Sahira Kazmi

Sahira Kazmi
Born
Sahira Ansari

(1950-04-08) 8 April 1950[1]
Bombay, India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Newscaster
Years active1970–2005
Spouse
​
(m. 1974)​
ChildrenAli Kazmi (son)
Nida Kazmi (daughter)
Parent(s)Sunder Shyam (father)
Mumtaz Qureshi (mother)
RelativesZeb Qureshi (aunt)
Shakir Ansari (brother)
AwardsPride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan (2012)

Sahira Kazmi (Urdu: ساحرہ کاظمی) is a retired Pakistani actress, newscaster, producer and director. She is best known for her role in the country's first-ever colour television series Parchaiyan (1976) and for producing the cult-classic blockbuster series Dhoop Kinare (1987) and the acclaimed drama Nijaat (1993).[2] She along with Uzma Gillani, Roohi Bano, Tahira Naqvi and Khalida Riyasat dominated the television screens of Pakistan during the 1970s and 1980s.[3]

She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of South Asian television, having fundamentally shaped the golden era of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).[4]

Kazmi first rose to national prominence as a leading actress in the 1970s, starring in landmark productions such as Parchaiyan (1976), before transitioning behind the camera.[4] As a director, she broke institutional glass ceilings, delivering cultural masterpieces like Dhoop Kinare (1987) and helming socially conscious television that championed women's rights and public health.[4] For her monumental contributions to the arts, she was honored with the prestigious Pride of Performance award by the Government of Pakistan.[5]

Early life

Kazmi was born on 8 April 1946 in Bombay to Shyam and Mumtaz Qureshi (also known as Taaji), both actors and prominent figures in the film industry of British India and her aunt Zeb Qureshi was also an actress in Hindi Cinema.[6] However, after her father Shyam's tragic death in 1951, her family moved to Karachi, which was part of the new state of Pakistan.[7] Sahira's mother, Mumtaz remarried a Pakistani entrepreneur with the surname Ansari. Sahira and her brother Shaakir changed their surnames and became Sahira Ansari and Shakir Ansari. Sahira and her brother also joined the acting field and both became prominent names in Pakistan's acting industry.[8]

Career

Early Career and Newscasting (1970–1974)

Following her graduation, Kazmi's family relocated from Karachi to Islamabad.[4] In 1970, out of sheer boredom and at the strong insistence of a close family friend, Aslam Azhar—the managing director and "founding father" of PTV—she auditioned at the PTV Rawalpindi/Chaklala center.[4] Though her underlying passion was behind-the-scenes filmmaking, the lack of formal training facilities at the time led Azhar to guide her toward hands-on experience via the newsroom.[4] She was subsequently hired as an English language newscaster, an appointment that served as her introduction to the television medium.[4]

Sahira's career began in the 1970 when she started working as newscaster and would read news in english and later she started acting in PTV dramas in Rawalpindi.[4]

Acting Stardom (1974–1980s)

Kazmi's modern aesthetic, commanding screen presence, and natural confidence quickly caught the attention of network producers, prompting her transition into fiction programming.[4]

She made her formal acting debut was in Qurbatein aur Faslay as the female lead in this acclaimed series, which was an adaptation of Ivan Turgenev's classic Russian novel Fathers and Sons.[4] The project paired her for the first time with a young actor and former civil servant, Rahat Kazmi.[4] The duo's natural chemistry captivated the nation.[4]

Kazmi achieved nationwide stardom when she was cast in Pakistan's first-ever color television drama serial Parchaiyan.[5] Adapted by Haseena Moin from Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady, the serial cemented her status as a premier television actress.[9]

She reunited with Rahat Kazmi in Teesra Kinara which was a massive television hit, which was based on Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead.[4] Her performances during this era defined the archetypal intelligent, independent Pakistani woman on screen.[10]

She also acted in dramas Sangsaar, Sawan Roop, Picnic and Anjanay Main[11][12]

Directing and Producing (1980s–2000s)

Later, Sahira realized her passion lay in directing content and soon she turned towards directing and producing dramas. She had already directed a number of programmes after her first play. but she made her debut as a director when she launched the series Hawa ke Naam.[5] The highlighted women's rights and their imaging in Pakistan. Sahira joined Pakistan television Karachi center as a permanent employee and worked as director.[13] She directed many dramas that went on to become a classic in the film industry.[14] Some of her best known dramas such as Tappish, Dhoop Kinaray, Khaleej, Aahat, Hawa Ki Beti, Nijaat and Zaibunnissa, Dhoop Kinaray (1987), written by Haseena Moin, and starred Rahat Kazmi and Marina Khan.[15][16] The drama became Sahira's most notable work in her production career.[17][18] The series succeeded even after two decades of its production.[19][20] In 2019, the series were also translated into Arabic, to play the drama in Saudi Arabia.[9][21] The step was taken as part of a cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.[22][23] Federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom.[24][25] Arab News said the move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernize the Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.[26][27]

Sahira is known for producing dramas and plays that highlighted social and political issues. Her drama Tappish revolved around a student leader and also highlighted the issue of rape. Aahat, Nijaat, Hawa Ki Beti and Zaib-Un-Nisa highlighted with issues like poverty, domestic abuse and hardships of women.[28] in 1993, Sahira took a break from her career and came back with a new project Tum Se Kehna Thaa; a play inspired by the Hollywood film While you were sleeping.[29] Sahira is also made the hit telefilms Rozi, which starred actor Moeen Akhter and Zikr Hai Saal Kaa, starring Rahat Kazmi and Atiqa Odho. She also produced the drama Kaise Kahoon, which starred the actress Marina Khan.[30][31]

