Wahaj Ali

Last updated

Wahaj Ali
Born (1988-12-01) 1 December 1988 (age 36)
Lahore, Pakistan
Education National College of Arts
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active2015–present
Spouse
Sana Farooq
(m. 2016)
Children1

Wahaj Ali (born 1 December 1988) is a Pakistani actor who works in Urdu television/drama. After making his television debut with the soap serial Ishq Ibadat in 2015, Ali gained critical praise for playing Bangladeshi freedom fighter Shafi Imam Rumi in Jo Bichar Gaye (2021). He gained widespread popularity with his portrayal of Murtasim Khan in the 2023 romance drama Tere Bin which earned him the Lux Style Award for Best TV Actor.

Contents

Early life and family

Ali was born on 1 December 1988 into a Punjabi family in Lahore, Punjab. [1] [2] His father was a government employee and his mother was a teacher. [3] Ali earned his Master's in Multimedia Arts from the National College of Arts. [4]

Career

Early work in theater and TV production

Ali began his career as a theater actor in 2007 before joining a TV channel in the news and programming department. [5] From 2009 to 2011, he worked as an assistant producer at Samaa TV. Since 2011, Ali onwards has been a producer at Geo TV.

TV debut and success (2015–present)

Marking his television debut as a leading actor in 2015 with the drama Ishq Ibadat, he went on to play lead in several notable television serials, including Hari Hari Churiyan (2017), Dil Nawaz (2017), Mah-e-Tamaam (2017), Dil-e-Bereham (2019), Bharam (2019) Fitoor (2021) and Ishq Jalebi (2021).

In 2021, Ali delivered a critically lauded performance as Shafi Imam Rumi, a Bangladeshi freedom fighter, in the historical drama Jo Bichar Gaye , showcasing his range and dramatic intensity. [6] His portrayal was described as "powerful and emotional" by reviewers, particularly in the show's climactic scenes. [7]

He reached widespread popularity across South Asia with his portrayal of Murtasim Khan in the 2022–23 romance drama Tere Bin , which became a cultural phenomenon. [8] According to a Gulf News op-ed written in June 2025, years after the end of the drama, Ali’s “magnetic presence” and “emotional chemistry” with co-star Yumna Zaidi were key to the show's success. [9]

Media image

Ali has established himself as one of the leading Urdu television actors. [10] Dawn noted, "The fact that all his different avatars have been so well-received is testament to his talent." [11] Something Haute noted, "Wahaj Ali's choices and the credibility they have amassed, have played a pivotal role in positioning him right at the top of the artistic food chain." [12] He has been placed in Hello Pakistan's HOT100 list, in the "Trailblazers" category. [13] Ali has received the "Sexiest Heartthrob" title at Hello Magazine Awards in 2023. [14] He serves as an ambassador for a number of brands such as Head & Shoulders and 7 Up. [15]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2019 Superstar Young Salim MalikCameo appearance
Dhoodh PattiSalarShort film
2021YorkerAmmar Saleem
2023 Teri Meri Kahaniyaan AsadSegment: “Aik So Taeeswaan” [16]

Television series

YearTitleRoleNetworkRef(s)
2015 Ishq Ibadat Sahil Hum TV
2016 Mera Dard Na Janay Koi Bilal
Wafa Hashir Geo Entertainment
Gila Sanwal/Ramis Hum TV
Ahsas Zohaib Adil Urdu1
2017Zoya SawlehaFaris Geo Entertainment
Mere Dil Mere MusafirHasanTV One
Hari Hari Churiyan Ali Geo Entertainment
Dil Nawaz Fawad A-Plus TV
2018 Haiwan Maan ARY Digital
Mah-e-Tamaam Taqi Lodhi Hum TV
2019 Dil-e-Bereham Tabish A-Plus TV
Bharam Maarif Ali Hum TV
Ehd-e-Wafa Shariq Habib
Haqeeqat Asif A-Plus TV
2020Mera Maan RakhnaMohidTV One
Bikhray Moti Ahad ARY Digital
Ghisi Piti Mohabbat Rizwan aka Riz
2021 Fitoor Hamza Sadiq Geo Entertainment
Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi Jamshed aka JimmyTV One
Ishq Jalebi Basim Hussain Geo Entertainment
2021-22 Jo Bichar Gaye Shafi Imam Rumi
2022-2023 Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha Saad Hussain ARY Digital
Tere Bin Murtasim Shahnawaz Khan Geo Entertainment [17]
2023 Jurm Daniyal Mujib [18]
22 QadamJunaid Malik [19] Green Entertainment [20]
2023-24MeinZaid Asif ARY Digital
2024-25 Sunn Mere Dil Bilal Abdullah Geo Entertainment [21]
2025Jinn Ki Shaadi Un Ki ShaadiAli Chaudhary aka Ali C Hum TV [22]
2026Mitti De BaawayMohsin HussainGreen Entertainment [23]

