Samina Ahmad

Samina Ahmad is a Pakistani film and television actress, stage performer, producer, and director. She remains one of the most popular actresses of her time after working for over six decades in the Urdu entertainment industry.

Early life and education

Ahmad was born in Lahore, Punjab, on 20 March 1950. Her father served as the Director of Forests in the West of Pakistan, while her mother worked as a housewife. She is the eldest of five siblings. Her father passed away in 1965, and her mother died in 2018.

She holds a Masters in Home Economics.

Career

Ahmad began her on-screen career during the mid 1960s. She initially performed in serious plays for the Pakistan Television Corporation. She soon rose to prominence through comedy plays such as Akkar Bakkar, Taal Matol, Alif Noon, and Such Gup. In 1997, she achieved a major breakthrough with the popular sitcom Family Front. This production was released under her own company, Samina Ahmad Productions, which she launched in 1997.

Her television credits include several successful series. She performed in Waris in 1979 and Aahat in 1991. For her work in Family Front, she won the PTV Award for Best Actress. Recent roles include the Geo TV comedy series Kis Ki Aayegi Baraat from 2009 to 2012. She also appeared in the Hum TV comedy dramas Suno Chanda in 2018 and Suno Chanda 2 in 2019.

Ahmad expanded her professional reach beyond acting. She served as a Programme director at the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore for two decades. In 2001, she directed the sitcom Hoo Bahoo, which was written by Farooq Qaiser. The series focuses on family politics involving a wife's mother-in-law, a role played by Ahmad. She also made her international debut when she appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe production Ms. Marvel in 2022.

Outside of her entertainment work, she is an active member of the Women's Action Forum in Pakistan.

Personal life

Ahmad was previously married to Pakistani filmmaker Fariduddin Ahmed. He was the son of veteran filmmaker W. Z. Ahmed. The couple had one son and one daughter together. Fariduddin divorced her a few years before he died in 1993.

She married actor Manzar Sehbai on 4 April 2020. This marriage took place during a private Nikah ceremony in Lahore.

Awards and recognition

The Government of Pakistan honoured Ahmad with the Pride of Performance in 2011. She also received the PTV Award for Best Actress for her performance in Family Front.