Sahira Kazmi

Sahira Kazmi is a retired Pakistani actress, newscaster, producer and director. She is best known for her role in the country's first-ever colour television series Parchaiyan and for producing the cult-classic blockbuster series Dhoop Kinare (1987) and the acclaimed drama Nijaat (1993). She along with Uzma Gillani, Roohi Bano, Tahira Naqvi and Khalida Riyasat dominated the television screens of Pakistan during the 1970s and 1980s.

She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of South Asian television, having fundamentally shaped the golden era of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). However, after her father Shyam's tragic death in 1951, her family moved to Karachi, which was part of the new state of Pakistan. Sahira's mother, Mumtaz remarried a Pakistani entrepreneur with the surname Ansari. Sahira and her brother Shaakir changed their surnames and became Sahira Ansari and Shakir Ansari. Sahira and her brother also joined the acting field and both became prominent names in Pakistan's acting industry.

Career Early Career and Newscasting (1970–1974) Following her graduation, Kazmi's family relocated from Karachi to Islamabad.

Acting Stardom (1974–1980s) Kazmi's modern aesthetic, commanding screen presence, and natural confidence quickly caught the attention of network producers, prompting her transition into fiction programming.

She reunited with Rahat Kazmi in Teesra Kinara which was a massive television hit, which was based on Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead.

She also acted in dramas Sangsaar, Sawan Roop, Picnic and Anjanay Main

Directing and Producing (1980s–2000s) Later, Sahira realized her passion lay in directing content and soon she turned towards directing and producing dramas. She had already directed a number of programmes after her first play. but she made her debut as a director when she launched the series Hawa ke Naam. She directed many dramas that went on to become a classic in the film industry. Some of her best known dramas such as Tappish, Dhoop Kinaray, Khaleej, Aahat, Hawa Ki Beti, Nijaat and Zaibunnissa, Dhoop Kinaray (1987), written by Haseena Moin, and starred Rahat Kazmi and Marina Khan. The drama became Sahira's most notable work in her production career. The series succeeded even after two decades of its production. In 2019, the series were also translated into Arabic, to play the drama in Saudi Arabia. The step was taken as part of a cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom. Arab News said the move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernize the Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.

Sahira is known for producing dramas and plays that highlighted social and political issues. Her drama Tappish revolved around a student leader and also highlighted the issue of rape. Aahat, Nijaat, Hawa Ki Beti and Zaib-Un-Nisa highlighted with issues like poverty, domestic abuse and hardships of women. in 1993, Sahira took a break from her career and came back with a new project Tum Se Kehna Thaa; a play inspired by the Hollywood film While you were sleeping. Sahira is also made the hit telefilms Rozi, which starred actor Moeen Akhter and Zikr Hai Saal Kaa, starring Rahat Kazmi and Atiqa Odho. She also produced the drama Kaise Kahoon, which starred the actress Marina Khan.

Sahira has also produced many music programs for PTV. She was behind the song "Dekha Na Tha Kabhi Hum Nay Yeh Saman" , which was sung by the singer Alamgir. Sahira also came up with a song "Tere Ishq Mein Jo Bhi Doob Gaya", sung by the folk singer Allan Fakir and pop star Mohammad Ali Shehki. The song combined the words of Urdu and Sindhi.

Personal life In the mid 1970s, Sahira married Rahat Kazmi; a prominent actor with whom Sahira had worked in many dramas. It was then that Sahira changed her name to Sahira Kazmi. The two lived in Karachi and had a daughter Nida Kazmi and son Ali Kazmi.

Filmography Acting Television series YearTitleRoleNetwork 1974 Qurbatein Aur Faslay Aliya PTV 1975 Sangsaar Bushra PTV 1976 Parchaiyan Najia PTV 1980 Sawan Roop Zareen PTV 1980 Teesra Kinara Mehreen PTV 1983 Picnic Iffat PTV 1983 Anjanay Main Samiya PTV

Director and Producer Ehsaas Aur Kamtari (1983) Khaleej (1986) Dhoop Kinare (1987) Tapish (1989) Hawa Ki Beti (1990) Aahat (1991) Nijaat (1993) Rozi (1993—Telefilm) Zikar Hai Kai Saal Ka (1995) Tum Se Kehna Tha (1995) Kaise Kahoon (1999) Zaib-un-Nisa (2000)

Awards and recognition In 1978, she was awarded PTV Award for Best Actress. In 1978, she was awarded Graduate Award for Best Actress. In 1990, she was awarded Nigar Award for Best Producer in Hawa Ki Beti. In 2012, Sahira was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the government of Pakistan for her outstanding efforts in the field of television industry.

In 2022, she was awarded PTV Award for Best Director in Dhoop Kinare.