# Marina Khan

Marina Khan (born 26 December 1962) is a Pakistani television and film actress, director, and producer. She is one of the most popular actresses of her time and was one of the most successful actresses of 1980s and 1990s. Her television shows include Tanhaiyaan (1985), Dhoop Kinare (1987), Kohar (1991), Nijaat (1993), Tum Se Kehna Tha (1995) and Tanha (1997). She went into hiatus in mid-2000s and made comeback on-screen with Tanhaiyan Naye Silsile (2012) which was the sequel to her debut series, Tanhaiyan. Khan made her film debut with a title role in the 2016 drama Lala Begum.

## Early life and family

Marina Khan was born on 26 December 1962 in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Her father Rehmat Khan came from a Pashtun family from Tank district, Dera Ismail Khan, while her mother Anna Rehmat was of English descent but settled in Peshawar. She is the granddaughter of Nawab of Tank Nawab Qutubdin Khan. Her father worked for the Pakistan Air Force and the family had to relocate almost every two years depending upon his job assignment. Marina and Kehkashan Awan were childhood friends since their junior school days and both of them went to the Karachi College. In an interview, Khan said that due to constant relocation she did not have long-term childhood friends.

## Acting career
### Television career

Khan made her acting debut in a PTV series Nishan-e-Haider, and appeared in the episode paying tribute to Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Pakistan's national hero from the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Her breakthrough performance came in 1985 with the hit series Tanhaiyaan, where she played the lively and materialistic yet sensitive Sanya. Khan has fondly referred to Tanhaiyaan as her "all-time favorite" project, crediting it for introducing her to the audience.
The massive popularity of Tanhaiyaan led to the star cast reuniting for another series, the medical drama Dhoop Kinarey, which aired on PTV. Khan played the role of Dr. Zoya Ali Khan, a carefree and young doctor, in the series. Both her iconic portrayals in Tanhaiyaan and Dhoop Kinarey were featured in an article by The Express Tribune in 2021, highlighting Haseena Moin's empowered female characters of the 80s.
Khan's subsequent projects showcased her versatility as a television personality. She took on directing and production roles, and even hosted her own cooking show. In 2007-2008, she hosted the show Marina Mornings on ARY Digital.
In 2014, Marina Khan played Michelle, a Jackson Heights-based Pakistani-Christian restaurant owner, in Jackson Heights. Her performance was praised by Sadaf Siddique of Dawn, who described her as "a pleasure to watch."
In 2018, Khan portrayed strict maternal roles in several projects, including Kaif-e-Baharan, Noor ul Ain, and Qaid. She also appeared as a superstitious mother in Dil Kiya Karay. Her performance in the horror-drama Bandish was also praised.
In 2020, Khan played an emotionally charged older mother in the family drama Aulaad.

### Film career

In 2016, Khan appeared in Mehreen Jabbar's short film Lala Begum, premiered at the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival. Played the titular role, Khan depicted a bitter lady in the film. The following year, she made a cameo appearance in Punjab Nahi Jaungi and had recurring roles in the 2018 releases Na Maloom Afraad 2 and Parwaaz Hai Junoon. Khan played a loveable maternal role in the 2022 release Yaara Vey.

