# Samina Ahmad

Samina Ahmad is a Pakistani film and television actress, stage performer, producer, and director. She is one of the most popular actresses of her time and was one of the most successful actresses of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. A veteran television actress with over 55 years of work experience in the Urdu entertainment industry, she was honoured with the Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in 2011.
Started her on-screen career in mid 1960s, Ahmad performed for many of PTV's most successful series, including Waris (1979), Aahat (1991), and Family Front (1997) for which she won PTV Award for Best Actress also. One of her most recent roles includes Geo TV's widely-popular four-part comedy series Kis Ki Aayegi Baraat (2009–2012) and Hum TV's acclaimed comedy drama series Suno Chanda (2018) and its sequel Suno Chanda 2 (2019). Ahmad further appeared in Marvel Cinematic Universe's Ms. Marvel (2022), marking her international debut.
She married for the second time with actor Manzar Sehbai in April 2020.

## Early life

Ahmad was born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, on March 20, 1950. Her father was the Director of Forests in the West of Pakistan, and her mother was a housewife. Her father died in 1965, and her mother in 2018. She is the eldest of her five siblings. She has a Masters in Home Economics.

## Career

Ahmad started her career with serious plays on Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV); however, she is known for comedy plays like Akkar Bakkar, Taal Matol, Alif Noon, and Such Gup. She also acted in the famous comedy drama Family Front (1997 Comedy Drama TV Series). She has recently acted in another TV comedy named Side Order. Her switch to comic roles proved to be highly rewarding for her, and she quickly became a top media person in Pakistan. When asked in an interview about what she values most in life, her prompt reply was, "Humanity." Samina Ahmad was just an 18-year-old college student in Lahore, Pakistan, when she first started working for Pakistan Television Corporation. During her long career, she had also worked at Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore, as a Programme director for two decades. Despite her busy professional career, Samina Ahmed has also been an active member of the Women's Action Forum in Pakistan.
Ahmad was a programme director at Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore while also performing on television. In 1997, she launched her own television company, Samina Ahmad Productions, which produced the widely-popular TV drama Family Front.

