Arifa Siddiqui

Arifa was born on 9 June 1969 in Lahore, Pakistan. She is the daughter of actress Talat Siddiqui who worked for Pakistan radio and film industry.^[2][3] Her sister Nahid Siddiqui is a classical dancer and was, at one time, married to another television personality Zia Mohyeddin. Arifa is also a cousin to another noted Pakistani pop and TV singer Fariha Pervez and her aunt Rehana Siddiqui was a film actress.^[2]

Arifa started acting and singing at a very young age. She appeared in various TV serials and programs in Pakistan. Her most famous work is in Dehleez (1981), Sona Chandi (1983), Samundar (1983), Khawaja and Son (1985) and Ainak Wala Jin (1993). Arifa Siddiqui was a likeable and talented actress whose smile was infectious.^[4] She had a reputation for delivering her on-screen dialogue with perfect pronunciation.^[5][6]

Arifa first married aged 26 years with Ustad Nazar Hussain age 56 who was 30 years older than her. He was a music composer and singer at PTV, Lahore, who also was her music teacher.^[2] This was a love marriage and lasted successfully for 23 years till his death due to lung cancer in January 2018. Arifa had quit the TV industry after her first marriage.^[1][5][7] After the death of Ustad Nazar Hussain, she married Tabeer Ali who is also a composer and singer.^[5][1]