Saima Noor

Saima Noor is a Pakistani actress who performs in films and television dramas. She remains one of the most prominent figures in the industry following her rise to fame during the 1990s.

Early life and education

Saima Noor was born on 5 May 1967 in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. She belongs to a Pathan family. While her specific educational background is not detailed in the available records, her roots in Southern Punjab have been noted by media outlets.

Career

Nagina Khanum introduced Saima to the film industry when she made her debut in the 1987 film Greban. Her second film, Khatarnaak, was directed by Akram Khan. During her early years, she was mostly paired with actor Sultan Rahi in Punjabi films. She eventually gained recognition as a leading actress when filmmaker Syed Noor launched her career in Urdu films.

Her most significant commercial success occurred in 1998 with the musical-romantic film Choorian. This production gathered around Rs. 200 million and became the highest-grossing Punjabi-language film in Pakistan. This achievement established her as a leading actress in Lollywood.

Saima has worked across various genres throughout her career. She portrayed the second lead role of Tanya in the revenge thriller Khilona, which featured Meera and Saud. In 2000, she played a fearless character in the film Jungle Queen—a female Tarzan-type who lives in the jungle and rides elephants. This project was directed by Syed Noor.

Other notable film credits include the supernatural film Naag aur Nagin (2005) and the biographical drama Salute (2016). The latter film is based on the life of Aitzaz Hasan, a student who died while preventing a suicide bomber from entering his school. In 2011, she played Munniya in the action film Bhai Log, which earned approximately Rs. 9.7 million during its first 3 days of screening.

Her filmography also includes Buddha Gujjar (2002), Majajan (2006), and the 2012 family film Shareeka, which accumulated over Rs. 3 million in its first 3 days. She worked in the Punjabi film Tere Bajre Di Rakhi in 2022. Following the decline of the Pakistani film industry, she transitioned into television.

Saima has appeared in several television series such as Rang Laaga (2015) and Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai (2015). She was signed for the drama series Lamhay in 2018 and appeared in Babban Khala Ki Betiyann between 2018 and 2019. Her recent work includes the series Main Manto Nahi Hoon (2025).

Personal life

Saima married director Syed Noor in July 2005 during the production of their film Majajan. She confirmed this marriage during a press conference held in 2007. The couple has collaborated on numerous film projects together.

In 2018, various media publications and websites reported that Syed Noor had divorced Saima. The couple denied these specific rumours. They released a short clip on social media to state they are happily married.

Awards and recognition

BBC News described her as the "reigning queen of Pakistan's silver screen" in 2010. She is recognized as one of the biggest names in the industry. Film critic Omair Alavi praised her acting credibility in The News International.

In 2017, The Express Tribune cited her as being lucky for the industry due to her origins in Southern Punjab. After moving into television, she became one of the highest-paid actresses in the medium alongside Resham. She continues to maintain a presence in both film and television.