## Personal life

Ahmad was married to Pakistani filmmaker Fariduddin Ahmed, the son of veteran filmmaker W.Z. Ahmed, who made the popular Pakistani film Waada (1957). The couple has a son, and a daughter together. Fariduddin divorced her, a few years before his death in 1993. Ahmad married actor, Manzar Sehbai on 4 April 2020, in a private Nikah ceremony in Lahore.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1984 | Naraaz | Rahat |
| 2014 | Dukhtar | Rukhsana |
| 2018 | Load Wedding | Raja's Mother |
| 2021 | Khel Khel Mein | Zaib |
| 2022 | Intezaar | Salma Kanwal |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
| 1970 | Akkar Bakkar | Samina | PTV | |
| 1972 | Such Gup | News reporter | PTV | |
| 1973 | Sangat | Herself | PTV | |
| 1974 | Taal Matol | Lady | PTV | |
| 1979 | Waris | Sughra Niaz Ali | PTV | |
| 1980 | Side Order | Tahira | PTV | |
| 1982 | Alif Noon | Andaleeb | PTV | |
| 1984 | Andhera Ujala | Anjum | PTV | |
| 1984 | Ik Hasrat-e-Tameer | Khalida | PTV | |
| 1984 | 20 Golden Years Of PTV | Herself | PTV | |
| 1984 | Sanwal Mor Moharan | Mani's mother | PTV | |
| 1985 | Saahil | Jamila | PTV | |
| 1987 | Raat | Kanwal | PTV | |
| 1989 | Kiran | Simi | PTV | |
| 1990 | Dareechay | Naila | PTV | |
| 1990 | Birdary Hotel | Jannat Bibi | PTV | |
| 1991 | Aahat | Bushra | PTV | |
| 1994 | Ababeel | Rani's aunt | PTV | |
| 1994 | Angaar Waadi | Dr's Hajra's mother | PTV | |
| 1995 | Ammi | Ammi | PTV | |
| 1995 | Nashaib | Maa | PTV | |
| 1997 | Ghar Se Ghar | Ishrat | PTV | |
| 1997 | Family Front | Nusrat | PTV | |
| 1998 | Janey Anjaney | Maria | PTV | |
| 1998 | Cat Walk | Gulzar Fatima | PTV | |
| 1998 | Dhoop Mein Sawan | Maryam | PTV | |
| 2005 | Inspector Khojee | Samina Ahmed | PTV | |
| 2006 | Hoo Ba Hoo | Salma | PTV | Indus TV |
| 2009 | Tanveer Fatima (B.A) | Bano | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2009 | Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat | Mehr-un-Nisa | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2009 | Bol Meri Machli | Qudsia | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2010 | Noor Bano | Bi Jaan | Hum TV | |
| 2010 | Dolly ki Ayegi Baraat | Mehr un Nisa | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2010 | Dastaan | Orphanage caretaker | Hum TV | Cameo |
| 2010 | Talluq | Jameel's mother | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2010 | Chand Parosa | | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2010 | Husn Ara Kaun | Zeenat | TV One | |
| 2011 | Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain | | Hum TV | Episodic role |
| 2011 | Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat | Mehr Un Nisa | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2011 | Akhri Barish | Husna | Hum TV | |
| 2011 | Pani Jaisa Piyar | Nuzhat | Hum TV | |
| 2012 | Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat | Mehr Un Nisa | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2012-2013 | Mirat Ul Uroos | Asghari | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2013 | Dil Muhallay Ki Haveli | Amma Bi | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2015 | Sawaab | Fehmida (Nimra's mother-in-law) | Hum Sitaray | |
| 2015 | Maikey Ko Dedo Sandes | | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2015 | Sangat | Adnan and Farah's mother | Hum TV | |
| 2015 | Bojh | | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2015-2016 | Gul-e-Rana | Jazba Aapi | Hum TV | |
| 2016 | Iss Khamoshi Ka Matlab | | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2016 | Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain (Season 2) | Banto's mother-in-law | Hum TV | Anthology series; Episode 10 |
| 2016 | Naimat | Babar's mother | ARY Digital | |
| 2016-2017 | Dil Banjaara | Zubaida Mukhtar | Hum TV | |
| 2017 | Sun Yaara | Amna, Rafia's sister and Roshni's grandmother | ARY Digital | |
| 2017 | Pinjra | Jannat Bibi | A-Plus Entertainment | |
| 2017 | Ghairat | Saba's mother | ARY Digital | |
| 2017 | Yaar-e-Bewafa | Humaira | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2017 | Baday Mian | | TV One | Telefilm |
| 2017 | Super Saas | | TV One | Telefilm |
| 2017 | Aangan | Zaitoon Bano | ARY Digital | |
| 2018 | Ustani Jee | Zubaida | Hum TV | Anthology series; Episode 3 |
| 2018 | Suno Chanda | Mumtaaz Begum "Bi jaan" | Hum TV | |
| 2018 | Kabhi Band Kabhi Baja | | Express Entertainment | Anthology series, Episodes 4 & 10 |
| 2018 | Khatti Methi Love Story | Nadia's grandmother | Express Entertainment | |
| 2018 | Siskiyaan | Shamshad | BOL Entertainment | |
| 2018 | Dilara | Zehra | BOL Entertainment | |
| 2019 | Dil-e-Bereham | | A-Plus TV | |
| 2019 | Do Bol | Firdous | ARY Digital | |
| 2019 | Suno Chanda 2 | Mumtaaz Begum "Bi jaan" | Hum TV | |
| 2020 | Kashf | Kashf's grandmother | Hum TV | |
| 2020 | Bikhray Moti | Shamsa; Zulfi's mother | ARY Digital | |
| 2020 | Bandhay Aik Dor Say | Umer and Maheen's grandmother | Geo TV | |
| 2020 | Ghisi Piti Mohabbat | Kaneez Fatima | ARY Digital | |
| 2021 | Safar Tamam Howa | Qudsia Begum | Hum TV | |
| 2021 | Shehnai | Bakht's grandmother | ARY Digital | |
| 2021 | Baddua | Mudassir's mother | ARY Digital | |
| 2021 | Badnaseeb | Saeed's mother | Hum TV | |
| 2021 | Mere Humsafar | Riffat Ahmed | ARY Digital | |
| 2022 | Afrah Tafreeh | Khushi's grandmother | Hum TV | Telefilm |
| 2022 | Love Life Ka Law | Baby Aunty | Geo Entertainment | Telefilm |
| 2022 | Chand Si Dulhan | Parizeh's grandmother | ARY Digital | Telefilm |
| 2022-2023 | Kala Doriya | Tabassum Jahan | Hum TV | |
| 2023-2024 | Baby Baji | Baby Baji | ARY Digital | |
| 2024 | Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain | Aasia's mother | Hum TV | |
| 2024 | Mohabbat Satrangi | Zubaida | Green Entertainment | |
| 2024 | Wo 7 Din | Roshan Ara | Hum TV | |
| 2024 | Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain | Baby Baji | ARY Digital | |
| 2025 | Bajjo | Samina | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2025 | Aas Paas | Aneeqa Begum | Geo Entertainment | |
| 2025 | Qubool Hai | Sakina's mother | Express Entertainment | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Notes |
| 2021 | Dhoop Ki Deewar | Sarah's grandmother | ZEE5 | |
| 2022 | Ms. Marvel | Sana, Kamala's grandmother | Disney+ | |

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Title | Award | Category | Result |
| 1985 | Naraaz | Nigar Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 1999 | Herself | PTV Awards | Best Director Award by PTV. | Won |
| 2000 | Family Front | PTV Award | Best Actress | Won |
| 2002 | Lux Style Awards Committee | Lux Style Awards | Best TV Actress | Nominated |
| 2005 | Herself | The 1st Indus Drama Awards | Best Actress Sitcom in a Leading Role | Won |
| 2011 | Herself | Pride of Performance Award | Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan | Won |