5 Female Pakistani TV Actors Whose Performances Have Won Us Over

Female Pakistani actors: When we talk of Pakistani dramas, what comes to our mind is rich content and strong female representation.

Women in dramas across the borders are more often than not, empowered individuals with an identity. They inspire us to stand up for ourselves and speak up whenever needed. Credits for bringing these characters to life go to none other than the talented actors.

Here are 5 female Pakistani actors, popular for their art:

1. Mahira Khan

With 7.5 Million followers on Instagram, Mahira Khan is one of the highest followed female Pakistani actors. A former VJ, Khan began her acting career with Shoaib Mansoor's 2011 movie Bol. She was seen opposite the renowned playback singer Atif Aslam in the movie.

Her character, Aisha comes from a conservative patriarchal background. In the course of the movie, we witness her journey of breaking all stereotypes and achieving her dreams with the help of her partner, Mustafa.

Mahira Khan is best known for her performance as Khirad in the drama Humsafar. Talking about her character, Khan said in an Instagram post, "Khirad is by far my most special character. She loved fiercely, she gave wholeheartedly and when it came to her self respect she held that closest to her heart. What a woman". Her fans indeed loved her performance as Khirad, so much so that they keep going back to watching the drama and drawing inspiration from her.

2. Humaima Malick

Humaima Malick is one of my personal favourite female Pakistani actors. Her debut too was with Shoaib Mansoor's empowering social drama Bol. Malick played the lead role in the movie. Zainub, a fiercely independent and opinionated woman raises questions every time her father tries to oppress her. Her performance received global recognition and she went on to win the award for the best female lead in the South Asian Rising Star Film Awards.

Malick has appeared in dramas like Talluq, Ishq Junoon Deewangi etc. In 2011, she played the role of Asghari, another strong and independent woman in Akbari Asghari. Her role went against all conventional notions of an 'ideal woman'. She refuses to succumb to the decisions her parents take regarding her marriage, manages to do two jobs along with her studies in order to support her family and she's definitely not the 'silent and docile' woman the society worships. Asghari has a voice and makes sure she is heard.

3. Sanam Saeed

Best known for her role as Kashaf in the drama Zindagi Gulzaar Hai, next in the list of female Pakistani actors comes Sanam Saeed. She won our hearts with the portrayal of a woman who refuses to give up on her dreams despite being a victim of circumstances. Kashaf is reluctant to the idea of marriage initially because she has seen how her father left her mother because she couldn't give him a son.

Fearing other men to be the same, she is determined to remain single and keeps working hard to achieve her goal. Even after she marries Zaroon, and is insulted by her mother-in-law for belonging to 'a lower class', Kashaf doesn't give up her self-respect and keeps up the identity of a strong and empowered woman throughout the drama.

4. Sanam Baloch

The audience immensely appreciated Sanam Baloch for her performance as Bano in the drama Dastaan. Based on Razia Butt's novel Bano, the drama highlights the plight of the people living in an undivided India. Bano is left in distress when she loses her mother at the time of partition and is left all by herself. Then begins the quest for her identity.

A woman who dreamt of living a happily married life with her fiancé Hassan is now compelled to seek shelter from complete strangers. Her miseries, however, do not end here. She is forced into a marriage and is captivated by it for 5 long years. She is finally able to escape when her husband dies after accidentally falling from the roof.

Baloch played the role with utmost perfection. She brought out Bano's struggles, difficulties, emotions, hopefulness and despair in the best possible manner. What Bano went through ages ago continues to remain the story of several South Asian women even in today's time. The actor's performance tells the untold tale of all such women and gives them the strength to stand up for themselves.

5. Saba Qamar

Saba Qamar's fans both in India and her home country, cannot stop applauding her for her performance in Baaghi, a drama based on the life of the controversial social media sensation Qandeel Baloch. Her brother murdered her in the name of honour and Qamar's performance left the viewers speechless.

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Qamar was asked if she felt that people's outlook towards honour killings has changed after watching Baaghi. To this, she answered, "To some extent, it has changed. And I say that because the same people who were abusing her were the ones crying after watching the last episode. They were the ones who then had a soft corner for her."

"I think they finally understood how she was wronged on so many levels". She added, "I believe that, as artists, we are fortunate enough to have a platform which we can use to change people’s perceptions and views. We can portray stories that are meaningful and thought-provoking for the greater good of the country and the world".

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Views expressed are the author's own.