Saima Noor is a Pakistani actress who appears in Pakistani films and television dramas. She rose to prominence after starring in the film Choorian (1998), which is regarded as one of the highest-grossing Pakistani films of all time.[1] Some of her other notable film credits include Buddha Gujjar (2002), Majajan (2006), and Bhai Log (2011), all of which were commercial successes. She was one of the country's leading film actresses during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Saima Noor
صائمہ نور
Born (1967-05-05) 5 May 1967 (age 57)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1987 – present
SpouseSyed Noor (married 2005–present)
AwardsNigar Award in 1999

Saima's film work spans many genres, including the supernatural film Naag aur Nagin (2005) and the biographical film Salute (2016).[2] She has also established a career in the Pakistani television industry and has appeared in various television series, including Rang Laaga (2015), Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai (2015), and Babban Khala Ki Betiyann (2018–2019).[3]

In 2005, she married director Syed Noor with whom she has worked on a number of films.[2]

Early life

Saima was born in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. She belongs to a Pathan family.[4][2]

Career

Film career

Saima was introduced to the film industry by Nagina Khanum, making her debut in the 1987 film Griban. She then starred in her second film, Khatarnaak, which was directed by Akram Khan. During her early years in the film industry, she was mostly paired opposite actor Sultan Rahi in Punjabi films, but was recognized as a leading actress when filmmaker Syed Noor launched her career in Urdu films.[2] Her biggest commercial success came out in 1998 when she starred in the musical-romantic film Choorian which gathered a total amount of roughly Rs. 200 million and became the highest grossing Punjabi-language film in Pakistan, thus establishing her as a leading actress in Lollywood.[1] She portrayed the second lead role of Tanya in the acclaimed revenge thriller film Khilona which had Meera and Saud in leading roles. In 2000, she played the character of a fearless girl in the film Jungle Queen, who is a female Tarzan-type living in the jungle, swings on vines, rides elephants, etc. It was directed by her husband Syed Noor. In 2005, she appeared as a serpent in the supernatural-fantasy film Naag aur Nagin.' In 2011, she played the role of Munniya in the action film Bhai Log, which was a moderate box-office success, earning over Rs. 9.7 million in the first three days of its release.[5]

In 2012, she was paired opposite Shaan in the family film Shareeka, which had a decent opening on the box-office, accumulating over Rs. 3 million alone on the first three days of screening.[6] Saima has also appeared in a biographical drama film called Salute which was based upon the life of Aitzaz Hasan.[7]

In 2022, she worked in the Punjabi film Tere Bajre Di Rakhi.[8]

Television

Apart from films, she has also appeared in a number of television series, including Rang Laaga, Kaneez, Ye Mera Deewanapan Hai, and Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai. In 2018, she was signed opposite Sarmad Khoosat in the drama series Lamhay.[9]

Personal life

Despite being romantically linked to Syed Noor, it was not officially revealed that whether she had married him or not. In 2007, during a press conference, Saima publicly stated that she married Syed Noor in July 2005, during the making of their mutual film Majajan.[2]

In 2018, some media publications and online websites reported that Syed Noor had divorced Saima and the two are living separately. However, the couple denied these rumours and released a short clip on social media stating that they are happily married and will never separate.[10]

In the media

Saima was one of the most popular and leading film actresses in Pakistan during the 1990s and early 2000s.[11] In 2017, The Express Tribune published an article on the topic of the lack of new heroines in the revival of Lollywood, in which Saima was cited as being lucky for the industry as she belongs to Southern Punjab.[4] Film critic Omair Alavi from The News International praised her acting credibility and wrote that, "You can see why directors have continued to cast her over the years".[12] In 2010, BBC News dubbed her as the "reigning queen of Pakistan's silver screen" and noted that she is "now one of the biggest names in the industry".[13]

After the decline of Pakistani film industry, Saima made her television debut and went on to become one of the highest-paid actresses in television along with actress Resham who was her contemporary from the 1990s.[3]

