Nadia Afgan
Pakistani actress and comedian
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Nadia Afgan is a Pakistani actress who appears in Urdu films and television. She is known for her work in theatre and television. Her numerous works on television include a series of plays in both Urdu and Punjabi. She rose to prominence when she appeared in the hit TV serial Family Front in 1997. Further success came in 2000 with PTV Home's mostmemorable sitcom, Shashlik, which was later re-aired on Geo TV in 2011.[1] Afghan garnered wider appreciation for her comic role in Hum TV's blockbuster comedy drama Suno Chanda (2018), and for its sequel, Suno Chanda 2, as Shahana Batool the following year.[2][3]
7 September 1970
- Actress
- Director
- Producer
- Host
Nadia Afgan | |
|---|---|
| نادیہ افگن | |
| Born | Nadia Afgan 7 September 1970 Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1990 – present |
| Movement | Clean Water Access for Everyone |
Early life
Nadia Afghan was born in Karachi and is the first-born among four siblings.[4] Her parents are Naila Afghan and Tanvir Afghan, a retired Group Captain from the Pakistan Air Force. Due to her father's military postings, Nadia lived in various cities throughout her childhood. Inspired by her father's career, she aspired to become a fighter pilot herself but was unable to pursue this dream due to gender restrictions at the time.[4]
Career
Afgan started her career as an actress at PTV Lahore Center.[5] She hosted talk shows and nighttime transmissions of PTV for early few years. In late 1990s and early 2000s, her comic roles in PTV's sitcoms such as Family Front, 1 2 3, and Hubahu earned her prominence but she gained recognition with her portrayal of Mishi in Sarmad Khoosat's directorial Shashlik. In early 2010s, besides her portrayals of comic roles, she played dramatic to tragic roles in Bilqees Kaur, Shehr-e-Zaat, Dil Muhallay Ki Haveli and Sannata.[6] In 2016, she directed A&B Entertainment's Shaam Dhaley, and played a supporting role in it as well.[1][7] In 2017, Afgan received her first ever award nomination–Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying an orphan nurse in Noorul Huda Shah's written and Saife Hassan's directorial Sammi. In 2018, her career saw a resurgence when besides popularity she gained widespread acclaim and various accolades for her portrayal of Shahana Batool, a typical Punjabi mother in Saima Akram Chaudhry's written Ramadan special Suno Chanda.[8] The same year, her directorial venture Parlour Wali Larki debuted on Bol TV which revolves around two small town girls and their dreams and aspirations.[1] In 2018, she respired her role of Shahana Batool in the sequel of Suno Chanda. In 2021, she received little praise for her role of a dutiful police officer in Shahzad Kashmiri's Parizaad.[9] In 2022, she was praised for portraying the powerful head of a saraiki clan in Abullah Badini's Dushman.[10] Following the success of Suno Chanda, she appeared in another Saima Akram Chaudhry's written, Kala Doriya in the same year, where she portrayed Tanno, a character similar to Shahana Batool.[11] In 2023, Afgan portrayed Shamim, a selfless lover in Kashif Nisar's directed Kabuli Pulao.[5]
In 2025, Afgan portrayed the gullible housewife from a small neighborhood in drama Sharpasand.[12]
Personal life
She is married to Jodi Pai, and the couple has been open about their decision not to have children. Nadia frequently shares her love for her pets, highlighting the joy and companionship they bring to her life.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Manto | Saugandhi | [1] |
| 2019 | Darling | Nagina | Short film[13] |
| Zindagi Tamasha | TV show Host | Cameo |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Maya | Shamim | PTV | |
