Top 15 Pakistani Actresses Who Deserve Hollywood

There’s no denying that the Pakistani industry has many beautiful and talented actresses. Some become famous for the controversies, glitz, and glamor than their body of work. But some extraordinary actresses are born artists and true stage performers. Such actresses attract a special audience because of the honesty, dedication, and respect they have toward their craft.

Here are 15 Pakistani actresses who are way ahead of their peers and definitely deserve a chance in Hollywood.

1. Aamina Sheikh

Aamina Sheikh is a former supermodel and versatile actress known worldwide for her offbeat performances. She is one of the most charming and gifted actresses of Lollywood. The actress began her career as a model and has been a spokesperson for the international brand L’Oreal. From nine nominations, she has been the winner of the Lux Style Award four times. In 2008, she debuted as an actress with the telefilm ‘Baarish Mein Deewar’. 

In 2010, she received critical acclaim for her performance in ARY Digital’s ‘Daam’. In the same year, she played leading roles in many female-oriented serials, including Uraan, Maat, Ishq Gumshuda, etc., and gained wide recognition. In 2011, she won the New York Film Festival Award and SAARC Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her role in the multi-award-winning film ‘Seedlings’. 

In 2013, Sheikh earned a nomination for Tarang Housefull Awards (Best Actress) for her role in the romantic drama film Armaan. The same year, she won the best film actress title in Silent River Film Festival and Pakistan Media awards for her outstanding performance in the social drama ‘Josh: Independence Through Unity’. In 2015, she was a committee member of ‘Pakistani Academy Selection Committee’. 

The actress also made a special appearance in Ali Zafar’s “Urainge” which was a tribute to the 2014 Peshawar school massacre. She was also seen in the 2015 Cricket World Cup special anthem "Phir Se Game Utha Dein" produced by Coke Studio (Pakistan).

2. Mahira Khan

Mahira Hafeez Khan, better known as Mahira Khan, is one of the most popular and highest-paid Pakistani actresses. She has garnered a huge fan following worldwide ever since she became the host of MTV’s Most Wanted in 2006. 

Khan was recently seen opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the Bollywood film Raees. She has won a lot of praises, nominations, and awards for her prominent roles and strong acting in Humsafar, Shehr-e-Zaat, Sadqay Tumhare, Bin Roye, Ho Mann Jahaan.

The versatile actress is not only recognized for her acting skills but also as a VJ and a host. In 2016, she won the ‘Unstoppable Emerging Talent from Pakistan’ award at the 1st Femina Middle East Women Awards and ‘Face to Watch Out For’ at Vogue Beauty Awards.

3. Mawra Hocane

Pakistani actress Mawra Hussain, popularly known as Mawra Hocane, started her career as a theatre artist and then became a VJ on ARY Musik. She made her Bollywood debut from the movie ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’ opposite Harshvardhan Rane in 2016. Although the movie didn’t do well at the box office, her acting skills were praised by many. She has also performed a realistic portrayal of ‘mazloom bahu’ in ‘Ek Tamanna Lahasil Si’ which brought everyone into tears.

4. Sohai Ali Abro

The gorgeous Sohai Ali Abro started her career with the serial ‘Saat Pardon Main’. Not just a great actor, she is also a brilliant dancer. Her notable performances won her award for the movie ‘Jawani Phir Nahi Ani’ and nominations for ‘Anjuman’ and ‘Wrong No.’

5. Sajal Ali

Sajal Ali is a Pakistani actress best known for playing different characters in serials from romantic and contemporary social genres. In 2011, she rose to fame when she gave a breakthrough performance in ARY Digital’s family drama ‘Mehmoodabad Ki Malkain’. 

Ali has given many hit TV serials including Sitamgar, Sannata, Chup Raho, and Meri Ladli. She earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of an aspiring actress in the relationship drama Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay (2016) and troubled child in the telefilm Behadd (2013).

Also in 2016, Ali ranked among the top 7 in the list of 10 hottest Pakistani actresses. Apart from being exceptionally talented, she is equally beautiful to be a part of the Hollywood industry.

6. Tooba Siddiqui

Tooba Siddiqui is a Pakistani top model and an eminent actress of Lollywood. She kickstarted her career in 2000 with Yasir Akhtar’s music video “My Love”. She also modeled for ‘Deevees’ and ‘Diva’. The talented and gorgeous actress has delivered many successful telefilms, TV serials, and short plays such as Ajnabee Shehr Mein, Dil hai Chota Sa, Dobara Phir Se, Vasl, Noor Bano, Vanee.

7. Sana Javed

Sana Javed is one of the highly talented actresses the Pakistani industry has. She rose to fame with a super hit drama named “Pyarey Afzal”. This charming actress has acted in many notable serials including Dil Ka Kia Rung Karun, Goya, Shehr e Zaat, Ranjish Hi Sahi, Meenu Ka Susral, and Meri Dulari.

8. Sanam Baloch

TV host and Pakistani actress Sanam Baloch is best known for her appearances in Dastaan, Ek Thi Marium, and Noorpur Ki Rani. Sanam has hosted various television shows like Diyoo, Subha Saveray Samaa Ke Saath, and Sanam Small Room. She has starred in a couple of Sindhi and Urdu music videos as well. 

