Sania Saeed (born 28 August 1972) is a Pakistani actress and television host who works mainly in television and theatre. Saeed is the recipient of numerous accolades including one PTV Awards, four Hum Awards and four Lux Style Awards.

Sania Saeed
ثانیہ سعید
Born (1972-08-28) 28 August 1972 (age 52)[1]
NationalityPakistani
EducationBA Hons in Psychology
Alma materUniversity of Karachi
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Anchor
Years active1989–present
Spouse
(m. 1998)

She first appeared on television in a street theatre play, televised for 8 March, for the program Aadhi Duniya in 1989. The play was Aurat. She was the first announcer for Network Television Marketing, Karachi center.[2] She then appeared in Haseena Moin's serial Aahat, directed by Sahira Kazmi, followed by Anwar Maqsood's Sitara Aur Mehrunissa directed by Zark in 1991 & 1992 respectively, which shot Sania to her stardom in the Pakistani television Industry.[3] Sania has been working in theatre and television for over two decades.

Early life and education

edit

Saeed was born on 28 August 1972 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.[4] Her father Mansoor Saeed was a playwriter and a theater practitioner being an active member of the theater group Dastak which was formed in 1982.[5] She got her early education from St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi.

Saeed started her career at a young age by performing in street theatre and as a voice over artist for other productions.[6] She could understand and speak Punjabi as well.[6]

Other work

edit

Saeed works for social causes with various nonprofit organisations including Kashf Foundation, The Citizens Foundation, Indus Hospital and Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation.[7]

Career

edit

Early work and breakthrough

edit

Saeed first rose to prominence in 1991 with Haseena Moin's written and Sahira Kazmi's directed Aahat. The series revolves around the theme of family planning and she played the role of mother of sevens when she herself was just seventeen.[8]

Established Actress

edit

In 1992, her role of a housewife coping with the marital problems in Anwar Maqsood's written Sitara Aur Mehrunissa further cemented her position as a leading star of the television.[9] She termed the role as one of her favourites in her career.[10]

In 2000, she paired opposite Humayun Saeed in Mehreen Jabbar's directed Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai as a girl who looks for her lost sister in Spain.[11] In 2003, she received praise for her performance of a headstrong and honest lawyer in Haseena Moin's written Shayad Ke Bahar Aaye. In 2005, she lost Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress for her performance in Noorul Huda Shah's written Thori Si Mohabbat just because of network's unavailability on which the series was broadcast. The incident led the Lux Style Awards to create another category for the satellite network.[12] In 2009, she won Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress - Satellite for her performance of an eponymous dancer in Babar Javed's Jhumka Jaan.[13] The same year, she played the role of a housewife whose life changes altogether due to her daughter's accident in Baber Javed's another directed Khamoshiyan opposite Nauman Ijaz and Faisal Rehman.[14] In 2010, she received another Lux Style Award in the same category for her performance of a Hindu girl from 1940s who goes to Scotland in search of her fiance in thriller-drama The Ghost.[15] The same year, she appeared as a seductress widow in Sarmad Khoosat's directed Kalmoohi, an adaptation of Rabidranath Tagore's Chokher Bali.[14] In 2011, she played a woman coping with her marital life problems in family drama Hawa, Rait aur Aangan opposite Adnan Siddiqui, winning her, her fourth Lux Style Award.[16] The same year, she played up to sixteen characters alongside Nauman Ijaz in Kanwal Khoosat's directed Aao Kahani Buntay Hain.[14] Her next role in that year was of a straightforward girl whose strength lies in her silence opposite Humayun Saeed in Shahid Shafaat's directed Lamha Lamha Zindagi. In 2012, she played a reckless stepmother in Aabis Raza's directed Zard Mausam.[17] In 2013, she paired with Adnan Siddiqui in her second collaboration in romance Darmiyaan as a woman caught in a horrible conflict.[18] The same year she appeared opposite Fawad Khan in Aehsun Talish's directed Numm as a quiet and hopeless girl satisfied with her disturbed life.[19]

