Laila Wasti

Wasti was born on 3 June 1977 in Karachi, Pakistan. She completed her studies from Saint Joseph Convent, she graduated with English Literature.^[2] Then she went to the United States,^[2] studying at University of California, Los Angeles, where she did her masters in filmmaking.^[3][4] Laila's mother Tahira Wasti and father Rizwan Wasti were also actors.^[5][6]

Although initially uninterested to act in television productions, Wasti felt inclination towards it during her first project in the 1990s, PTV's Begum Haveli, a telefilm which was written by her mother Tahira Wasti.^[7][8][2] She was noted for her roles in PTV's productions such as Eaitraf, Pukaar, Saibaan, Operation Dwarka 1965, Heer Waris Shah and Eendhan.^[9][10] In 2000, she appeared in Badlon Par Basera as a Pakistani-US coping with a failed relationship.^[11] Wasti then returned to television after a hiatus of ten years,^[8] in television serials such as Sangsar in 2017,^[12] followed by Daldal and Qurban in the same year, and Teri Meri Kahani in the following year.^[13][14] In 2020, she portrayed a loving and doting maternal figure in Dil Ruba.^[15] In 2021, she played Mahira Khan's mother in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay and Sajal Aly's mother in Ishq E Laa.^[8][16] In 2024, she portrayed a submissive wife of a ruthless tribal man in Khaie.^[17]

Wasti married Fahad on 27 December 2008.^[2] They have one child together.^[2][18] Shortly after her marriage, she was diagnosed with Leukemia.^[2] She went to U.S for the treatment,^[19] and after 6–7 years of painful treatment, she finally survived cancer.^[2][20] Wasti's father Rizwan Wasti died in 2011 and her mother Tahira Wasti died in 2012.^[21] She has two older brothers Rehan Wasti and Adnan Wasti.^[22][23] Her cousin Maria Wasti is also an actress.^[24][25]