# Shahzad Nawaz

Shahzad Nawaz (born 1 January 1975) is a Pakistani film director, actor, singer, advertiser and graphic designer.
He started his career as an advisor to many news agencies and media houses, and served as a CEO of Nai Baat Media Network. He also worked as a commumication artist for a number organization's designing their logos and identities including Geo, Pakistan Television Corporation, Dunya News and ARY News.
In 2003 and 2005, he directed and acted in two films Daira and Botal Gali, based on an adaptations of Mohsin Hamid book Moth Smoke, and acted in Geo's drama series Ana (2004). Nawaz was noted in the film Chambaili that he wrote and produced. It was the first political film of country, earning him critical appraisal and a nomination ARY Film Award for Best Film as producer. In 2016, he marked his Coke Studio debut as a featured artist in season 9.

## Early life and family

Born and brought up in Karachi, he's a Punjabi whose father's roots are in Chakwal while his mother's ancestral place is Jalandhar, with his family involved both in the military and in the arts: his father was in the Pakistan Navy, his brother is martyr from the Pakistan Airforce, his maternal uncle was famous Urdu poet and film lyricist Sehba Akhtar while his maternal grandfather, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali Rehmat, was a playwight.

## Career
### Actor and director

In 2014, he briefly served as a CEO of Nai Baat Media Network. During his advisor tenure he also designed number of TV networks and organizations logos and helped them build a strong market relation including Dunya, Geo, Ary and Nai Baat Media Network.
Nawaz ventures int directing with films such as Daira and Botal Gali based on the book Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid. He then acted and drama serials Ana (2004) and Ishq Mein Teray (2013). In 2011, Nawaz working on his script with director Ismail Jilani and it took half and year to complete the screenplay process, in 2012 production began and film released on 26 April 2013 under the banner of Geo Films. Jilani stated that "We wanted to mobilize the people before the elections, We wanted them to come out of the cinema and feel like they wanted to change something". Chambailli grossed Rs 37.8 crore at the box office. At its release, the film surpassed Bollywood's Aashiqui 2 and Hollywood's Oblivion at the Pakistani box office. It was discussed in the national media, and has been praised for its contribution to democracy in Pakistan. Chambaili has been credited with galvanizing non-voters and youth to vote in the 2013 Pakistani general elections, which had a large turnout. Political parties in the country played songs from its soundtrack during campaign rallies, as young people resonated with the film and its music as part of increased social and political activism. In 2016, he directed a film RAW in association with Coup D'état Films and Neo Films.

### Music

In 2016, he marked his Coke Studio debut as a featured artist in season 9. Nawaz has recorded only a narration with singers Javed Bashir and Masoma Anwar, and has expresses to sing in next season.

### Politics

He joined Pak Sarzameen Party in 2016 and did a press conference with Syed Mustafa Kamal.
He was appointed as special assistant to prime minister Imran Khan on culture, arts and related communications in 2021.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2003 | Daira | Adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's novel Moth Smoke |
| 2005 | Botal Gali | |
| 2013 | Chambaili | |
| 2016 | RAW | |

### Television serials

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2004 | Ana | | Geo TV |
| 2013–2014 | Ishq Mein Teray | Sheheryar Hamdani | Hum TV |
| 2016 | Tum Meri Ho | | ARY Digital |
| 2017–2018 | Khidmat Guzar | Rana Jalal | A-Plus TV |
| 2020–2021 | Qarar | | Hum TV |
| 2021–2022 | Parizaad | Saith Shehbaz | Hum TV |
| 2022 | Badshah Begum | Pir Shah Alam | Hum TV |
| 2023 | Mein | Asif, Zaid's father | ARY Digital |
| 2023 | Shanaas | Mir Jalal | Green Entertainment |
| 2023 | Mein Kahani Hun | Qadir | Express Entertainment |
| 2024 | Akhara | Shahnawaz | Green Entertainment |
| 2024 | Raaz | Jamil Akhtar | Green Entertainment |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2019 | Coke Studio: Season 9 | Himself | Webcast |
| 2021 | G Sarkar with Nauman Ijaz | Guest | Neo News |
| 2023 | Gup Shab with Vasay Chaudhry | Guest | Samaa TV |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Ceremony | Project | Result | References |
| 2013 | ARY Film Award for Best Film | Chambaili | Nominated | |