Yumna Zaidi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yumna Zaidi
Zaidi in 2019
Born	(1989-07-30) July 30, 1989 (age 35) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2012–present

Yumna Zaidi (born 30 July 1989) is a Pakistani actress who works in Urdu-television industry. Known for her portrayals in social to romantic dramas. Zaidi is the recipient of five Lux Style Awards and two Hum Awards.

She first appeared as a supporting character in ARY Digital's domestic-drama Thakan (2012) and then played lead roles in several television series, including the family drama Meri Dulari and the revenge Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi (both 2013), the later of which earned her a nomination of Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress. She gained popularity and Hum Award for Best Actress nominations by portraying a troubled wife in Farooq Rind's tragic-romance Rishtay Kuch Adhooray Se and received praise for the jealous-drama Mausam (both 2014), the comedy drama Jugnoo (2015), the romance Zara Yaad Kar (2016) and the romantic comedy Yeh Raha Dil (2017).

Zaidi gained critical praise and established herself by starring in Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila (2017), Inkaar (2019), Pyar Ke Sadqay (2020), Dil Na Umeed To Nahi (2021) and Bakhtawar (2022) the second, third and last of these earned her Lux Style Award for Best Television Actress.

Early life

Zaidi was born on 30 July 1989 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

Her father, who passed away in 2019, was a numbardar, a village head responsible for tax collection, in Muhammad Nagar, a village close to the town of Arif Wala in Punjab.

Career

Television

Early work (2012)

Her first screen debut was a supporting role in the ARY Digital's 2012 domestic drama Thakan, and followed it with a leading role in the melodrama Khushi Ek Roag. She then appeared in Urdu 1's Teri Raah Main Rul Gai opposite Samiya Mumtaz and Sami Khan where she played the character of Maryam.

Critical acclaim (2013–present)

Zaidi received praise for portraying emotionally intense characters in the dramas, Geo TV's Meri Dulari (2013) and Hum TV's Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi (2013), the later of which garnered her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at Hum Awards. Her acclaimed role of a troubled wife in the tragic romance Rishtay Kuch Adhooray Se (2013), established her as a leading actress of Pakistan and earned her the Hum Award for Best Actress and Best Actress Popular nominations. Zaidi subsequently did a special appearance in 2013 series Sannata and played supporting role in Kashif Nisar's directorial Kis Se Kahoon alongside Sajal Ali and Agha Ali. She gained wider recognition for portraying a range of characters in the dramas Mausam (2014), Madawa (2015), Guzaarish (2015), and Jugnoo (2015), Kaanch Ki Guriya (2015), Paras (2015) and Aap ki Kaneez (2015), some of which garnered her several Best Actress nominations.

In 2016 she appeared in Momina Duraid's Zara Yaad Kar where she played the lead character of Uzma Ikhtiar opposite Zahid Ahmed and Sana Javed. She then appeared in Hum TV's Yeh Raha Dil in 2017 opposite Ahmed Ali. Zaidi played the character of Hayat whose mother has died and father deserted her at a young age. Her on-screen chemistry with Ali was praised by viewers and earned her nomination of Best on-screen couple at Hum Awards. Later she signed Kashif Nisar's directorial Pinjra. ..... A critic from The News International praised her saying, "With fewer dialogues and a tough subject at hand, Yumna pulled off her role effortlessly, making it believable from beginning till the end".

In 2018–19, she appeared in Pukaar as Samra, widow of the feudal lord and appeared in 7th Sky Entertainment's Project Dil Kiya Karey, directed by Mehreen Jabbar. She played a role of Hajra in social drama Inkaar opposite Imran Ashraf and Sami Khan and made special appearance in Angeline Malik's anthology series Choti Choti Batain. She further appeared in an extended cameo in Ishq Zahe Naseeb and as Raina in telefilm Shaadi Impossible.

Films

She made her film debut with the titular role of an aspiring cricketer in Umair Nasir Ali's directed Nayab (2024). Writing for The Express Tribune, Shafiq Siddiqui disliked the film and wrote, "It does not offer any dialogue that bear recall value, the film grapples with its excessively long runtime, leading to a loss of impact at various junctures". Also, Zaidi's performance was not well received, opined, "Despite playing the titular character, she [struggles] for proper projection and lines that would make her character memorable." The film eventually became a box-office bomb.

Other work

Poetry

She has written poetry, especially Sufi poetry, that she has also recited for social media.

Modelling

She walked the ramp for designer Aisha Farid's collection Crystalline on Hum TV's Bridal Couture Week.

Comedy talkshows

She also appeared in celebrity comedy talkshow Mazaaq Raat in 2017.

Filmography

Films

Television

Telefilms

Other appearances

Awards and nominations