Durefishan Saleem

Durefishan Saleem is a Pakistani television actress who performs in Urdu dramas. She rose to prominence through high-viewership series such as Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi and Ishq Murshid.

Early life and education

Saleem was born in Lahore, Punjab, on 14 January 1996. Her father, Saleem-ul-Hassan, worked as a producer and director for PTV during the 2000s. She grew up alongside her mother, Shumaila Saleem, and three siblings. These siblings include two brothers named Abdullah and Rohan, as well as a sister named Rameen.

She pursued higher education in the United Kingdom. After obtaining her LLB from University College London, she moved to Karachi in 2019 to begin her acting career.

Career

Saleem made her professional debut in 2020 with a supporting role as Erum Jameel in the Hum TV comedy drama Dil Ruba. This production featured Hania Amir and Mohib Mirza. Later that same year, she secured a leading role as Zoya in the romantic family series Bhaaras. She acted alongside Zubab Rana and Omer Shahzad in this project.

Her popularity increased significantly after she starred in the 2022 tragic romance Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi. Playing the character Mehak opposite Danish Taimoor, she helped the series surpass 1 billion views. Following this success, she appeared in the thriller Jurm with Wahaj Ali and the anthology Siyaah. She also portrayed a motivational speaker in the family classic Jaisay Aapki Marzi alongside Mikaal Zulfiqar.

The actress concluded 2023 by playing Shibra Shahmeer in the romantic series Ishq Murshid. This production, which featured Bilal Abbas Khan, also achieved more than 1 billion views. In 2024, she took on the role of a Pashtun woman named Zamda in the revenge-thriller Khaie.

Saleem appeared as a college student in the 2025 series Sanwal Yaar Piya. This project marked the first time she worked with Feroze Khan and Ahmed Ali Akbar. The series became the first Pakistani drama of 2026 to enter the 1 billion views club. Looking ahead, she is scheduled to appear in Dar-e-Nijaat opposite Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui, Nameer Khan, and Sahar Hashmi.

Beyond acting, she works as a model and presenter. She serves as a brand ambassador for products including Vivo V50 and Garnier Color Naturals. She has also appeared as a guest on various television shows.

Awards and recognition

Saleem is a recipient of the Hum Awards. In 2020, she received a nomination for a Lux Style Award for Best Emerging Talent in Television. That same year, she was featured in the "Most Talented New Pakistani Actors" list due to her performance in Dil Ruba. Hello Pakistan also placed her in their HOT100 list under the "Trailblazers" category in 2020.

Her recent work has earned further accolades. In 2024, she was named among the Top 10 Pakistani Actresses for her roles in Jaisay Aapki Marzi and Ishq Murshid. She has also been associated with the ARY People's Choice Awards.