Zara Sheikh
Encyclopedia
Zara Sheikh is a Pakistani model
, actress and singer. She began her career through an ad campaign for Mobilink Jazz
, working as a full-time model before making her debut on the cinema-screen.
Sheikh has acted in films such as Tere Pyar Mein
, Salakhain
and Laaj
.
In 2003, she branched into singing, playback singing
for her film Chalo Ishq Larain
.
Sheikh appeared in photoshoots in teen and fashion magazines and came to the attention of Khawar Riaz.
, Umer Syed, Nomi Ansari,Sobia Nazir, Rizwan Baig, Ayesha Versay.
Zara Sheikh is the brand ambassador for Salina-Wardah. Sheikh has also worked with Erum Imran, Asia-Saail, Nickie Nina
, Sobia Nazir, HSY and companies including Crossroads, Levi's, SKIMYZ, Rijas, Bonanza(Satrangi), Lajwanti, Promize, Gulkari, Nishat Linen, Gul Ahmed, Bakhtawar Lawn and Nee Punhaal.
, Habib Cooking Oil, Care Vanishing Cream, Care Cosmetics, 7 Up
, Rite Biscuits, Beri-O,Eden Luxury Villas,Dawn Bread, Dabur Amla Hair Oil (International Campaign),Rose Petal Tissues, Haleeb Milk,Bonanza,Molty Foam,Salina Wardah's "Fabric Concepts" and Al-Khair Polymers.
Sheikh made her cinema screen debut in 2001, through Hassan Askari's Tere Pyar Mein
, in which she played the role of an India
n Sikh
, who falls in love with a Pakistani banker. Sheikh received a Best Actress award for her role.
In 2002, she appeared in Sajjad Gul's Chalo Ishq Larain
(Let's Love). A year later, in 2003, Sheikh played the part of a Hindu girl, Ram Khori, who converts to Islam - in Laaj
, (Honour) a historical, part-religious tale.
In 2004, Sheikh worked in the 150 minute, Shahzad Rafique-directed Salakhain
(translated as The Bars), which was screened at the 5th KaraFilm Festival in Karachi
.
In 2006, Sheikh played the role of a girl-in-love in the Mubasher Lucman-directed Pehla Pehla Pyar (The First Ever Love), a film partly filmed in Thailand
, Speaking of her experience, post-production, Sheikh said, "It's not easy to work with Mubasher. He's motivated by his film a lot and does not believe in any compromises." She also stated that, at one point, she had worked twenty-eight hours at a stretch, but that "when I saw the result on the screen afterward I was in tears because ... it was clearly worth it."
In 2008, she starred in Javed Raza's Kabhi Pyar Na Karna
.
to playback sing
three musical numbers for her movie Chalo Ishq Larain
.
In May 2009, Sheikh appeared in an episode of Urooj Nasir's television programme Who's That Woman?, which was aired on ATV
.
, Pakistan
. Her father was in the Central Superior Services of Pakistan
.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, actress and singer. She began her career through an ad campaign for Mobilink Jazz
Mobilink
Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited, better known as Mobilink GSM, is a telecommunication service provider in Pakistan. The company is Pakistan's leading cellular operator with a subscriber base of 31.5m and market share of 31% in October 2010....
, working as a full-time model before making her debut on the cinema-screen.
Sheikh has acted in films such as Tere Pyar Mein
Tere Pyar Mein
Tere Pyar Mein is a Pakistani film which was released in December 2000. It launched the career of Zara Sheikh in Lollywood.-Plot:...
, Salakhain
Salakhain
Salakhain is a Lollywood film which was released in 2004. Stars included Ahmed Butt, Zara Sheikh and Meera. Music was composed by M Arshad. Sajid Hassan and Saud were cast as villains with Shafi Muhammad as their boss.- Synopsis :...
and Laaj
Laaj
Laaj is a 2003 Pakistani Urdu film which was directed by Rauf Khalid. The film starred Zara Sheikh and Imran Khan in its lead roles.-Plot:...
.
In 2003, she branched into singing, playback singing
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
for her film Chalo Ishq Larain
Chalo Ishq Larain
Chalo Ishq Larain is a Pakistani film directed by Sajjad Gul and was released across Pakistan April 2002 starring Meera, Ali Haider and Zara Sheikh.-Filming locations:* Dubai, U.A.E.* Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir * Karachi, Pakistan...
Early career
Sheikh made her debut on billboards across Pakistan as the "JaZZ Girl" for one of Pakistan's prominent cellular service providers, Mobilink GSMMobilink
Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited, better known as Mobilink GSM, is a telecommunication service provider in Pakistan. The company is Pakistan's leading cellular operator with a subscriber base of 31.5m and market share of 31% in October 2010....
