Ayesha Omar

Ayesha Omar is a prominent Pakistani actress, singer, and model. She is recognized as a style icon within her home country. As one of the most popular performers in Pakistan, she remains among the highest-paid actresses in the industry.

Early life and education

Omar was born in Lahore, Pakistan, on 12 October 1981. Her father passed away when she was only one year old. Consequently, her mother raised both Omar and her brother as a single parent. She described this period of her childhood as tough and independent.

She attended Lahore Grammar School for her early education. Later, she pursued higher studies at the National College of Arts where she earned both Bachelors and Masters qualifications. During her time in school and college, she participated in various co-curricular activities. She also learned dance through various theatre plays.

Career

Modeling and hosting

Omar began her professional journey as a model. She has appeared in numerous commercials for brands such as Pantene, Zong, Harpic, Capri, and Kurkure. Her experience with television hosting started at the age of eight when she hosted Meray Bachpan Kay Din on PTV. She later hosted several other programs, including Rhythm on Prime TV, Hot chocolate on ARY Zauq, and Yeh Waqt Hai Mera on CNBC Pakistan.

In 2018, she represented the beauty brand Maybelline New York at New York Fashion Week. This appearance solidified her status as an international representative for Pakistani beauty.

Acting

Her acting career began with the PTV serial College Jeans. She later appeared in the drama serial Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat alongside veteran actors such as Saba Hameed and Bushra Ansari. Since 2009, she has played the character Khoobsurat in the sitcom Bulbulay. This show became the most watched sitcom in Pakistan and helped her become a household name.

Omar achieved significant success in 2012 through the romantic-drama Zindagi Gulzar Hai. In this production, she portrayed a character named Sara. She also played the main antagonist Arzoo in the 2013 Hum TV series Tanhai. Her film career includes the lead role in the road drama Karachi Se Lahore, which earned 10 Crore (US$1.0 million) worldwide. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success.

She appeared in the war film Yalghaar in 2017 as Zarmina. Although the film featured an ensemble cast including Shaan and Humayun Saeed, it collected approximately 200 million (US$1.9 million) at the box office. In 2018, she made a special appearance in the film Saat Din Mohabbat In. This movie was a commercial success. She also appeared in the 2019 film Kaaf Kangana, which served as a supporting role.

Music

Omar is an occasional singer who has contributed to various projects. She recorded the song "Man Chala Hai" for a Capri commercial. In 2012, she released her first singles, "Chalte Chalte" and "Khamoshi." These releases were commercially successful in Pakistan, although critics offered mixed reactions. She released a third album titled Gimme Gimme in 2013.

During the 2013 season of Coke Studio Pakistan, she recorded two songs. These included the fusion track "Miyan Ki Malhar" and the classical song "Laage Re Nain."

Personal life

In December 2015, Omar and her co-star Azfar Rehman were involved in a road accident. They were reportedly traveling from Karachi to Hyderabad when another vehicle collided with their car. The impact caused the vehicle to swerve off the road into a ditch. Omar stated that she felt as if her entire life flashed before her eyes during the incident.

During a 2020 interview on the show Bol Nights with Ahsan Khan, Omar discussed her personal experiences. She revealed that she has been a victim of sexual harassment in both her professional and personal life. She noted that she has not yet found the courage to speak about it publicly.

Awards and recognition

Omar has received industry accolades for her musical contributions. She won the Lux Style Award for Best Album following the release of her 2012 works. This recognition followed the success of her singles "Chalte Chalte" and "Khamoshi."