of social issues". Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  10. 1 2 Kulsoom (6 January 2015). "Attending Chicago the Musical…in Karachi". Wordpress. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  11. 1 2 Muniba Kamal. "Mamma Mia! Here they go again!". JANG News. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  12. 1 2 "'God of Carnage' a play by Nida Butt". Pakistan Today . 6 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  13. 1 2 Rafey Mehmood (20 May 2013). "Dhaani: Great performances lost in vain". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  14. 1 2 Salima Fareesta (20 January 2015). "Grease The musical delivers a fun night out". Karachista. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  15. ↑ Zakir, Fatima (18 April 2016). "The Business of Music". Newsline. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ghazanfar Ali – The Pioneer Of Private Television In Pakistan". Pakistan In The 2000s. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Fawad Khan on Kissing: "I didn't want to hurt the sentiments of my core audience"". Thenewsreports.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "I like the idea of virgin romance: Fawad Khan | Zee News". Zeenews.india.com. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  19. 1 2 "India uses cinema to tell its stories, we use TV: Sanam Saeed". Times Of India. 14 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Fahad Mustafa, Sanam Saeed and Iman Ali To Star Together In a Movie!". Reviewit.pk. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  21. ↑ Nandini Sharma (29 September 2014). "Indian Author Accuses Pakistani Serial Of Plagiarism | Business Insider India". Businessinsider.in. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  22. 1 2 Saadia Qamar (6 December 2012). "A story of bitterness: Meet the women of 'Talkhiyan'". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  23. ↑ "Sanam Saeed back as Shazia in Zindagi's 'Mera Naseeb' | Zee News". Zeenews.india.com. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "FK's virgin romance!". Ahmedabad Mirror. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "Breast cancer campaign from 13th". Nation.com.pk. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  26. ↑ "Sisters under the skin? Chitra Divakaruni says Zindagi serial rips off her novel". Firstpost. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  27. ↑ "Dayar e Dil New Drama Coming Soon on Hum Tv". dramas-online. 3 November 2015. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  28. 1 2 "New film on the horizon: Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza to star in Bachaana". dawn.com. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "Bachaana' makes Rs20m in three days". Express Tribune. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  30. ↑ "Sanam Saeed to play an Indian in upcoming Pakistani film". tribune.com.pk. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Saeed, Mahek (9 December 2015). "Our women don't have much exposure of the outside world: Sanam Saeed". The Express Tribune.
  32. 1 2 "'Mah-e-Meer' to hit theatres on May 6". Express Tribune. 27 March 2016.
  33. ↑ McCahill, Mike (29 March 2018). "Cake review – Karachi sister act ditches melodrama for real life". The Guardian newspaper. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  34. ↑ "'Cake' review: One slice just won't be enough - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  35. 1 2 "Sanam Saeed Coke Studio Bio".
  36. ↑ "Sanam Saeed ties the knot with childhood friend". Dawn.com. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  37. ↑ Afzal, Asfia (3 January 2015). "Sanam Saeed marries childhood friend". Business Recorder. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  38. ↑ “I couldn't balance marriage and my mother's declining health: Sanam Saeed”. The Express Tribune. 9 November 2018.
  39. ↑ "Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza officially announce their marriage". The Express Tribune. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  40. ↑ "Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza announce the birth of their son Vali". Images. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  41. ↑ Hassan, Malik (28 February 2015). "Review: Bachaana is a big slice of highly palatable cheese". Daily Times Pakistan.
  42. ↑ Lodhi, Rita (3 September 2016). "'Dobara Phir Se' release date finally revealed". Aaj News. Aaj TV. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  43. ↑ Salman, Ifrah (11 January 2018). "Rehan Sheikh's Azad to release on 9th Feb 2018!". HIP. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  44. ↑ Niazi, Fatima (9 February 2017). "4 reasons why we are waiting for the film 'Cake'". HIP. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  45. ↑ NewsBytes. "Cake wins big at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal" . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  46. ↑ "Ishrat Made in China's first teaser is finally here". Images by Dawn . 18 December 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  47. ↑ Lodhi, Rida (8 April 2024). "'Umro Ayyar – A New Beginning' trailer unveils intriguing blend of adventure and fantasy". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  48. ↑ Style, BR Life & (29 May 2023). "Actor Sanam Saeed reveals upcoming film 'Umro Ayyar'". Brecorder. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  49. ↑ "Aan is not a love triangle, says Haseeb Hasan". The News International (newspaper). 5 March 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rehman Chagani, Anum (14 November 2014). "I like taking on characters that empower women: Sanam Saeed". DAWN. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  51. ↑ "Diyar-e-Dil: Of love, pride and family values". The News On Sunday. 15 November 2015.
  52. ↑ "Gypsy is not just another drama about wailing women, says Mira Sethi". DAWN. 2 June 2016.
  53. ↑ "Aakhri Station Drama Sarmad Khoosat Sanam Saeed". OxGadgets. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  54. ↑ Shabbir, Buraq. "Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza starrer Deedan is a unique tale" . Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  55. ↑ "Sanam , Saboor, and Asad mesmerize audiences with 'Doosra Chehra' trailer". 2 June 2025.
  56. ↑ "Sanam Saeed & Sanam Jung: Double act". The Express Tribune. 9 March 2014.
  57. ↑ Khan, Sher (22 August 2012). "Bilal Khan: Acting pushed me out of my comfort zone". Express Tribune.
  58. ↑ Web Desk (2 December 2021). "Sanam Saeed lauds artists for strengthening Indo-Pak cultural ties". The News. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  59. ↑ "Chicago in Karachi opens new avenues to art, theatre and a 'wicked' world of possibilities". Saba Sartaj K.
  60. 1 2 3 4 "2nd Hum Awards Winners". Review it. Rashid Nazir Ali. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
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  63. ↑ Images Staff (19 April 2017). "Here's what's going down at the Lux Style Awards 2017 right now [LIVE]". Images. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  64. ↑ "Did your favorites get nominated for Lux Style Awards 2019?". www.thenews.com.pk. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  65. ↑ "https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/495568-who-won-at-the-mega-lux-style-awrds-2019" (18)
  66. ↑ "Here are the winners from the first ever Hum Style Awards". Dawn. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  67. ↑ "A list of who won what at the Hum Style Awards". 22 October 2017.
  68. ↑ "Results And Pictures Of Tarang Housfull Awards". Fatima Awan. Review It. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  69. ↑ "Sanam Saeed Wins Best Actress At Eastern Eye Awards". Images. Dawn. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
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