Zara Noor Abbas
Zara Noor Abbas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Zara Noor Abbas Gill March 13, 1991 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Known for | Television dramas such as Khamoshi, Dharkan, Lamhay, Qaid, Deewar-e-Shab, Ehd-e-Wafa, Phaans, Badshah Begum, Jhoom; Films Chhalawa and Parey Hut Luv |
Zara Noor Abbas Gill (; born 13 March 1991), also referred to as Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui, is a prominent Pakistani actress best known for her portrayal of Arsala in Momina Duraid's Khamoshi (2017). Her television portfolio includes notable titles such as Dharkan (2016), Lamhay (2018), Qaid (2018), Deewar-e-Shab (2019), Ehd-e-Wafa (2019), Phaans (2021), Badshah Begum (2022), and Jhoom (2023). She made her cinematic debut with Wajahat Rauf’s Chhalawa (2019) and appeared in Asim Raza’s Parey Hut Luv the same year.
Born to actress Asma Abbas and niece of Bushra Ansari and Sumbul Shahid, Abbas began her acting journey in theatre and short plays before transitioning to television. Her first TV appearance was in Hum TV’s Dharkan in 2016. She garnered critical acclaim for her role in Khamoshi, one of the highest-rated dramas in 2017, which established her as a leading actress in Urdu television. In 2018, she took on the role of Reham in the crime drama Qaid. The following year, she made a notable extended cameo as Feroza Jahan in Hum TV’s historical drama Deewar-e-Shab and portrayed Rani in ISPR’s military-themed series Ehd-e-Wafa.
Acknowledged by Gulf News and BBC journalists as an emerging star destined for prominence in Pakistan, Abbas subsequently led the cast of Badshah Begum. She continued to headline projects including the drama Jhoom and the series Standup Girl.
Early life
Born on 13 March 1991 in Lahore, Punjab, Abbas hails from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. She is the daughter of actress Asma Abbas, the niece of celebrated performers Bushra Ansari and Sumbul Shahid, and maternal granddaughter of writer Ahmad Bashir. Her heritage is Punjabi.
Career
Abbas holds a degree from Beaconhouse National University, where she specialized in film design, dance, theatre, and filmmaking. Her television debut came with Fahim Burney's 2016 drama Dharkan, portraying Areen alongside Adeel Chaudhary and Ghana Ali. The show aired for 18 episodes and earned positive feedback for her acting.
In 2017, she gained widespread recognition starring as Arsala in the acclaimed drama Khamoshi, featuring co-stars Bilal Khan, Affan Waheed, and Iqra Aziz. This series ranked among the most viewed dramas of that year and was nominated for Best Drama Serial at the Hum Awards. Her chemistry with Bilal Khan was notably praised, marking a pivotal moment early in her career. Ahmed Sarym from The Express Tribune highlighted her swift rise to both commercial success and critical acclaim.
During 2018, Abbas appeared in two dramas: Amna Nawaz Khan’s Lamhay, co-starring Shaz Khan and produced by Momina Duraid, and Qaid, where she played Reham, a home tutor confronting complications arising from a student's affection. Although Lamhay did not perform strongly in viewership ratings, her portrayal received commendation; meanwhile, Qaid garnered moderate reviews.
That same year marked her film debut with Parey Hut Luv, directed by Asim Raza, alongside stars such as Maya Ali, Mahira Khan, and Shehryar Munawar Siddiqui. Released in August 2019, it achieved commercial success. Additionally, she featured in Wajahat Rauf’s comedy-drama Chhalawa, acting opposite Mehwish Hayat, Azfar Rehman, and paired with her husband Asad Siddiqui. Both films performed well at the box office.
In 2019, Abbas took on the role of Rani in ISPR's military-themed drama Ehd-e-Wafa, acting opposite Osman Khalid Butt. While critics offered mixed opinions on the show, Sadaf Haider of DAWN Images lauded Abbas’s performance as "spectacular".
The year 2020 saw her starring alongside Siddiqui again in the dark thriller series Zebaish, where she depicted an ambitious girl from a small town. Despite the negative critical reception, she continued to take challenging roles. In 2021, Abbas portrayed a rape survivor seeking justice in the crime thriller Phaans. The following year, she led the political thriller focused on feudalism, Badshah Begum, sharing screen space with actors like Farhan Saeed, Yasir Hussain, and Ali Rehman Khan. Her character Jahan Ara was an ambitious woman navigating power struggles.
In 2023, Abbas portrayed a reserved medical professional who falls for a younger man in the romantic drama Jhoom. She is also slated to appear in Wajahat Rauf’s upcoming film Karachi Se Lahore 3, which is part of the popular Karachi Lahore (film series).
Personal life
In 2017, Abbas entered into matrimony with actor Asad Siddiqui, who is the nephew of Adnan Siddiqui. Their paths crossed while working on the set of Kis Ki Ayegi Baraat, and they solemnized their Nikah ceremony in Karachi, Pakistan. This union marked the second marriage for each of them. Subsequently, they collaborated professionally on the film Chhalawa as well as the drama series Zebaish. The couple is blessed with one daughter.
Off-screen work
Abbas is a vocal advocate against body-shaming within the entertainment industry. In June 2018, she presented a TED Talk entitled "Power of a Single Decision" at Government College University in Lahore. Additionally, she represented FnkAsia during Fashion Pakistan Week, where she spoke out about instances of mockery by fellow models. In November 2019, she joined forces with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to promote initiatives aimed at empowering refugees both in Pakistan and internationally.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Chhalawa | Haya Rafaqat | Wajahat Rauf | |
| Parey Hut Love | Shabbo | Asim Raza | ||
| Template:TBA | Aan † | TBA | Haseeb Hassan | Currently filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dharkan | Areen | Hum TV | Fahim Burney | |
| 2017 | Khamoshi | Arsala | Ilyas Kashmiri | ||
| 2018 | Lamhay | Aleena | Amna Nawaz Khan | ||
| 2018-19 | Qaid | Rehaam | Geo Entertainment | Mohsin Ali | |
| 2019 | Ehd-e-Wafa | Rani | Hum TV | Saife Hassan | |
| 2020 | Zebaish | Noushaba (Noshi) | Iqbal Hussain | ||
| 2021 | Phaans | Zeba | Syed Ahmed Kamran | ||
| 2022 | Badshah Begum | Jahan Ara | Khizer Idrees |
Telefilms
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dil Tera Hogaya | Roma | Geo Entertainment | Aehsun Talish | |
| 2022 | Love Life Ka Law | Maya | Ali Faizan Anchan |
Other appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Deewar-e-Shab | Feroza Jahan | Iqbal Hussain | Featured in episodes 1 and 2 |
Discography
| Year | Title | Co-singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Ye Watan Tumhara Hai" | Various artists | |
| 2021 | "Marjaavan" | Shani Haider |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | PISA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | ||
| 2022 | rowspan="2"|8th Hum Awards | Best Actress - Viewer's choice | rowspan="2"|Phaans | Template:Nom |
| Best Actress - Critic's choice | Template:Nom |