.
Sheikh appeared in photoshoots in teen and fashion magazines and came to the attention of Khawar Riaz.
Modelling
Sheikh has modelled for a large number of fashion designers, including designers Deepak PerwaniDeepak Perwani
Deepak Perwani is a Pakistani fashion designer. He is one of the prominent members of the Hindu Sindhi community in Pakistan. He has a brother, Naveen Perwani who is a snooker player....
, Umer Syed, Nomi Ansari,Sobia Nazir, Rizwan Baig, Ayesha Versay.
Zara Sheikh is the brand ambassador for Salina-Wardah. Sheikh has also worked with Erum Imran, Asia-Saail, Nickie Nina
Nickie Nina
Nickie Nina is a famous, Pakistani fashion label, run by designer duo Aliya Ali and Nabila Junaid , and recognized as a pioneer of women's fashion in Pakistan.The label was launched in 2000, and enjoyed immediate success...
, Sobia Nazir, HSY and companies including Crossroads, Levi's, SKIMYZ, Rijas, Bonanza(Satrangi), Lajwanti, Promize, Gulkari, Nishat Linen, Gul Ahmed, Bakhtawar Lawn and Nee Punhaal.
Commercials
Sheikh has appeared in a large number of commercials for a variety of brands and products, ranging from cellular network providers to cosmetics. Some products she has worked for include MobilinkMobilink
Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited, better known as Mobilink GSM, is a telecommunication service provider in Pakistan. The company is Pakistan's leading cellular operator with a subscriber base of 31.5m and market share of 31% in October 2010....
, Habib Cooking Oil, Care Vanishing Cream, Care Cosmetics, 7 Up
7 Up
7 Up is a brand of a lemon-lime flavored non-caffeinated soft drink. The rights to the brand are held by Dr Pepper Snapple Group in the United States, and PepsiCo in the rest of the world, including Puerto Rico, where the concentrate is manufactured at the Pepsi facility in Cidra...
, Rite Biscuits, Beri-O,Eden Luxury Villas,Dawn Bread, Dabur Amla Hair Oil (International Campaign),Rose Petal Tissues, Haleeb Milk,Bonanza,Molty Foam,Salina Wardah's "Fabric Concepts" and Al-Khair Polymers.
Films
Sheikh appeared in a music video entitled O Sanam (O, Love!).Sheikh made her cinema screen debut in 2001, through Hassan Askari's Tere Pyar Mein
Tere Pyar Mein
Tere Pyar Mein is a Pakistani film which was released in December 2000. It launched the career of Zara Sheikh in Lollywood.-Plot:...
, in which she played the role of an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, who falls in love with a Pakistani banker. Sheikh received a Best Actress award for her role.
In 2002, she appeared in Sajjad Gul's Chalo Ishq Larain
Chalo Ishq Larain
Chalo Ishq Larain is a Pakistani film directed by Sajjad Gul and was released across Pakistan April 2002 starring Meera, Ali Haider and Zara Sheikh.-Filming locations:* Dubai, U.A.E.* Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir * Karachi, Pakistan...
(Let's Love). A year later, in 2003, Sheikh played the part of a Hindu girl, Ram Khori, who converts to Islam - in Laaj
Laaj
Laaj is a 2003 Pakistani Urdu film which was directed by Rauf Khalid. The film starred Zara Sheikh and Imran Khan in its lead roles.-Plot:...
, (Honour) a historical, part-religious tale.
In 2004, Sheikh worked in the 150 minute, Shahzad Rafique-directed Salakhain
Salakhain
Salakhain is a Lollywood film which was released in 2004. Stars included Ahmed Butt, Zara Sheikh and Meera. Music was composed by M Arshad. Sajid Hassan and Saud were cast as villains with Shafi Muhammad as their boss.- Synopsis :...
(translated as The Bars), which was screened at the 5th KaraFilm Festival in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
In 2006, Sheikh played the role of a girl-in-love in the Mubasher Lucman-directed Pehla Pehla Pyar (The First Ever Love), a film partly filmed in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Speaking of her experience, post-production, Sheikh said, "It's not easy to work with Mubasher. He's motivated by his film a lot and does not believe in any compromises." She also stated that, at one point, she had worked twenty-eight hours at a stretch, but that "when I saw the result on the screen afterward I was in tears because ... it was clearly worth it."
