Meet Pakistan's actors (who are also talented singers)
Sick of updates on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's 'Azadi March'? So are we!
Take some time out to go down memory road with Pakistan's more versatile stars - those you love, and perhaps, those you love to hate.
Ali Zafar
Ali Zafar was known in Pakistan and internationally as a singer and composer from day one. But he is among the few Pakistanis who has stepped into the acting field alongside singing.
He debuted in Bollywood through Teray bin Ladin and has also worked in Meray Brother Ki Dulhan, Chashme Badoor, London, Paris, New York and Total Siyappa. And he continues to work hard and play hard – most recently at the Bollywood Showstoppers Concert at O2 Arena London, where he performed alongside Bollywood celebrities Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Jacqueline Fernandaz, and Mika Singh.
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Fawad Khan
Fawad Khan is among the most well recognised faces in Pakistani entertainment. But he started his career as a singer.
Fawad sang for hard rock (nu-metal?) band Entity Paradigm then moved on to modelling and finally stepped into acting. He started his career from Jutt and Bond and after Shoaib Mansoor's film Khuda Ke Liye he never looked back.
His soaring small screen success in Pakistan has taken him to Bollywood where he will be seen romancing Sonam Kapoor in upcoming film Khubsoorat.
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Atif Aslam
Like Fawad Khan, singer Atif Aslam did try his hand at acting in Shoaib Mansoor's film Bol.
These days Atif says he prefers singing over acting, but with Pakistani cinema entering a major revival, perhaps we'll see Atif back on cinema screens.
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Ayesha Omar
Ayesha Omar is a household name thanks to her roles in Bulbulay, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Dil Apna Preet Parai and Ladies Park, but the actor has tried her hand at almost everything else on the entertainment front - modelling, hosting and yes, singing too.
She won the Lux Style Award for her music album in 2012 and featured in one season of Coke Studio (much to the dismay of many). Ayesha has also had a guest appearance in Reema's film Love Mein Ghum. Her upcoming film Yalghaar, is said to be Pakistan's most expensive film.
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Junaid Khan
Once a part of Entity Paradigm alongside Fawad Khan, the ever-talented Junaid Khan went on to form Call (the band), which is fairly well known in Pakistan as well as internationally.
During his two year career, Junaid has worked in more than five dramas and has gained quite the fan following. His best dramas are Mujhay Ruthanay Mat Daina, Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu and Qadurat. This young artist is all set to launch his film career along with TV acting and singing.
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Gohar Mumtaz
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Gohar Mumtaz is known for having taken pop band Jal to new heights - but he is also acting on TV.
His lead role in drama serial Tanhai was well received, and his new drama serial Koki is much awaited.
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Meesha Shafi
Meesha is also among those Pakistani actors who have had a go at just about everything, from singing and acting to modelling.
Currently known as the femme fatale from Waar, Meesha has appeared in local films, Bollywood and Hollywood. She started her acting career through Mira Nair's Reluctant Fundamentalist, after which she appeared in Bollywood flick Bhag Milkha Bhag and the ever popular Waar.
On the singing front, Meesha's biggest claim to fame is her performance with Arif Lohar in Coke Studio's 'Jugni' – which for a time was Pakistan's most watched song on YouTube.
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Ali Azmat
When you think about soulful singing, laced with loads of passion, the only name that rings a bell is Ali Azmat.
Ali started singing with a band called Jupiter, but later joined Pakistani Sufi rock band Junoon, as the lead vocalist.
In 2005, Ali quit Junoon and recorded his first solo album, Social Circus, followed by Klashinfolk (2008), Josh-e-Junoon (2010), Bum Phatta (2011) and Chalta Mein Jaaon (2011).
He made his acting debut in 2013 with Bilal Lashari's record breaking film, Waar.
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