Selected filmography

Year Film
1987 Griban
1994 Zameen Aasman[14]
1994 Saranga[14]
1996 Ghunghat[14]
1998 Choorian[14]
1998 Dupatta Jal Raha Hai
2000 Billi
2000 Jungle Queen
2001 Uff Yeh Beewian
2001 Moosa Khan
2003 Larki Punjaban
2003 Roti Goli Aur Sarkar
2005 Naag aur Nagin
2005 Bau Badmash
2006 Qaidi Yaar
2006 Majajan
2007 Jhoomar
2008 Gulabo
2008 Zill-e-Shah
2010 Channa Sachi Muchi
2010 Wohti ley ke jaani aye
2011 Jugni
2011 Aik Aur Ghazi
2011 Bhai Log
2012 Shareeka
2013 Ishq Khuda
2016 Salute
2022 Tere Bajre Di Rakhi

Television

Year Title Role Network Ref.
Nautankee ATV
Sooli Aaj TV
2007 Piya Naam Ka Diya Sitara Geo TV [15]
Kaneez Malkaan A-Plus [15]
2015 Rang Laaga Shehnaz ARY Digital [16]
2015 Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai Mehtab A-Plus [17]
2017 Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai ARY Digital
2018 Lamhay A-Plus [9]
2018 Babban Khala Ki Betiyann Ishrat ARY Digital
2018 Kho Gaya Woh BOL Entertainment [18]

Accolades

Ceremony Category Project Result
1st Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress N/A Nominated
2nd Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Dakoo Nominated
3rd Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Larki Panjaban Nominated
3rd Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Commando Nominated
6th Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Majajan Won
Best Film Won
8th Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Zill-e-Shah Nominated
8th Lux Style Awards Best TV Actress (Satellite) Nautankee Won
9th Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Nach Ke Yar Manana Won
15th Lux Style Awards Best TV Actress Rang Laaga Nominated
2nd Pakistan Media Awards Best Film Heroine Wohti Lay Kay Jani Aai Won
3rd Pakistan Media Awards Best Film Heroine Jugni Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mahmood, Rafay (5 November 2013). "Choorian, not Waar retains title as Pakistan's highest-grossing film". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "'Marriage' disclosed". Dawn. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Saima & Resham – Profiles - MAG THE WEEKLY website". Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b Lodhi, Adnan (20 July 2017). "Lollywood distressed over lack of new heroines". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  5. ^ Khan, Sher; Mahmood, Rafay (7 September 2011). "Cinemas come back to life". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  6. ^ Khan, Sher (24 August 2012). "Shareeka calls out to Punjabi-film enthusiasts". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  7. ^ Hasan, Shafiq ul (5 December 2016). "I Salute you, Aitzaz Hassan". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. ^ "TikTok star Jannat Mirza to make her film debut with 'Tere Bajre Di Rakhi'". The News International. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b Ghafoor, Usman (5 March 2018). "Saima Noor to star opposite younger Sarmad Sultan Khoosat". Gulf News. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  10. ^ Lodhi, Adnan (15 February 2018). "Syed Noor and wife Saima publicise their current relationship status". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  11. ^ "The Lollywood Girls - Whiling Away Time | Talking Point - MAG THE WEEKLY". www.magtheweekly.com.
  12. ^ Alavi, Omair. "5 reasons to Salute Aitzaz Hasan's biopic". The News International. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  13. ^ "In pictures: Pakistan's cinema art". BBC News. 13 May 2010.
  14. ^ a b c d "Filmography of Saima Noor". Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Saima & Resham – Hits on Television! | MISCELLANEOUS - MAG THE WEEKLY". magtheweekly.com. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Lux Style Awards 2016 nominations revealed at star-studded event". The Express Tribune. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  17. ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (10 November 2019). "Junaid Khan doesn't take competition too seriously". Dawn Images. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  18. ^ Kho Gaya Woh Episode 01 | Pakistani Drama | 04 December 2018 | BOL Entertainment, retrieved 17 November 2022