Baloch won Pakistan Media Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the TV drama Dastaan. She was also nominated for Hum Award-Best Actress for Roshan Sitara and Lux Style Award-Satellite Best TV Actress for Noorpur Ki Rani.

9. Saba Qamar

Saba Qamar is one of the highly established actresses of Pakistan. Born in Hyderabad (Pakistan), she moved to Lahore for further studies and made her debut in 2005 with the TV drama ‘Main Aurat Hoon’. She rose to fame in 2007 with her commendable performance in ‘Jinnah Ke Naam’ and ‘Dhoop Mein Andhera Hai’. 

The actress has played unconventional roles in numerous highest-rated Urdu TV series, including Jo Chalay Tou Jaan Se Guzar gaye, Uraan, Main Chand Si, Maat, Thakan, Bunty I Love You, Dastaan, Bint e Adam, Sangat, and Digest Writer. Her performance in all these roles earned her critical acclaim as well as commercial success. She is also making her Bollywood debut with the movie ‘Hindi medium’ opposite Irrfan Khan. 

Qamar garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of singer Noor Jehan in the biographical drama ‘Manto’ and a rockstar in the travel-comedy Lahore Se Aagey (2016) which is among the highest-grossing Pakistani films of all time. 

Qamar’s role in Dastaan won her Best Actor award at the Pakistan Media Awards in 2011. And she also received the Best TV Actress (both jury and viewers choice) award at the 16th annual PTV Awards for her role in ‘Tinkay’. At the 17th Annual PTV Awards, she won the award for Best Actress-Jury for her role in Tera Pyar Nahin Bhoole. ‘Bunty I Love You’ also won her Best Actress at Hum Awards 2015.

10. Iman Ali

Born in Lahore, Iman Ali is a renowned Pakistani actress and daughter of Pakistani actor Abid Ali. She has acted in many TV dramas including Kismat, Chal Parha, Arman, Woh Tees Din, Pehla Pyar, and Kuch Log Roth Kar Kay Bhi. As a model, she worked with many notable Indian designers.

Ali bagged the best actress award at Lux Style Awards 2008 for the feature film ‘Khuda Kay Liye’.  She also played a supporting role in the film Bol. She has also been awarded Best Dressed Celebrity at Lux Style Awards 2006.

11. Ayeza Khan

Ayeza Khan is one of the popular TV actresses and models who has given a number of noteworthy performances in several Pakistani serials. She began her career in 2009 with romantic drama Tum Jo Miley but her claim to fame drama ‘Tootey Huwey Per’ came in 2011. 

Aks, Tum Kon Piya, Adhoori Aurat, Mere Meherbaan, and Kahi Unkahi gained Khan wide acclaim and helped her establish as a leading actress of Pakistan. She mesmerized a number of fans through her portrayal of character Farah Ibrahim in the 2014 social drama Pyarey Afzal and went on to win the Lux Style Award 2015 for Best Actress.

12. Ushna Shah

Ushna Shah is an emerging Pakistani TV actress who has won millions of hearts through her rock-solid performances in many serials. In 2013, she started her acting career on television with the drama serial Khudgarz, and her first movie ‘Teri Meri Love story’ came in 2016. 

Shah has been awarded as the Best Emerging Talent Female at the 4th Pakistan Media Awards for her serial ‘Aag’. She has also won an award for Best Soap Actress at the 3rd Hum Awards for ‘Hum Theray Gunehgaar’.

13. Mehwish Hayat

Known as Pakistani Princess, the multi-talented Mehwish Hayat is a Pakistani actress, model, and singer. She has delivered breakthrough performances in both negative and positive roles in several TV dramas like Man Jali, Kabhi Kabhi, Unsuni, Kami Reh Gaee, Mirat-ul-Uroos, and others.

14. Natasha Ali

Natasha Ali is a very popular actress seen in several Pakistani TV dramas. She made her debut appearance in PTV’s play 'Jaday Ka Chand'. She then did several other plays on PTV such as 'Shikan', 'Kabhi Kabhi Pyar Main,' and 'Natak Mandi'. She was also seen in 'Bichernay Se Pehle' (ATV), 'Woh Subah Kab Ayegi' (ATV), and 'Identity' (ARY Digital). 'Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat' (Geo TV), 'Anokhi' (A Plus), 'Rani Beti Raj Kare' (ARY Digital), and 'Lamha Lamha Zindagi' (ARY Digital) are other TV serials she has worked in.

15. Humaima Malick

Pakistani actress Humaima Malick is widely known for her appearance on television and in films. She started her modeling career at the young age of 14 with a Unilever Pakistan campaign. She then walked the ramp in many fashion shows for popular designers. She has worked in several unconventional serials including Talluq, Tanveer Fatima(B.A), Ishq Junoon Deewangi, and Barish Kay Ansoo.

Malick made her acting debut with the film ‘Bol’. In 2014, she also made her Bollywood debut with the movie Raja Natwarlal. Reportedly, she has signed a three-film contract with Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

With such charismatic appeal and phenomenal acting skills, don’t you think these actresses deserve to be seen in Hollywood too?