Marina Khan (born 26 December 1962)[1][2] is a Pakistani television and film actress, director, and producer.[1] She is one of the most popular actresses of her time and was one of the most successful actresses of 1980s and 1990s.[3] Her television shows include Tanhaiyaan (1985), Dhoop Kinare (1987), Kohar (1991), Nijaat (1993), Tum Se Kehna Tha (1995) and Tanha (1997). She went into hiatus in mid-2000s and made comeback on-screen with Tanhaiyan Naye Silsile (2012) which was the sequel to her debut series, Tanhaiyan. Khan made her film debut with a title role in the 2016 drama Lala Begum.[4]
Early life and family
Marina Khan was born on 26 December 1962 in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.[1] Her father Rehmat Khan came from a Pashtun family from Tank district, Dera Ismail Khan, while her mother Anna Rehmat was of English descent but settled in Peshawar. She is the granddaughter of Nawab of Tank Nawab Qutubdin Khan. Her father worked for the Pakistan Air Force and the family had to relocate almost every two years depending upon his job assignment. Marina and Kehkashan Awan were childhood friends since their junior school days and both of them went to same the Karachi College.[1] In an interview, Khan said that due to constant relocation she did not have long-term childhood friends.[1]
Acting career
Television career
Khan made her acting debut in a PTV series Nishan-e-Haider, and appeared in the episode paying tribute to Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Pakistan's national hero from the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Her breakthrough performance came in 1985 with the hit series Tanhaiyaan, where she played the lively and materialistic yet sensitive Sanya.[5] Khan has fondly referred to Tanhaiyaan as her "all-time favorite" project, crediting it for introducing her to the audience.[6]
The massive popularity of Tanhaiyaan led to the star cast reuniting for another series, the medical drama Dhoop Kinarey, which aired on PTV. Khan played the role of Dr. Zoya Ali Khan, a carefree and young doctor, in the series. Both her iconic portrayals in Tanhaiyaan and Dhoop Kinarey were featured in an article by The Express Tribune in 2021, highlighting Haseena Moin's empowered female characters of the 80s.[7]
Khan's subsequent projects showcased her versatility as a television personality. She took on directing and production roles, and even hosted her own cooking show. In 2007-2008, she hosted the show Marina Mornings on ARY Digital.[5][4]
In 2014, Marina Khan played Michelle, a Jackson Heights-based Pakistani-Christian restaurant owner, in Jackson Heights. Her performance was praised by Sadaf Siddique of Dawn, who described her as "a pleasure to watch."[8]
In 2018, Khan portrayed strict maternal roles in several projects, including Kaif-e-Baharan, Noor ul Ain, and Qaid. She also appeared as a superstitious mother in Dil Kiya Karay.[9][10] Her performance in the horror-drama Bandish was also praised.[11]
In 2020, Khan played an emotionally charged older mother in the family drama Aulaad.[6]
Film career
In 2016, Khan appeared in Mehreen Jabbar's short film Lala Begum, premiered at the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival. Played the titular role, Khan depicted a bitter lady in the film.[12] The following year, she made a cameo appearance in Punjab Nahi Jaungi and had recurring roles in the 2018 releases Na Maloom Afraad 2 and Parwaaz Hai Junoon.[13][14] Khan played a loveable maternal role in the 2022 release Yaara Vey.[15]