| 1993 | Nazli | Rabia | ||
| 1994 | 1 2 3 | Sharmim | [5] | |
| 1995 | Home Sweet Home | Firdaus | ||
| 1996 | Teesra Aadmi | Nadia | ||
| 1997 | Family Front | Bushra | [14] | |
| 2000 | Hubahu | Sonia | [1] | |
| 2001 | Shashlik | Mishal (Mishi) | [1] | |
| 2004 | Qurban Tere Ishq Pe | Zebunnisa | ||
| 2006 | Mr and Misses | Shaista | ||
| 2010 | Jinhein Raste Main Khaber Hui | Bilqees | ||
| Ye Jugnu Hamaray | Shazia | |||
| 2011 | Karakti Bijliyan | Samina | ||
| Shashlik Xtra Hot | Mishi | |||
| 2012 | Mere Huzoor | Saleha | ||
| Chalo Phir Se Jee Kay Dekhein | Shazia | |||
| Afsar Bekar e Khaas | Saima | |||
| Black & White | Noor | |||
| Wilyti Desi | Ayesha | |||
| Larka Karachi Ka Kuri Lahore di | Anjuman | [1] | ||
| Raju Rocket | Sameen | [14] | ||
| Bilqees Kaur | Mumtaz | [1] | ||
| Shehr-e-Zaat | Tabinda | Hum TV | [15] | |
| 2013 | Sannata | Husna | [1] | |
| Dil Mohallay Ki Haveli | Safiya | [5] | ||
| Zindagi Teray Bina | Safiya | [16] | ||
| 2014 | Ladoon Mein Pali | Samreen | ||
| 2015 | Surkh Jorra | Sabiha | ||
| 2016 | Shaam Dhaley | Wajeeha | Director also[1][7] | |
| Baaghi | Esma | [17] | ||
| Faltu Larki | Lubna | [1] | ||
| 2016 | Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain | Amina/Kausar | Hum TV | Episode 9 and 17 |
| 2017 | Sammi | Naheed | Nominated — Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress[18] | |
| Dil-e-Nadaan | Hina | Geo Entertainment | [19] | |
| 2018 | Zamani Manzil Kay Maskharay | Mehrunnisa | ||
| Suno Chanda | Shahana Jamshed Ali aka Shanoo | Hum TV | Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Hum Award for Most Impactful Character[20][21] | |
| Dukh Kam Na Hoge | Saima | |||
| Parlour Wali Larki | Rahat | Director also[14] | ||
| 2019 | Hoor Pari | Hajra | ||
| Suno Chanda 2 | Shahana Jamshed Ali aka Shanoo | Hum TV | [22] | |
| Bhool | Shabana | ARY Digital | [23] | |
| 2020 | Tum Se Kehna Tha | Saba Chaudhary | ||
| 2021 | Dil Na Umeed To Nahi | Batool a.k.a. Batoolan | PTV | [24] |
| Terha Aangan | Shakila | |||
| Parizaad | DSP Badar Munir | Hum TV | [14] | |
| 2022 | Ibn-e-Hawwa | Shabratan | ||
| Sang-e-Mah | Sheherzaad's boss | |||
| 2022-2023 | Dushman | Malkani | PTV | [10] |
| Kala Doriya | Tehniyat Shuja Ahmed A.K.A Tanno | Hum TV | [11] | |
| 2023 | Kabuli Pulao | Shamim | Green Entertainment | [5] |
| Khel | Rafiya | |||
| Honey Moon | Shabnam | |||
| Tere Ishq Ke Naam | Ronaq Jehan | |||
| 2024 | Radd | Shehla Zamin Shah | ARY Digital | |
| Jafaa | Sadia | Hum TV | ||
| Pas-e-Dewar | Najm-Ul-Nisa | Green Entertainment | ||
| Tan Man Neel o Neel | Mehnaz | Hum TV | ||
| 2025 | Dastakhat | Kulsoom | ||
| Sher | Saiqa | ARY Digital | ||
| Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi | Farida | Hum TV | [25][26] | |
| SharPasand | Rubina "Ruby" | ARY Digital | [27] | |
| 2026 | Aik Aur Pakeeza | Aliya | Geo Entertainment | [28] |
Telefilm
Web series
Accolades
| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Result | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Hum Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sammi | Nominated | [18] |
| 2019 | Suno Chanda | Won | [31] | ||
| Most Impactful Character | Nominated | ||||
| 2020 | Pakistan International Screen Awards | Best Television Actress in Comedy role | Won | [32] |
Philanthropy
Nadia has recently become active in the charitable sector, with a particular focus on water-related relief efforts. She launched a fundraising campaign with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan aimed at improving access to clean drinking water in Pakistan. Through her initiative, she successfully raised over PKR 1 million, which has been allocated to sponsor the installation of a water filtration plant in the region.