IQRA AZIZ ,PAKISTAN ACTRESS BORN 1997 NOVEMBER 24

IQRA AZIZ ,PAKISTAN ACTRESS 

BORN 1997 NOVEMBER 24

Iqra Aziz (born 24 November 1997) is a Pakistani television actress. She has played a role of Jiya in Momina Duraid's Suno Chanda (2018) for which she received critical acclaim and Lux Style Awards for Best Television Awards. She has received two Hum Awards for her work in Urdu television.

Aziz first auditioned as a television commercial model and was picked by Citrus Talent Agency. She made her acting debut with a supporting role in Kissey Apna Kahein (2014) and had her first leading role with the 2015 romantic series Muqaddas. Subsequently, she is known for her leading roles in Deewana (2016), Laaj (2016), Socha Na Tha (2016), Choti Si Zindagi (2016), Natak (2016), Gustakh Ishq (2017), Ghairat (2017), Qurban (2018), Suno Chanda (2018), Tabeer (2018) and Ranjha Ranjha Kardi (2018).[5][

Early life
Aziz was born on 24 November 1997 into a Sindhi family to Abdul Aziz and Aasiya Aziz. She belongs to a family of 3 – her mother, herself and her elder sister Sidra Aziz.[7] She lost her father at a very young age and was raised by her mother. She mentioned in interviews about her mother's struggles being a single parent. According to her, it was very difficult for them to meet the day to day financial needs. Her mother is credited to be first female Careem driver in Karachi. Aziz resides in Karachi along with her mother.[8][9] She has an uncompleted Bachelors of Commerce degree from University of Karachi, and she wishes to complete it as soon as she gets a break from acting and modelling.[7][10][11]

Career

Aziz started her career when she was 14. In an interview she mentions her mother always wanted that she should complete her education before turning to acting. She dabbled into acting with the help of her elder sister. She first auditioned as a Television commercial model and was picked by Talent agency Citrus.[7] Aziz continues to appear in Television commercials till date. Later she was noticed by Hum TV's co producer Momina Duraid who offered her a role in her series Kissey Apna Kahein. She acted along with Arij Fatyma, Danish Taimoor, Shabbir Jan and other senior actors in the series.[7][12]

She followed her acting career with a leading role in another Hum TV's drama series Muqaddas, an adaptation of Adeel Razzak's novel of the same name.[13] She was seen opposite Noor Hassan. Series proved to be the break-through for her and she received Hum Award for Best Television Sensation female.[14] The series also received mix reviews and was nominated for Best Television Play at annual Lux Style Awards.[15] In the same year she appeared as a Parallel lead in Ilyas Kashmiri's directorial Mol.[13]

In 2016 she was seen in a leading role in Socha Na Tha and Deewana. In the later, she played the character of Mehar Sultana (Mehru) who befriends the mischievous but loving Jinn Falak (Shehroz Sabzwari) and eventually falls in love with him. Aziz subsequently did a supporting role of Marina Zaman in Ahmed Bhatti's directorial Kisay Chahoon and a Parallel lead role of Mannat Chaudhary in Laaj. Her on-screen chemistry with Shehzad Sheikh in Choti Si Zindagi was praised and both received a nomination for Best Onscreen Couple.[14][16] The series also garnered her a nomination for Best Actress at Hum Awards.[16]

Aziz then starred in Gustakh Ishq opposite Zahid Ahmed and did a guest appearance in 2017 series Dil-e-Jaanam.[17] She appeared in Ghairat (series based on Honour Killing) along with Syed Jibran and Muneeb Butt and in romantic drama Khamoshi opposite Zara Noor Abbas, Affan Waheed and Bilal Khan.[18][19] The later of which was a critically and commercial hit.[20] In Khamoshi, Aziz played the character of Naeema, an arrogant, greedy and career-driven girl. Her role as antagonist was praised.[21] A reviewer from Mangobaaz wrote, "The way she has portrayed Naeema’s character so well that you can’t help but hate her".[22] Aziz walked the ramp for designer Aisha Farid's collection Crystalline on Hum TV's Bridal Couture Week.[23] In early January 2018, she wrapped up the shooting of an Urdu music video "O Jaana" with Hamza Malik and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan which was released in July 2018.[24] and did a special appearance in Asim Azhar's music video "Jo Tu Na Mila".[25][26]

The following year, Aziz collaborated with Shehzad Sheikh for the second time, (alongside Bilal Abbas Khan and Omair Rana) in Idream Entertainment's Qurban. She appeared as Heer, a bubbly and bright girl hailing from a rich household and was seen in a love triangle opposite Sheikh and Khan.[27] She portrayed the role of Ajiya Nazakat (Jiya) in Suno Chanda which was a finite series during Ramadan 2018. She was paired opposite Farhan Saeed. Aziz and Saeed were praised for their on-screen chemistry.[28][29] The series received mix reviews and earned her a nomination for Best Television Actress at Lux Style Awards.[30] In an interview, Aziz said that she was overwhelmed and was not expect the series to be the massive hit.[31] She played the role of Tabeer in Hum TV's Tabeer.[32] Ahmed Sarym of The Express Tribune states, "At such a young age, Aziz has already proven her mettle through a wide range of characters from the exuberant Jiya to a vampish Naeema in Khamoshi and the titular character of Tabeer".[31]