Critical acclaim and further career

edit

In 2015, she made her cinematic debut with biographical drama Manto, based on the life of Pakistani writer Saadat Hassan Manto. Saeed played the role of his wife Safia Manto.[20] In 2016, she played an oracle alongside an ensemble cast in fantasy-drama Mor Mahal. She termed the role as the weirdest thing of her career she has ever done.[21] Her next role in that year was of an oppressed housewife from the tribal areas of Pakistan in Hum TV's Sang-e-Mar Mar. The series earned her critical praise.[22] Her first performance of 2017 in Johns Hopkins's co-production Sammi earned her Hum Award for Most Impactful Character at the 6th Hum Awards.[23] She then portrayed Shakra alongside Atiqa Odho in psychological-drama Piyari Bittu.[24] Her next role in that year was of Safia Manto in biographical-drama based on her eponymous film Manto.[25] In 2018, she played the mother of a young girl who gets abused sexually and later murdered in Meri Guriya.[26] Later that year, she played the supportive aunt of the motherless protagonist in Kanwal Khossat's directed Chakkar. In 2020, she played a loving wife who is a supportive mother as well in romance Mehar Posh starring Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor.[27] Her next appearance in that year was a brief role in Asim Abbasi's web-series Churails, as a wife who makes Nihari of her husband's meat when the latter gets caught red-handed.[28] In 2021, she played a wife who welcomes the ex-beloved one of her husband Kashif Nisar's directed Raqeeb Se.[26] She next appeared as a controlling and cunning matriarch in Saji Gul's written Dour.[29] In 2022, she played a strong willed tribal woman in Mustafa Afridi's written Sang-e-Mah.[27] Later that year, Saeed played a woman next door with desires in Saim Sadiq directorial debut Joyland which debuted at the 75th Cannes Film Festival and won festival's Jury Prize as well as the Queer Palm prize for best LGBTQ-themed film.[30] She next appeared in her third feature Kamli as a blind pious lady who doesn't let her sister-in-law remarry after her brother's disappearance for the past eight years.[31] She is currently playing the head of a family who faces some paranormal experiences after changing house in the horror-drama Bandish. Her other performance is of an adoptive mother of the protagonist in Yasra Rizvi's directed Shanaas.[14]

Acting credits

edit

Selected television

edit
Year Title Role Network Notes Ref.
1989 Tapish PTV [32]
1991 Aahat Rabya [32]
1992 Sitara Aur Mehrunissa Mehrunissa NTM [33]
[34]
1994 Talaash Tabassum PTV Telefilm
1996 Ab Tum Ja Saktey Ho Raheela PTV Telefilm
1997 Putlighar Saima PTV Telefilm [35]
Farar Tania Telefilm [36]
2000 Zaib-un-Nisa Saba PTV
2000 Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai Isra [37]
[38]
2001 Kahaniyan [35]
2003 Shayad Key Bahar Aaye Sara [38]
2004 Thori Si Mohabbat Geo Entertainment [38]
2007 Jhumka Jaan Jhumka Jaan Hum TV [33]
[38]
2008 Khamoshiyan Rubab [39]
2010 Bebaak
The Ghost Maya Kapoor [38]
Roshan PTV
Kalmooni Noor Bano [33]
2011 Hawa Rait Aur Angan
Aao Kahani Buntay Hain [33]
Lamha Lamha Zindagi Sabeen ARY Digital
Hum Pe Jo Guzarti Hai Express Entertainment
2012 Zard Mausam Mehrunnissa Hum TV [40]
2013 Darmiyaan Nida ARY Digital [35]
[41]
Zindagi Udaas Hai Tu Amber Geo Entertainment Episode "Kya Karun Ammi"
Aseerzadi Bari Sarkar / Zeenat Begum Hum TV [33]
Numm Mahjabeen Geo Entertainment
Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain Zohra, Salma Hum TV Episodes "Jharun", "Zindagi Hai, Behne Do" [33]
Shareek-e-Hayat Rukaiyya Episode: "Har Qadam Tumhare Saath"
2015 Aitraz ARY Digital
2016 Mor Mahal Akhtari Geo Entertainment
Sang-e-Mar Mar Shameem Hum TV [42]
2017 Sammi Chandi [43]
Bubu Ki Beti A-Plus Entertainment
Piyari Bittu Shakra Express Entertainment [34]
Manto Safiya Manto Geo Entertainment [33]
2018 Meri Guriya Shehnaz ARY Digital [44]
2018 Chakkar Nuzhat/ Nuzhi Aapa BOL Entertainment
2019 Gul-e-Rana Ki Bhawajain Sanjeeda Begum ARY Digital
2020 Mehar Posh Nusrat Geo Entertainment [45]
Mera Maan Rakhna Momina TV One
Be Adab Rohail's mother Hum TV
2021 Raqeeb Se Hajra Hum TV [46]
Dour Mrs. Ehtisham Geo Entertainment [47]
2022 Sang-e-Mah Zarghuna Hum TV [45]
2023 Bandish 2 Humera ARY Digital
Shanaas Mahrukh Green Entertainment
Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain Nazia Hum TV Episode "Paiwnd"

Talk shows

edit
Year Title Network Ref.
1999 Sehar Honay Ko Hai PTV Talk Show
2000 Ariel Maa (season I) PTV Talk Show[35]
2009 Junoon-E-Gum Gashta (Along with Lutfullah Khan) Geo Entertainment Talk Show
2010 Hawa Ke Namm Talk Show
2012 Ariel Maa (season II) PTV Talk Show

