Bilal Ashraf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bilal Ashraf
Ashraf promoting Janaan in 2016
Born	(1979-10-10) 10 October 1979 (age 45) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Alma mater	Franklin & Marshall College
Occupation	Actor Visual director Producer
Years active	2014 – present
Relatives	Saida Ashraf (sister)

Bilal Ashraf (born October 10, 1979) is a Pakistani actor, producer, and director of visual effects. He first worked as a visual effects director after studying at Franklin & Marshall College. Later, he became an actor, starting with a small role in the 2014 movie O21. Since then, he has starred in popular films like the romantic comedy Janaan (2016), the war drama Yalghaar (2017), and the musical romance Superstar (2019).

Early Life and Education

Bilal Ashraf was born in Karachi, Pakistan. His family speaks Urdu and has Punjabi roots.

For his role in Janaan (2016), where he played a Pashtun character, he learned some Pashto language. This helped him look natural when singing songs in the film.

He went to St. Michael's Convent School in Karachi for his early education. He studied visual effects direction at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, United States. He earned degrees in both finance and arts. Later, he went to Escape Studios in London to learn animation. He has worked behind the camera for ten years.

Career Highlights

Bilal Ashraf first worked as a financial consultant in New York City. However, he later left that job and moved to London. He wanted to study animation and visual effects. His late sister, Sadia Ashraf, encouraged him. She was a director and a filmmaking teacher at New York University. She wanted to help improve Pakistan's cinema. Together, they created a company called Radical Films. His sister is the main reason he decided to become an actor.

Ashraf made a short appearance in the 2014 thriller film O21. In 2016, he got his first main acting role in Janaan. This was a romantic comedy where he starred alongside Armeena Khan and Ali Rehman Khan. Critics and audiences both liked the movie.

The next year, he appeared in the war film Yalghaar. This movie did well at the box office. However, his other film from 2017, Rangreza, was not as successful.

In 2019, he played the main role in Superstar. This film was directed by Mohammed Ehteshamuddin and produced by Momina Duraid. He starred with Mahira Khan. Superstar became Bilal Ashraf's highest-earning film. He explained that he took acting classes in the United Kingdom. He also took theater classes in Karachi to improve his skills.

In 2021, he started his acting career on television with Aik Hai Nigar. He also became a producer. He started his own production company, Behive Transmedia, with director-actor Ehteshamuddin. Their first project was the historical drama Khaab Toot Jaatay Hain.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Telefilm

Other Appearances

Awards and Nominations