She then appeared in Faiza Iftikhar's Ranjha Ranjha Kardi. Her role as Noori belongs to the lower cast of Untouchables was praised by critics.[33] Buraq Shabbir of The News International stated, "Popularly known as the feisty Jia from Suno Chanda and now the equally fiery Noori in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi, has spark".[10] Her other projects include second season of Suno Chanda which is an Ahson Talish directorial and produced by MD Productions. It is currently airing on Hum TV everyday.[34][35]

Other work and media image

Aziz has established herself as a leading actress in the Pakistani television industry. She has also appeared as a guest in serials and talkshows. Her first guest appearance was in Jago Pakistan Jago in 2015. In 2018 she appeared as a Guest in The After Moon Show a comedy-talkshow and Tonite with HSY. In May 2018, Aziz became a victim of news after breaching contract with the Citrus talent.[36][37][14] Fahad Hussain, Head of Citrus Talent states, Aziz breached an agreement that states the latter has to solely work in projects approved by the talent agency. She has, however signed contract and deal with another PR agency, despite being reminded of the first contract.[36][38][37][39] In response Aziz denies the allegations saying, "Fahad never provided her with a copy of the agreement that she breached and used to delay her rightful payments for many months".[40][41][42][43] Later the dispute was solved by their lawyers on which both said,
“We want to thank our lawyers for mediating between us and resolving our issues which arose due to miscommunication and misunderstandings. Also, we have both mutually decided to continue working with each other in the future. So, guys, we are back with a bang!!!”[44]

In September 2018, she won the Most Stylish TV actor Award at the Hum TV Style Awards.[45] She also performed on Hum Style Awards along with Farhan Saeed.[12] She serves as an ambassador for a number of brands such as 7up, Nestle, Cadbury, and National Foods. In November 2018 she paired with model Hasnain Lehri to launch OPPO's A7 in Pakistan.[46] She was also the brand ambassador for the same.[46] She was named in the Top 50 Sexiest Asian Women List by Eastern Eye[47][48] and most searched people of Google Pakistan in 2018.[49] After the success of Ranjha Ranjha Kardi and Suno Chanda, she was cited by critics as one of the Inspirational female characters on Pakistani television.[50]

Personal life
She has an elder sister Sidra Aziz who is a teacher by profession.

It came into light in 2018 that Aziz had been in a relationship with Khamoshi's co-actor Affan Waheed.

On 7 July 2019, at the 18th Lux Style Awards, Iqra got engaged to Yasir Hussain publicly.[4][51]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2014	Kissey Apna Kahein	Shanzey
2015	Muqaddas	Muqaddas
2015	Mol	Sajjal	Hum Award for Best Television Sensation[14]
2016	Socha Na Tha	Shafaq
2016	Deewana	Mehr Sultana
2016	Kisay Chahoon	Marina Zaman
2016	Laaj	Mannat
2016	Choti Si Zindagi	Ameena
2016	Natak	Shafaq
2017	Judai	Zunaira (Zuni)	Telefilm
2017	Gustakh Ishq	Najaf
2017	Dil-e-Jaanam	Samira	Cameo appearance
2017	Ghairat	Saba
2017	Khamoshi	Naeema Sabir
2018	Qurban	Heer
2018	Suno Chanda	Jiya	Ramadan Special Finite Series[31]
2018	Tabeer	Tabeer
2018–2019	Ranjha Ranjha Kardi	Noor Bano (Noori)	[52]
2019	Suno Chanda 2	Jiya	[53]
2019	Jhooti	TBA	Filming[54]
2019	Mera Terha Yaar	TBA	Announced[55]

Music video appearances

Year	Song	Artist	Notes
2018	"O Jaana"	Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Hamza Malik	[24]
2018	"Jo Tu Na Mila"	Asim Azhar	[25]

Awards and nominations

Year	Film	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
2016	Mol	Hum Awards	Best Television Sensation Female	Won	[14]
2016		Hum Awards	Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[14]
2017	Choti Si Zindagi	Hum Awards	Best Actress Popular	Nominated	[56]
2017		Hum Awards	Best On-screen Couple along with Shehzad Sheikh	Nominated	[56]
2018	None	Hum Style Awards	Most Stylish Television Actress	Won	[45]
2019	Suno Chanda	Lux Style Awards	Best Television Actress – Viewers	Won	[30]
2019		Lux Style Awards	Best Television Actress – Critics	Won	[30]
2019		Hum Awards	Best Actress	Nominated	[57]
2019		Hum Awards	Best On-Screen Couple along with Farhan Saeed	Nominated	[57]
2019	Tabeer	Hum Awards	Best Actress	Nominated	[57]
2019		Hum Awards	Best On-screen Couple along with Shehzad Sheikh	Nominated	[57]