Theater

edit
Year Title Notes
2008 Prem Kahani
2009 Main Adakara Banu Gi [48]
[49]
2015 Lorilei Monodrama[50]
2021 Yaar Julahay [51]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020 Churails Shehnaz Khalid Released on ZEE5 [52]
2023 The Pink Shirt Neelam Released on ZEE5 [53]

Films

edit
Year Title Role Ref.
2015 Manto Safiya Manto [54]
2019 Baaji Neha's lawyer Cameo
2022 Joyland Fayyaz [55]
Kamli Sakina [56]

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Work Award Result Ref
Lux Style Awards
2001 Best TV Actress Nominated
2003 Shayad Kay Bahar Aaye Won
2004 Thori Si Mohabbat Nominated [12]
2009 Jhumka Jaan Best TV Actress - Satellite Won [57]
2010 The Ghost Won [58]
2011 Hawa Rait Aur Aangan Best TV Actress - Terrestrial Won [59]
2012 Aao Kahani Buntay Hain Nominated [60]
2016 Manto Best Film Actress Nominated [61]
Hum Awards
2013 Zard Mausam Best Actress Nominated
2014 Aseerzadi Won [62]
Best Actress Popular Nominated
2017 Sang-e-Mar Mar Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress Won [63]
2018 Sammi Hum Award for Most Impactful Character Won [64]
2022 Raqeeb Se Won [65]
PTV Awards
2011 Roshan Best Actress Outsource Won [66]
ARY Film Awards
2016 Manto Best Actor Female (Jury) Won [67]