In 2008, she starred in Javed Raza's Kabhi Pyar Na Karna
Kabhi Pyar Na Karna
Kabhi Pyar Na Karna is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Javed Raza. Zara Sheikh and Moammar Rana perform leading roles in this film. Kabhi Pyar Na Karna was released on April 18, 2008. The film was a flop.-Cast:* Moammar Rana* Zara Sheikh...
.
Singing
In 2002, Sheikh collaborated with Ali HaiderAli Haider
Ali Haider is a former Pakistani singer and actor. He has had numerous hits in the early 90s such as Poorani Jeans. He also had a big hit later in the 1990s with Chand Sa Mukhra. Besides singing, he has acted in numerous TV serials on PTV. Among the successful dramas was Chand Sa Mukhra, which...
to playback sing
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
three musical numbers for her movie Chalo Ishq Larain
Chalo Ishq Larain
Chalo Ishq Larain is a Pakistani film directed by Sajjad Gul and was released across Pakistan April 2002 starring Meera, Ali Haider and Zara Sheikh.-Filming locations:* Dubai, U.A.E.* Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir * Karachi, Pakistan...
.
Special Appearances
In 2002, Sheikh performed at Yusuf Salli's haveli.In May 2009, Sheikh appeared in an episode of Urooj Nasir's television programme Who's That Woman?, which was aired on ATV
ATV (Pakistan)
ATV is the largest privately operated terrestrial television network in Pakistan having the 2nd largest national viewer ship base in the country. The channel was launched on May 01, 2005.-Channel Profile:...
.
Personal life
Sheikh was born in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Her father was in the Central Superior Services of Pakistan
Central Superior Services of Pakistan
Central Superior Services of Pakistan is the civil service of the country. It was established in 1973 under Article 240 of the newly framed Constitution. The CSS Examinations are held in the start of every year to recruit the civil servants for the Civil Services of Pakistan.-Structure:The...
.
Filmography
- Tere Pyar MeinTere Pyar MeinTere Pyar Mein is a Pakistani film which was released in December 2000. It launched the career of Zara Sheikh in Lollywood.-Plot:...
(2000) (Director:Hassan Askari) (Producer:Shahzad Gul) - Chalo Ishq LarainChalo Ishq LarainChalo Ishq Larain is a Pakistani film directed by Sajjad Gul and was released across Pakistan April 2002 starring Meera, Ali Haider and Zara Sheikh.-Filming locations:* Dubai, U.A.E.* Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir * Karachi, Pakistan...
(2002) (Director:Hassan Askari) (Producer:Shahzad Gul) - LaajLaajLaaj is a 2003 Pakistani Urdu film which was directed by Rauf Khalid. The film starred Zara Sheikh and Imran Khan in its lead roles.-Plot:...
(2003) (Director and Producer : Rauf Khalid) - CommandoCommandoIn English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
(2003) (Director: Syed Noor) - Yeh Waada Raha (2003) (Director and Producer : Sangeeta)
- SalakhainSalakhainSalakhain is a Lollywood film which was released in 2004. Stars included Ahmed Butt, Zara Sheikh and Meera. Music was composed by M Arshad. Sajid Hassan and Saud were cast as villains with Shafi Muhammad as their boss.- Synopsis :...
(2004) (Director: Shahzad Rafique) - Tere Bin Jiya na Jaye (2005) (Director and Producer : Imran Malik)
- Pehla Pehla PyaarPehla Pehla PyaarPehla Pehla Pyaar is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Mubasher Lucman which was released across theaters in Pakistan in January 2006.-Plot:...
(2006) (Director: Mubasher Lucman) - Kabhi Pyar Na KarnaKabhi Pyar Na KarnaKabhi Pyar Na Karna is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Javed Raza. Zara Sheikh and Moammar Rana perform leading roles in this film. Kabhi Pyar Na Karna was released on April 18, 2008. The film was a flop.-Cast:* Moammar Rana* Zara Sheikh...
(2008) (Director: Javed Raza) - Honor Killings (2010) (Director: Avatar Bhogal)
Music videos
- O Sanam (O, Love!) - Yasir Akhter
- Ghar Aya Mera (Mine, Came Home) - Tulsi
- KhamajKhamajKhamaj is one of the ten Thaats of Hindustani music. It is also a specific raga in Khamaj thaat.-Khamaj Thaat:The parent-scale Khamaj Thaat, notated in sargam notation, has the following structure:S R G m P D n S'.n is komal here....
- Fuzon - Punjabi Touch - abrar ul haq
- Hum Ek HainHum Ek HainHum Ek Hain is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Syed Noor which was released across theaters in Pakistan in November 2004. It stars Shaan, Saima, Shamyl Khan, Haidar Sultan...
(We Are One) - Shahzad Roy