Sahira has also produced many music programs for PTV. She was behind the song "Dekha Na Tha Kabhi Hum Nay Yeh Saman" , which was sung by the singer Alamgir. Sahira also came up with a song "Tere Ishq Mein Jo Bhi Doob Gaya", sung by the folk singer Allan Fakir and pop star Mohammad Ali Shehki. The song combined the words of Urdu and Sindhi.[32]

Personal life

In the mid 1970s, Sahira married Rahat Kazmi; a prominent actor with whom Sahira had worked in many dramas.[33][34] It was then that Sahira changed her name to Sahira Kazmi. The two lived in Karachi and had a daughter Nida Kazmi and son Ali Kazmi.[35][36]

Filmography

Acting

Television series

Year Title Role Network
1974Qurbatein Aur FaslayAliyaPTV
1975SangsaarBushraPTV
1976ParchaiyanNajiaPTV[37]
1980Sawan RoopZareenPTV
1980Teesra KinaraMehreenPTV
1983PicnicIffatPTV
1983Anjanay MainSamiyaPTV

Director and Producer

Awards and recognition

During the ceremony, Sahira said:

I’m very glad that my work has been recognized after a while and not long after I am gone from the scene! We should pay tribute to other people who have done things during their lifetime.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "The First Power Couple of Television in Pakistan: Sahira and Rahat Kazmi". Youlin Magazine. 22 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Ahmad, Bisma (13 March 2015). "Old but not forgotten: Top 10 Pakistani dramas to re-watch now". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "PTV's golden age". The Express Tribune. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "The portrait of a lady". Aurora Dawn News. 10 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Civil awards: Pride of the nation". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 15 August 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  6. ↑ Phukan, Vikram (9 November 2018). "Why Nandita Das' 'Manto' is an important document". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Bali, Karan (28 February 2016). "Manto to Shyam — 'Lahore, Amritsar and Rawalpindi are all where they used to be'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. ↑ editor2 (12 April 2016). "Exclusive Interview With Sahira Kazmi And Rahat Kazmi". Home - ARY NEWS. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 "Classic TV serials Dhoop Kinare, Taanhaiyaan to be aired in Saudi Arabia". Daily Pakistan Global. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Special Report, NOS, The News International". jang.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. ↑ Jangnews. "Sahira and Rahat Kazmi".
  12. ↑ "I took retakes just to hug Rahat Kazmi, says Iffat Omar". 24 News HD. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Ahmed, Shoaib (3 July 2017). "Today's dramas don't depict the society we belong to, says Amjad Islam Amjad". Images. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Pakistani dramas that once appealed to every group have now glued themselves to feminist issues only". The Nation. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  15. ↑ ""I was the kind of girl that I portrayed in most of my plays." | Instep | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  16. ↑ Meenakshi Sinha (3 January 2010). "Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyaan still remembered fondly - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "Must watch 10 Pakistani dramas of the yesteryear!". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Our Remake Of The Classic Drama "Dhoop Kinare"". Niche. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "In Conversation with Marina Khan". The Friday Times. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Sajid Hassan reveals he was never paid for Dhoop Kinare | SAMAA". Samaa TV. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Classic Pakistani drama 'Dhoop Kinare' ready to air in Saudi Arabia". News Box. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "Dhoop Kinare to air in Saudi Arabia with Arabic dubbing". Something Haute. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "Popular PTV drama Dhoop Kinare to air in Saudi Arabia". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Zoya Nasir shares a fun fact as 'Dhoop Kinare' heads to Saudi Arabia". ARY NEWS. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  25. ↑ Ali, Arshad (5 April 2019). "Classic Pakistani play, Dhoop Kinare, to on air in Saudi Arabia". Khyber News -Official Website. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "Nothing lost in translation: Two more Pakistani serials to enthrall Saudi Arabia". Arab News PK. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "Arabic version of 'Dhoop Kinare' ready for airing in Saudi Arabia". The Express Tribune. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "Events in Lahore: TOWN TALK | Shehr | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  29. ↑ "'The actor woke up and realised she never wanted to act'". The Express Tribune. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "Where is Marrina Khan? - Dr. Dushka H. Saiyid - Youlin Magazine". www.youlinmagazine.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  31. ↑ "Eleven ignored dramas of Marina Khan". The Nation. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  32. ↑ Dawnnews (8 March 2017). "Sahira Kazmi".
  33. ↑ "Once Upon A Time..." Newsline. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  34. ↑ "Ali Kazmi shooting with 'Game of Thrones' director | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  35. ↑ "Most Talented Pakistani Drama Actor Siblings Nida Kazmi And Ali Kazmi's Latest Pictures With Their Families". Health Fashion. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  36. ↑ "Sahira Kazmi Archives". Watch Latest Episodes of ARY Digital. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  37. ↑ "PTV yesterday and today | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  38. ↑ "Dhoop Kinaray | Pakistan Today". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  39. ↑ NewsBytes. "Classic Pakistani play, Dhoop Kinare, to air in Saudi Arabia this June". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  40. ↑ Web Desk (13 August 2020). "Our content was once glorious". The Financial Daily. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 Women's Year Book of Pakistan - Volume 4. Ladies Forum Publications. p. 258.
  42. ↑ "نگار ایوارڈز سال 1988". Nigar Weekly (in Urdu). Golden Jubilee Number: 297. 2000.
  43. ↑ "نگار ایوارڈز برائے سال 1990". Nigar Weekly (in Urdu). Golden Jubilee Number: 297. 2000.
  44. ↑ "Star & Style Season 3 | Dhoop Kinare Special Show". Pakistan Television Corporation. 19 June 2023.
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