References

edit
  1. ^ "پی ٹی وی کی سب سے بہترین اداکارائیں". Dawn News. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Revisiting an Icon". The Nation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  3. ^ Hussain, Abbas (10 March 2014). "A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH SANIA SAEED". Youlin Magazine. Lahore Pakistan.
  4. ^ "Sania Saeed – Birthday Exclusive insights from her Career and more". 28 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023.
  5. ^ Rafay Mahmood (15 November 2011). "Play reading: Revisiting Bertolt Brecht". The Express Tribune.
  6. ^ a b "Sania Saeed shares her philosophy of love". Dunya News. 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. ^ "All zoos should be shut down and animals sent back to where they came from: Sania Saeed". The Express Tribune. 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ Kaukab Jahan (21 June 2022). "Female characters are transforming with the economy and awareness all over the world. – Sania Saeed". The News International.
  9. ^ "Sania Saeed and Atiqa Odho share screen after 25 years". Express Tribune. 9 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Sania Saeed talks about her favorite roles from her career". Bol News. 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Nadia Jamil posts throwback with Sania Saeed from 'Aur Zindagi Badalti Hain' days". Tribune. 12 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b Maliha Rehman (26 February 2018). "Does the Mahira-Mehwish controversy mean the Lux Style Awards should be overhauled?". images.dawn.
  13. ^ "Winners announced for 8th Lux Style Awards". Fashion Central. 21 February 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d "THE ICON INTERVIEW : SANIA SAEED'S LEGOLAND". Dawn. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  15. ^ Express (2 November 2010). "Lights, camera, waterworks". Express Tribune.
  16. ^ "LSAs 2011: A starry, starry night". Express Tribune. 18 September 2011.
  17. ^ "'ثانیہ سعید کی اداکاری سے سجا نیا ڈرامہ سیریل 'زرد موسم" [A new drama serial adorned with the Sania Saeed's acting]. Urdu VOA (in Urdu). 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021.
  18. ^ Umar Saleem (30 August 2013). "Promising drama 'Darmiyaan' hits the airwaves". Pakistan Today.
  19. ^ Anum Rehman Chagani (12 August 2015). "5 times desi television couples made us think twice". Dawn.
  20. ^ "Decoding Mrs Manto: She understood him like no one else, says Sania Saeed". DAWN Images. 26 September 2015.
  21. ^ Manal Faheem Khan (27 March 2016). "'This is the weirdest thing I have ever done'". The News International.
  22. ^ "TV drama Sang-e-Marmar is a necessary critique of Pakistan's obsession with 'ghairat'". Dawn Images. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Hum Awards 2018: Yakeen Ka Safar wins big". images.dawn. 30 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Sania Saeed and Atiqa Odho re-unite onscreen for TV drama on Alzheimer's". Dawn Images. 25 March 2017.
  25. ^ "We need to improve our storylines: Sania Saeed". Express Tribune. 31 October 2014.
  26. ^ a b "Sania Saeed — the reluctant protagonist". Dawn Images. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  27. ^ a b "My character in 'Sang-e-Mah' isn't as unconventional as people think: Sania Saeed". Express Tribune. 8 February 2022.
  28. ^ "'Churails' actor Sania Saeed on new show on Zee Theatre: People will enjoy listening to classic stories". wionews. 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Hina Altaf and Sania Saeed partner up for upcoming drama Doar". dawn.images. 12 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Sania Saeed, Sarwat Gilani join 'Joyland' cast at Cannes Film Festival". Express Tribune. 21 May 2022.
  31. ^ "'Kamli' will make you angry, impatient, benevolent and hateful all at the same time: Sania Saeed". Express Tribune. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  32. ^ a b Kaukab Khan (21 June 2022). "Female characters are transforming with the economy and awareness all over the world. – Sania Saeed". The News.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g ""To me theatre is closest to reading a book"". The News. 4 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Sania Saeed and Atiqa Odho share screen after 25 years". Tribune. 9 September 2017.
  35. ^ a b c d "A Candid Conversation with Sania Saeed". Youline Magazine. 10 March 2014.
  36. ^ "Do you remember watching this telefilm by Mehreen Jabbar?". Samaa TV. 3 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Nadia Jamil posts throwback with Sania Saeed from 'Aur Zindagi Badalti Hain' days". Tribune. 12 February 2022.
  38. ^ a b c d e "Firstperson: Seriously, Sania Saeed". 5 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021.
  39. ^ "Sania Saeed reveals the name of her favorite co-star". Bol News. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  40. ^ "'ثانیہ سعید کی اداکاری سے سجا نیا ڈرامہ سیریل 'زرد موسم". urduvoa. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  41. ^ "Promising drama 'Darmiyaan' hits the airwaves". Pakistan Today. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022.
  42. ^ "Sania Saeed talks about over-glamorizing the acting profession". The News. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  43. ^ Sadaf Haider (15 May 2017). "'Sammi' raises questions about the value of a daughter's life in Pakistan, but will it give us any answers?". Dawn Images.
  44. ^ Maliha Rehman (7 June 2021). "Sania Saeed — the reluctant protagonist". Dawn Images. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021.
  45. ^ a b Entertainment Desk (8 February 2022). "My character in 'Sang-e-Mah' isn't as unconventional as people think: Sania Saeed". Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Video: 'Raqeeb Se is a script I didn't want to change at all,' says Sania Saeed". Something Haute. 20 May 2021.
  47. ^ Haq, Irfan Ul (12 April 2021). "Hina Altaf and Sania Saeed partner up for upcoming drama Doar". Dawn Images. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  48. ^ Shadab, Biya (7 June 2009). "Sania Katha stage a comeback". Pakistan Press Foundation. Karachi Pakistan. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  49. ^ "Sania Saeed's Main Adakara Banun Gi opens on Aug 8". dawn.com. 23 July 2014.
  50. ^ Salman, Peerzada (19 December 2015). "Lorelei: Between forgiving and forgetting". Dawn. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  51. ^ "Even those who may not read literature, will enjoy listening to classic stories: Sania Saeed". National Herald India. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  52. ^ "'Churails' actor Sania Saeed on new show on Zee Theatre: People will enjoy listening to classic stories". wionews. 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021.
  53. ^ "Sajal-Wahaj starrer 'The Pink Shirt' to premiere at Sydney Film Festival". Hum News. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  54. ^ "Decoding Mrs Manto: She understood him like no one else, says Sania Saeed". DAWN Images. 26 September 2015.
  55. ^ "Sania Saeed, Sarwat Gilani join 'Joyland' cast at Cannes Film Festival". Express Tribune. 21 May 2022.
  56. ^ "'Kamli' will make you angry, impatient, benevolent and hateful all at the same time: Sania Saeed". Express Tribune. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  57. ^ "Hotstepper of the Week – Sania Saeed". Jang (newspaper). 6 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010.
  58. ^ "9th Lux Style Awards And the Winners are". Pakium. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  59. ^ "10th Lux Style Awards 2011 Event and Award Winners". www.pakium.com. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  60. ^ "Lux Style Awards: And the best TV show is..." Express Tribune. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  61. ^ "Lux Style Awards 2016 nominations are out — did your favourite star make the cut?". Dawn News. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  62. ^ "Strong competition Between Nominations". Showbiz Pakistan. 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014.
  63. ^ Images Staff (30 April 2017). "Sang-e-Mar Mar and Udaari win big at the Hum Awards 2017". Dawn Images.
  64. ^ "'Yakeen ka Safar', 'Alif Allah Aur Insan,' win big at Hum Awards". Daily Times. 30 July 2018.
  65. ^ "Ayeza, Ahmed, Iqra: List of winners at 8th Hum Awards". Dunya News.TV. 26 September 2022.
  66. ^ "Winners of the 16th PTV Awards". dawn.com. 21 August 2011.
  67. ^ Omair Alavi (24 April 2016). "Awards galore: Adding masala to a filmi platter". Dawn.
edit