Maya Ali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maya Ali
Ali in 2020
Born	Maryam Tanveer Ali (1989-07-27) 27 July 1989 (age 36) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Education	Queen Mary College (MSc)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2012–present

Maya Ali (born Maryam Tanveer Ali on July 27, 1989) is a famous Pakistani actress. She stars in Urdu films and TV shows. Maya has won many awards, including a Lux Style Award and three Hum Awards.

She started her acting journey with a small part in the TV show Durr-e-Shehwar. Later, she became well-known for her main role in the romantic comedy Aunn Zara (2013). She also played a Muslim woman in the drama Shanakht (2014). Maya became very popular with the romance series Mann Mayal (2016). This role helped her win the Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress.

She also had great success in the romantic drama Mera Naam Yousuf Hai. Another hit was the family drama Diyar-e-Dil (both 2015). For Diyar-e-Dil, she was nominated for a Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress.

Maya Ali then started acting in movies. Her romantic comedies Teefa in Trouble (2018) and Parey Hut Love (2019) were very successful. Both films are among the highest-earning Pakistani movies ever. For Parey Hut Love, she received two Lux Style nominations. After taking a break from acting for five years, she returned in 2021 with the romantic drama Pehli Si Muhabbat.

Early Life and Education

Maya Ali was born Maryam Tanveer Ali on July 27, 1989. Her birthplace was Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Her parents were Punjabi Muslim. Her father, Tanveer Ali, was a businessman. Her mother, Shagufta Nazar, was a homemaker. Maya also has a younger brother named Afnan.

Maya's father did not want her to join the film industry at first. They did not speak for eight years. However, they made up before he passed away in 2016.

Maya started her career early as a video jockey (VJ). She worked for channels like Samaa TV, Waqt News, and Dunya News. She earned her master's degree in mass communication. She studied at Queen Mary College.

Career Highlights

First Roles and Big Break (2012–2015)

In 2012, Maya Ali made her acting debut. She had a supporting role in the drama Durr-e-Shehwar. She played the younger sister of Sanam Baloch's character. Next, she got her first main role in Aik Nayee Cinderella. She starred alongside Osman Khalid Butt and Faizan Khawaja. Some critics did not like her performance in this show.

Then, she starred in the comedy drama Aunn Zara. She played the main character, Zara. She worked again with Osman Khalid Butt, who played her husband. A critic from Dawn praised Maya. They said she was "a complete natural" and had improved a lot.

In 2013, Maya Ali appeared in Khoya Khoya Chand. She also played a sister who was very protective in Ranjish Hi Sahi. Critics noted her acting got better as the series went on. Her last project of 2013 was Meri Zindagi Hai Tu. She played a character who loved someone who did not love her back.

In 2014, Maya's role in Ladoon Mein Pali was not widely noticed. However, her next show, Shanakht, was very important for her career. She played Qurratulain, a religious Muslim woman. Her family did not approve of her beliefs. Critics generally liked the show and Maya's improving skills. After this, she played a strong, protective woman in Zid.

In 2015, Maya Ali starred in Mera Naam Yousuf Hai. This romantic drama was based on an old story. She played Zulaikha opposite Imran Abbas. A critic from Dawn liked Maya's "restrained performance." In her last project of 2015, she played a granddaughter who was not close to her family. This was in the drama Diyar-e-Dil. She won the Hum Award for Best Actress Popular for this role. She also got her first Lux Style Award nomination for Best Actress. Diyar-e-Dil was the most-watched drama of 2015.

Becoming a Star (2016–2019)

Ali in 2016

In 2016, Maya Ali had her big breakthrough role in Mann Mayal. She starred opposite Hamza Ali Abbasi. A critic from The News International said Maya sometimes went "overboard." But they also found it "refreshing" to see a female lead who was "boisterous and lively." This drama became one of the most-watched shows ever. Maya won the Lux Style Award for Best Television Actress for her role. She then appeared in the romantic show Sanam.

In 2018, Maya Ali made her film debut in Teefa in Trouble. It was a romantic comedy with Ali Zafar. Critics gave the film good reviews. Maya's acting as Aliya, a rebellious young woman, was especially praised. Omair Alavi of Samaa said Maya was "a breath of fresh air." He also said she "looks naturally beautiful." At the time, this film was the most expensive Pakistani movie ever made. It became one of the highest-earning Pakistani films.

In 2019, Maya's second film was the romantic comedy Parey Hut Love. She starred opposite Sheheryar Munawar. She said this character was her "most powerful yet." The film received different reviews from critics. Some praised her for handling her character with maturity. Parey Hut Love earned a lot of money. It became one of the highest-earning Pakistani films of all time. She received two Lux Style Best Actress nominations for this movie.

Recent Work (2021–Present)

After a five-year break, Maya Ali returned to acting in 2021. She starred in the romantic drama Pehli Si Muhabbat. This was her second time working with Sheheryar Munawar. The series generally received good reviews. However, some critics did not like Maya's performance in it. Later that year, she starred in the historical drama Jo Bichar Gaye. This show was set during the time of the Independence of Bangladesh and the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Maya played a patriotic art student. The series was praised by critics.

In 2023, Maya Ali's only appearance was in Yunhi. She played an American tourist who falls in love with a man in Pakistan. The show received mixed reviews.

In 2024, Maya Ali reunited with Wahaj Ali and Haseeb Hassan for the romantic drama Sunn Mere Dil. She is also expected to star in the film Aasmaan Bolay Ga. This movie is directed by Shoaib Mansoor. She will act opposite Emmad Irfani. Maya will also be seen in the Netflix Original Series Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo. This series is based on a novel by Farhat Ishtiaq.

Filmography

Films

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	Teefa in Trouble	Anya
2019	Parey Hut Love	Saniya Faisal
2025	Aasmaan Bolay Ga	Pari	Post-production
2025	Andaaz	Zeshan Khan's Sister	Pre-production

Television

Music Videos

Awards and Nominations