# Mehwish Hayat

Mehwish Hayat (born 6 January 1988) is a Pakistani actress who primarily works in Urdu films, and formerly, in television. She made her debut in the film with the comedy Jawani Phir Nahi Ani (2015) and later went on to become an Actor in Law (2016). Hayat had since starred in the comedies Punjab Nahi Jaungi (2017), Load Wedding (2018), and London Nahi Jaunga (2022), all of which rank among one of highest-grossing Pakistani films.

## Career

The 2012 romantic drama series Meray Qatil Meray Dildar marked a significant turning point in Hayat's career, earning her praise and nomination for Best Actress at the Lux Style Awards. She later portraying of a strong headed in Kashif Nisar's acclaim series Kami Reh Gayi (2013). She achieved further success by featuring in four of Momina Duraid's romantic dramas—Phir Chand Pe Dastak (2011), Mirat-ul-Uroos (2012), Ishq Mein Teray (2013), Ru Baru (2014) and Anjum Shahzad's highly successful family drama Kabhi Kabhi (2013). Her last Pakistani television appearance was Nadeem Baig's tragic romance Dil Lagi (2016). In 2022 she had a supporting role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series Ms. Marvel, as the character Aisha, who has to flee India to Pakistan during the 1940s.
Hayat is the recipient of Lux Style Award and was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2019.
In 2024, Hayat made her television comeback with ARY Digital's television film Ijazat, along with Hassan Sheheryar Yasin. In 2025, she made her small screen appearance after 7 years in Geo Entertainment's television series Dayan, along with Ahsan Khan and Hira Mani.

## Personal life

Hayat was born on 6 January 1988 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Her mother, Rukhsar Hayat, was a popular television actress during the 1980s, her eldest brother Zeeshan is a singer-composer while her older sister, Afsheen, is a singer as well. Another older brother, Danish Hayat, is an actor and, through him, she's the sister-in-law of Faiza Ashfaq, a model. In 2020 there were reports in the Indian media that Hayat was in a relationship with Dawood Ibrahim, a crime lord on India's most-wanted list. The rumors about the relationship have never been substantiated and were likely slander resulting from Hayat's outspoken opinions.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 2014 | Na Maloom Afraad | Dancer | Nabeel Qureshi | Special appearance in song "Billi" |
| 2015 | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani | Marina | Nadeem Baig | |
| 2016 | Actor in Law | Meenu Screwala | Nabeel Qureshi | |
| 2017 | Punjab Nahi Jaungi | Amal Dastoor | Nadeem Baig | |
| 2018 | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 | Marina | Nadeem Baig | Voice cameo |
| 2018 | Load Wedding | Meerab | Nabeel Qureshi | |
| 2018 | 3 Bahadur: Rise of the Warriors | Erma (voice) | Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy | Animated film |
| 2019 | Chhalawa | Zoya Rafaqat Chaudhary | Wajahat Rauf | |
| 2019 | Baaji | Gangster Guriya | Saqib Malik | Special appearance in song "Gangster Guriya" |
| 2022 | London Nahi Jaunga | Sara Tiwana | Nadeem Baig | |
| 2023 | Teri Meri Kahaniyaan | Sadaf | Nadeem Baig | Anthology film |
| 2024 | Daghabaaz Dil | Zoya | Wajahat Rauf | |

### Short films

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes | Ref(s) |
| 2009 | Insha'Allah | Sahar | Khurram Mahmood | Short film | |
| 2015 | Dho Dala: The Sin Washer | Pari | Iram Parveen Bilal | Short film | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 2009 | Massi Aur Malika | Hina | Abid Ali | Acting debut |
| 2010 | Shehr-e-dil Ke Darwazay | Maria | Nadeem Siddiqui | |
| 2010 | Thori Si Wafa Chahiye | Mehreen “Mehru” | Yasir Nawaz | |
| 2011 | Meray Qatil Meray Dildar | Maham | Asim Ali | |
| 2011 | Phir Chand Pe Dastak | Mariam | Saife Hassan | |
| 2012 | Dil Tou Bhatkay Ga | | Haseeb Hassan | |
| 2012 | Man Jali | Tooba Wahab | Nadeem Baig | |
| 2012 | Mirat-ul-Uroos | Aima | Anjum Shahzad | |
| 2012 | Bin Tere | Saman | Angeline Malik | |
| 2012 | Main | | | |
| 2013 | Kabhi Kabhi | Ishaal | Anjum Shahzad | |
| 2013 | Ishq Mein Teray | Aiza | Faheem Burney | |
| 2013 | Kami Reh Gaee | Laila | Kashif Nisar | |
| 2014 | Ru Baru | Seema (Sarmad's mother) | Saife Hassan | |
| 2016 | Unsuni | Farah | Ehraz Ali Mirza | |
| 2016 | Dil Lagi | Anmol | Nadeem Beyg | |
| 2022 | Ms. Marvel | Aisha | Various | American debut |
| 2024 | Ijaazat | Leena | Ahmed Bhatti | Telefilm |
| 2025 | Dayan | Nihaal/Misha | Siraj-ul-Haque | Drama comeback |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Director | Ref(s) |
| 2019 | Enaaya | Enaaya | | Wajahat Rauf | |

### Other appearance

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Ref(s) |
| 2013 | Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain | Zareena | Angeline Malik | |
| 2013 | Hum Sab Umeed Se Hain | Host | Anjum Shahzad | |

## Discography

* "Pani Barsa"‍—‌Man Jali (2010)
* "Tell Me Why"‍—‌Meri Behan Maya (2011)
* "Har Saans Gawahi Deta Hai"‍—‌Mirat-ul-Uroos (2012)
* "Mujhse Ab Meri Mohabbat Ke Fasanena Kaho"‍—‌Talkhiyaan (2013)
* "Tu Hi Tu" with Shiraz Uppal in 3rd episode of Coke Studio 9 as featured artist (2016)
* "Dil Saab Dil Babu"‍—‌Sitaron Bhari Raat (2019)
* "Chamkeeli" with Abrar-ul-Haq (2019)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| Lux Style Awards |||||
| 2013 | Mere Qatil Mere Dildar | Best TV Actress – Satellite | Nominated |
| 2013 | Mein | Best TV Actress – Terrestrial | Nominated |
| 2014 | Kami Reh Gaee | Best Television Actress – Terrestrial | Won |
| 2016 | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani | Best Actress (Film) | Nominated |
| 2017 | Dil Lagi | Best TV Actress | Nominated |
| 2017 | Actor in Law | Best Actress (Film) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Punjab Nahi Jaungi | Best Actress (Film) | Nominated |
| 2019 | Load Wedding | Best Actress (Film) | Won |
| Hum Awards |||||
| 2013 | Mere Qatil Mere Dildar | Best Actress (Drama) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Mere Qatil Mere Dildar | Best Onscreen Couple (Drama) | Nominated |
| Hum Style Awards |||||
| 2016 | | Most Stylish Actress (Film) | Nominated |
| Nigar Awards |||||
| 2017 | Actor in Law | Best Actress (Film) | Nominated |
| International Pakistan Prestige Awards |||||
| 2017 | Actor in Law | Best Actress (Film) | Won |
| 2018 | Punjab Nahi Jaungi | Best Actress (Film) | Won |