Telefilms

YearTitleRoleNetwork
2016 Bitiya Hamaray Zamanay Mein Fahad Geo Entertainment
2020Love SiyappaShahabuddin aka Shobi
2022ShorShahidTV One

Music Videos

YearTitle
2023Jaani Door Gaye

Voice Roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
2022 Team Muhafiz Reza (voice over)Animated series

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
2016 Hum Awards Best Soap Actor Ishq Ibadat Nominated [24]
2019 ARY Social Media Awards Best Newcomer Male Haiwan Won [25]
2021 ARY People's Choice Awards Favourite Jodi (with Ramsha Khan) Ghisi Piti Mohabbat Nominated [26]
2024 Hum Style Awards Most Stylish Television Actor - MaleHimselfNominated [27]
2025 Lux Style Awards Best TV Actor Male - Viewer’s Choice Tere Bin Won [28]
Best TV Actor Male - Critics’ ChoiceNominated
Film Actor of the Year Male - Viewer’s Choice Teri Meri Kahaniyaan Won

References

  1. "Wahaj Ali, the versatile actor, celebrates his 32nd birthday". Bol News. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. "Birthday wishes pour in for actor Wahaj Ali". Daily Pakistan. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. "Wahaj Ali". Social Diary. 23 October 2018.
  4. "Profile on LinkedIn". LinkedIn .
  5. Shabbir, Buraq (31 May 2020). "From theatre to television to films". The News International . Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. "Maya Ali, Wahaj dominate with their sizzling chemistry in 'Jo Bichar Gaye'". The Express Tribune. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  7. Awan, Fatima (14 March 2022). "Jo Bichar Gaye Last Episode – Powerful and Emotional". Reviewit.pk. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  8. Sayem, Kawser Md. (4 June 2025). "Pakistani Drama Tere Bin Emerges as an All-Time Audience Favourite". UNB News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  9. Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (17 June 2025). "Tere Bin: Why this hit Pakistani love drama still has us hooked and when you can expect season 2". Gulf News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  10. "The art of staying grounded: How Wahaj Ali has handled fame and success - Exclusive". Galaxy Lollywood. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. Maliha Rehman (5 December 2021). "The Icon Interview - Wahaj Ali: 'Im in no hurry'". Dawn. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  12. Aamna Haider Isani (29 March 2023). "The Rising of Wahaj Ali". Something Haute. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  13. "Headliners, trailblazers, trendsetters - Celebs who made it to Hello Pakistan's #HOT100 list". Daily Pakistan. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  14. "'Tere Bin' star couple Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali set couple goals with their Walima photoshoot". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  15. "Wahaj Ali's cross-border fandom, wins hearts in India with 'Tere Bin'". Samaa TV. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  16. "Wahaj Ali, Mehwish Hayat come together for 'Teri Meri Kahaniyaan'". Express Tribune. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  17. "Tere Bin Episode, Tere Bin Drama Cast, Tere Bin Schedule, Tere Bin OST". harpalgeo.tv. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  18. "Jurm Episode, Jurm Drama Cast, Jurm Schedule, Jurm OST". harpalgeo.tv. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  19. "'22 Qadam' seems to be a breath of fresh air in Pakistani dramas". Daily Times. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  20. "Drama Details | Green Entertainment". greenentertainment.tv. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  21. "Sunn Mere Dil Episode, Sunn Mere Dil Drama Cast, Sunn Mere Dil Schedule, Sunn Mere Dil OST". harpalgeo.tv. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  22. "Jinn Ki Shadi Un Ki Shadi". Hum TV. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  23. Desk, News (18 September 2025). "Wahaj Ali & Mahira Khan's Mitti De Baawe Update – Drama Details". Brides & You. Retrieved 18 September 2025.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. Sofia (24 April 2016). "4th Hum Awards 2016: Complete List Of Winners". Style.Pk. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  25. "ARY Digital Social Media Awards 2018 Complete Winners List". ARY Digital. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  26. "1st ARY People's Choice Awards Nomination List". ARY Digital. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  27. "Hum Style Awards 2024: The Awaited Nominations Is Out". Bolnews. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  28. "Lux Style Awards 2025: And the nominees are". The Express Tribune. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.