## Filmography
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Nishan-e-Haider | Farhat | Episode "Rashid Minhas Shaheed" |
| 1985 | Tanhaiyaan | Sanya Ahmed | |
| 1986 | Show Time | Herself | |
| 1987 | Ehsas | Miss Saima | |
| 1987 | Dhoop Kinare | Dr. Zoya Ali Khan | |
| 1989 | Kaliyan | Herself | |
| 1991 | Kohar | Shamin | |
| 1992 | Parosi | Roshan Ara "Munni" | |
| 1993 | Nijaat | Tanya | |
| 1995 | Yun Chaha Tha Magar | Naira | |
| 1995 | Tum se Kehna Tha | Hira | Adaptation of While You Were Sleeping |
| 1995 | Bewafaiyan | Rubab | |
| 1997 | Khaali Haath | Jiya | |
| 1997 | Tanha | Ramsha | |
| 1999 | Kaise Kahoon | Hina | |
| 2000 | Tum Hi To Ho | Jenny | |
| 2009 | Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat | — | |
| 2010 | Dolly ki Ayegi Baraat | — | |
| 2011 | Takkay ki Ayegi Baraat | Dr Fariha Hashim | |
| 2012–2013 | Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay | Sanya Ahmed | |
| 2012 | Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat | — | |
| 2014–2015 | Jackson Heights | Michelle | |
| 2017 | Dhund | Humaira | Episodes 5,6 |
| 2018 | Kaif-e-Baharan | Shaista Fatima | |
| 2018 | Noor-ul-Ain | Khizar's mother | |
| 2018–2019 | Qaid | Sofia | |
| 2019 | Dil Kiya Karay | Romaisa | |
| 2019 | Cheekh | Herself | Special appearance in series promo |
| 2019 | Bandish | Madiha Junaid | |
| 2019 | Gustakh Ishq | Pari's mother | |
| 2020 | Munafiq | Sabiha Begum | |
| 2020 | Dil Ruba | Ghazala | |
| 2020–21 | Aulaad | Zakiya | |
| 2021 | Pardes | — | |
| 2021-22 | Mein Hari Piya | Fawad's mother | |
| 2022 | Mushkil | — | |
| 2024 | Yahya | Sabra | |
| 2025 | dastak | | |

### Telefilm

| Year | Title | RoleRef(s) |
| 1996 | Farar | Natasha |
| 1999 | Abba, Amma Aur Ali | Misha |
| 2002 | Mere Dost | Teacher |
| 2002 | Lamha | Meher |
| 2018 | Hum Chale Aaye | Nusrat |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016 | Lala Begum | Meher / Lala Begum | |
| 2017 | Punjab Nahi Jaungi | Lady In Restaurant | Special appearance |
| 2018 | Na Maloom Afraad 2 | Sona (Parri's mother) | |
| 2018 | Parwaaz Hai Junoon | Sania's mother | |
| 2019 | Parey Hut Love | Herself | Cameo |
| 2019 | Superstar | Laila Khan | |
| 2021 | Khel Khel Mein | Mrs. Haque | |
| 2022 | Tich Button | Pammi | |
| 2022 | Yaara Vey | Soni | |
| 2023 | Teri Meri Kahaniyaan | — | Director; "Pasoori" |

### Reality shows

| Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
| 1988 | Yes Sir No Sir | Guest | PTV | |
| 1999 | Kahani Corner | Host | PTV | |
| 2006 | Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar | Guest | ARY Digital | Special |
| 2007–2008 | Marina Mornings | Host | ARY Digital | Rise & Shine, Summer |
| 2009 | Always Girls Can | Host | Broadcast syndication | |
| 2009 | Nestle Nesvita Women of Strength '09 | Guest | Broadcast syndication | |
| 2009 | Kaun Banegi Cooking Queen | Judge | Indus TV |
| 2011 | Utho Jago Pakistan | Guest | Geo TV | |
| 2009 | The Shareef Show | Guest | Geo TV | |
| 2018 | Breaking Weekend | Guest | ARY Zindagi | |
| 2017 | Mazaaq Raat | Guest | Dunya TV | |
| 2020 | Bol Nights with Ahsan Khan | Guest | BOL Network | |
| 2020 | Good Morning Pakistan | Guest | ARY Digital | |

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Award | Category | Result | Title |
| 1986 | Nigar Award | Best TV Actress | Won | Tanhaiyaan |
| 2002 | 1st Lux Style Awards | Best Television Actress | Nominated | — |
| 1987 | PTV Award | Best Actress | Won | Dhoop Kinare |
| 2023 | Lux Style Awards | Lux Changemaker's Award | Won | Contribution to Media Industry |