Saleem Mairaj

Saleem Mairaj
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active1990s–present

Saleem Mairaj is a Pakistani actor who works in theatre, television and film. He began his career in Karachi's theatre scene in the 1990s before moving into television, making an early appearance in Afsoon Khwaab, an episode of the anthology series Aik Mohabbat Sau Afsanay.[1][2] He later appeared in television productions including Mann Mayal, Alif and 22 Qadam.[1][3]

Mairaj's film work includes Saawan, Laal Kabootar, Ghabrana Nahi Hai, Dum Mastam, John and Na Baligh Afraad.[4][5][6][7][8] He won Best Actor Male at the Pakistan Film Festival Australia for the short film Andha and has received nominations at the International Pakistan Prestige Awards.[9][10]

Career

Mairaj began his acting career in Karachi's theatre scene in the 1990s. His entry into theatre followed a performance at an Independence Day event in Lyari, Karachi, where director Shahid Shafaat of Katha Theatre and actress Sania Saeed saw him perform. Shafaat later invited him to work in theatre.[1] Mairaj later worked with Mansoor Saeed, Sheema Kermani's Tehrik-e-Niswan and Khalid Ahmed.[2] His theatre work included performances across Sindh and at the National School of Drama in New Delhi.[2]

His television career began in 1999, when director Mehreen Jabbar cast him in Afsoon Khwaab, an episode of the anthology series Aik Mohabbat Sau Afsanay.[1][2] He later appeared in television productions including Mann Mayal and Alif.[1]

In 2017, Mairaj had a lead role in Saawan, which was selected by the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee as Pakistan's submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards.[4] The film starred Mairaj alongside Syed Karam Hussain, Arif Bahalim, Najiba Faiz and Imran Aslam.[4]

In 2019, Mairaj appeared in several films, including Laal Kabootar, Talash, Kataksha and Heer Maan Ja.[5] In Laal Kabootar, he played Asad Mama, a target killer in Karachi.[11] He later appeared in Ghabrana Nahi Hai.[6]

In 2023, Mairaj played Daud in the film John.[7]

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Hell's Ground Balay [12]
2008 Ramchand Pakistani Vishesh [13]
2013 Main Hoon Shahid Afridi [14]
Josh Master Khalid [15]
2014 Na Maloom Afraad Abdul Qadeer [16]
2016 Actor in Law Mehboob Bhai [17]
Saawan Child abductor Pakistan's submission for the 90th Academy Awards[4][18]
2017 Rangreza Waseem's friend [19]
Na Maloom Afraad 2 Iqbal [20]
Raasta [21]
2018 Pari Abdullah [19]
2019 Talash Sardar Yousuf [5]
Heer Maan Ja [5]
Kataksha [5]
Laal Kabootar Asad Mama [22]
2022 Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad Corrupt sub-inspector Cameo appearance[23]
Chaudhry Tufail [24]
Ghabrana Nahi Hai Supporting role[6]
Dum Mastam Arif Tootiwala [25]
2023 Chikkar Arman Saleem Sawan [26]
John Daud [7]
Daldal [19]
Dhai Chaal [27]
2024 Na Baligh Afraad Shoukat [8][28][29]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Aik Mohabbat Sau Afsanay Segment: "Afsoon Khwaab"
2011 Kash Mein Beta Hoti Daud Ali Shah
2015 Gul-e-Rana Zaffri
Lucknow Wale Lateefullah Police sergeant
2016 Mann Mayal Jamil
2018 Khana Khud Garam Karlo
Laal
2019 Alif Sultan Shah
2021 Adiala Saleem Bhai
Khaab Toot Jaatay Hain
2023 22 Qadam Coach Qasim
2023 Khushbo Mein Basay Khat
2024 Neeli Kothi
Sources:[1][3][19]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref(s)
2017 International Pakistan Prestige Awards Best Supporting Actor Mann Mayal Nominated [30]
2021 Pakistan Film Festival Australia Best Actor Male Andha Won [9][31]
2023 International Pakistan Prestige Awards Best Supporting Role Male/Female Film Dum Mastam Nominated [10]
Ghabrana Nahi Hai Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Khan, Asif (23 May 2026). "Saleem Mairaj wants young actors to stop chasing marketing and start chasing the craft of acting". Images. Dawn. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Khan, Mariam (22 April 2017). "Saleem Meraj - Breezing Through The Land Of Acting". MAG The Weekly. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Saleem Mairaj". Hum TV. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Saawan selected as Pakistan's submission to Oscars 2018". Images. Dawn. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Mehmood, Yousuf (15 December 2019). "Saleem Meraj is Hopeful About the Future of Pakistani Cinema". PakistaniCinema.net. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Jawaid, Mohammad Kamran (1 May 2022). "The Icon Review: Brand new day for Pakistani cinema". dawn.com. Dawn. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Siddiqui, Shafiq Ul Hasan (25 August 2023). "A step in the right direction". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 Shabbir, Buraq (18 June 2024). "Pakistani flick 'Na Baligh Afraad' channels '90s nostalgia for laughs this Eid". arabnews.pk. Arab News Pakistan. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 Haq, Irfan Ul (1 July 2021). "Kaif Ghaznavi on why her character in short film Andha really resonates with her". Images. Dawn. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  10. 1 2 "IPPA Unveils Nominations for the 5th IPPA Awards to be held in Manchester". Daily The Azb. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "In the picture". thenews.com.pk. The News International. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Hell's Ground - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Ramchand Pakistani - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Main Hoon Shahid Afridi". Pakistani Film Mania. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Jawaid, Mohammad Kamran (2 August 2013). "Movie Review: Josh". dawn.com. Dawn. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Vote for the best in Pakistani films of 2014". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  17. ↑ ul Ain, Noor (15 September 2016). "Film Review 'Actor in Law': A Multifaceted Affair". Youlin Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Saawan - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Saleem Mairaj". Plex. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Na Maloom Afraad 2 - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Raasta". Pakistani Film Mania. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Laal Kabootar: Karachi Killing". Apple TV. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "5 Reasons not to miss 'Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad'". Youlin Magazine. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Chaudhry - Full Cast and Crew". Moviefone. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Dum Mastam - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Chikkar 2023 Full Cast & Crew". Pakistani Film Mania. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Suhayb, Muhammad (19 December 2023). "Film Review: Dhai Chaal". Youlin Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  28. ↑ Siddiqui, Shafiq Ul Hasan (7 July 2024). "Na Baaligh Afraad review: coming of age cinema comes to Karachi". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "NA BALIGH AFRAAD (Yet to Reach Maturity): The Coming-of-age Comedy". Youlin Magazine. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  30. ↑ Aziz, Maheen (16 January 2022). "Up-close and unapologetic: Mirza Gohar Rasheed". bolnews.com. BOL News. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "Pakistani short film Andha bags three awards at the first Pakistan Film Festival in Australia". MAG The Weekly. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
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