Ushna Shah

Ushna Shah
Shah in 2021
Born (1990-02-12) 12 February 1990 (age 34)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani, Canadian
Alma materYork University
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present
SpouseHamza Amin (m. 2023)
RelativesIrsa Ghazal (sister)

Ushna Shah (born 12 February 1990) is a Pakistani-Canadian film and television actress. Her accolades includes a Hum Award and a Pakistan Media Award, and a nomination for Lux Style Award.[1][2][3][4]

Shah graduated from the York University and made her debut with a supporting role in the 2013 romance Mere Khwabon Ka Diya, winning a Pakistan Media Award for Best Emerging Talent. After playing a series of roles, she starred as a struggling wife in the blockbuster thriller Bashar Momin (2014) and went on to feature as the female lead in the 2017 spiritual drama Alif Allah Aur Insaan and the 2018 psychological thriller Balaa, and earned further praise as a victim in the thriller Cheekh (2019), the love interest of the main character in the drama Parizaad (2022), and a naive wife in the romance Habs (2022).[5][6][7][8]

Early life

Shah was born on 12 February 1990, in Karachi, Sindh, to Muhammad Shah, a businessman, and Ismat Tahira, a veteran actress and a radio artist. She has one elder brother, Shah Sharabeel, a theater director, and an elder half-sister from her mother's first marriage, Irsa Ghazal, another television actress.[9][10] The family relocated to Toronto, when Shah was a child, where she was raised. Shah moved back to Pakistan in 2012, to pursue a career in acting.[11] Shah graduated with a major in English Literature and Professional Writing from the York University.[12][13]

Career

Shah began her career with character roles, including the serial Bashar Momin in 2014, the drama serial Duaa (2015) in which she played the title character, and Alif Allah Aur Insaan (2017) in the role of a beggar turned courtesan. She was cast in Jawad Bashir's Teri Meri Love Story in which she played the leading character Eesha, but the film was halted post-production and the official release never happened. She also starred in the first online Pakistani comedy film Oye Kuch Kar Guzar by D-juice Pakistan.[14][15] She then appeared as a guest in the film Punjab Nahi Jaungi in 2017.[16] She has been the brand ambassador for the fashion label Nickie Nina, and has done campaigns for various lawn brands such as Jahanara.[17] In June 2017 she wrote on Facebook criticizing what she said was the trend of various talk shows using Ramadan to cash in on television rating points.[18][19][20][21]

Personal life

Shah married professional golfer Hamza Amin, the son of golfer Taimur Hassan Amin, on 26 February 2023 in Karachi, two months after announcing her engagement.[22]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Teri Meri Love Story Esha
2017 Oye Kuch Kar Guzar Zara Hayat Released online by Djuice
Punjab Nahi Jaungi Herself Special appearance in song "Raat Ka Nasha"
2023 Chikkar Ayla Akbar

Television

Year Title Role Additional Notes Ref.
2013 Mere Khwabon Ka Diya Rahma Debut [6]
2014 Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain Shafeeqa Episode "Harjai" [23]
2013 Shehr-e-Yaaran Durr e Shehwar [6]
2013 Rukhsaar Mahrukh [6]
2014–2015 Aag Momina [24]
2014 Hum Tehray Gunahgaar Sara [6]
2014 Bashar Momin Rudaba [6]
2015 Piya Mann Bhaye Hania [25]
2015 Duaa Duaa [26]
2016 Bheegi Palkien Mehar Bano [27]
2016 Neelam Kinaray Sakina [28]
2016 Bitiya Hamaray Zamanay Mein Iraj [29]
2016 Ab Kar Meri Rafugari Taban Sultan [26]
2016 Thoda Sa Aasman Rakhshi [30]
2017 Alif Allah Aur Insaan Rani (Reena Begum) [31]
2017 Yeh Ishq Hai Tajwar Episode "Kiya Yahi Pyaar Hai" [32]
2017 Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain (season 2) Rozi/Sarah Episode 1, 25 [33]
2018 Lashkara Bubly [34]
2018 Ru Baru Ishq Tha Salwa [35]
2018 Balaa Nigar [36]
2019 Cheekh Nayab [37]
2019 Help Me Durdana Maheen [38]
2019 Choti Choti Batain Pareshay (Pari) Story 2 [39]
2019 Pinky Ka Dulha Pinky [40]
2019–2020 Bewafa Shireen [41]
2020 Dikhawa Rabia Episode 19 [42]
2020 Bandhay Aik Dor Se Maheen [43]
2021 Aakhir Kab Tak Noor [44]
Parizaad Naheed [45]
2022 Habs Ayesha Basit Khan [46]
2023 Daurr Shezray Hanif [47]
2024 Ghair Wafa
2024-present Aye Ishq-e-Junoon Aimen

Telefilm

  • 2013: Anokhay Raqeeb
  • 2013:Dil Kaleji Hogaya
  • 2014:Mujhse Shaadi Karogi
  • 2014: Rab Ne Bna Di Jodi
  • 2014: Zindagi Ab Bhi Muskurati Hai
  • 2014: Kuch Iss Tarha
  • 2015: Pyari Bhangan
  • 2015: Jhoot Wala Love
  • 2015: Rahay Salamat Jodi
  • 2016: Sab Say Mushkil Shaadi
  • 2016: Sanaullah Ki Dusri Shaadi
  • 2016: Socha Na Tha Pyaar Karenge
  • 2016: Aitebaar
  • 2017: Rishta Baraye Farokht
  • 2017: Meray Sanwariya Ka Naam
  • 2017: Aisay Na Tu Jaa
  • 2021: Hum Tum
  • 2022: Mast Mohabbat

Awards and nominations

References

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  2. ^ Fatima, Nayab (31 March 2019). "Coronavirus: Ushna Shah advises people to look after their health in better way". Dunya News. Lahore. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  3. ^ Mahmood, Aisha (14 October 2019). "Pakistani actor Ushna Shah voices support for victims of Australia bushfires". The News. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  4. ^ Fatima, Nayab (31 March 2020). "Ushna Shah advises Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar to 'put aside his ego' and apologies". Dunya News. Lahore. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. ^ Aqifa Amin. "Bashar Momin launched amidst glam". Daily Mail News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014.
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  7. ^ "Top five female celebs you should be following on Instagram - Daily Times". Daily Times. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  8. ^ Zia, Iman. "Ushna Shah Spoke Out About How Therapy Helped Her Control Her Anger On Sets". Mangobaaz. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
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  11. ^ "When women get together, we are unstoppable: Ushna Shah - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 20 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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  39. ^ "Angeline strikes back with 'Choti Choti Baatein'". The Nation. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
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  41. ^ "Ushna and Naveen to star opposite Ali Rehman Khan". Daily Times. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  42. ^ Dikhawa Episode 19 (Rishton Ki Dour) Ehsaas Ramzan | Iftaar Transmission | 13 May 2020, retrieved 15 May 2020
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