# Wahaj Ali

Wahaj Ali (Urdu: وہاج علی, born 1 December 1987) is a Pakistani actor known for his appearance on Urdu television. After making his television debut with the soap serial Ishq Ibadat in 2015, Ali gained critical praise for playing Bangladeshi freedom fighter Shafi Imam Rumi in Jo Bichar Gaye (2021). He has also appeared in other notable roles. In 2023, Ali earned wider recognition, especially across the South Asian continent, for his portrayal of Murtasim Khan in the romance drama Tere Bin.

## Early life and family

Ali was born on 1 December 1987 into a Punjabi family in Lahore, Punjab. His father worked in the government, and his mother was a teacher. The only child of his parents, Ali is a business graduate, with a specialization in finance. His parents wanted him to take the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam and join the civil service, but his inclination was towards acting.
Ali then earned his Masters in Multimedia Arts from the National College of Arts. He met his wife, Sana Farooq, during an internship program on Samaa TV and married on 3rd March, 2016. The couple had a daughter in 2017, Amirah Wahaj Ali.

## Career
### Early work in theater and TV production

Ali began his career as a theater actor in 2007 before joining a TV channel in the news and programming department. From 2009 to 2011, he worked as an assistant producer at Samaa TV. Since 2011, Ali onwards has been a producer at Geo TV.

### TV debut and success (2015–present)

Marking his television debut as a leading actor in 2015 with the drama Ishq Ibadat, he went on to play lead in several notable television serials, including Hari Hari Churiyan (2017), Dil Nawaz (2017), Mah-e-Tamaam (2017), Dil-e-Bereham (2019), Bharam (2019) Fitoor (2021), Ishq Jalebi (2021) and central role in a social drama Dil Na Umeed To Nahi in 2021 as well.
Ali characterized the pivotal role of Shariq Habib in the ISPR show Ehd-e-Wafa in 2020. He received critical acclaim and favourable critiques for embodying the character of Bangladeshi freedom fighter Shafi Imam Rumi in the period drama Jo Bichar Gaye in 2021.
Ali’s portrayals as Ahad, a man in challenging situations in Bikhray Moti; the happy-go-lucky Rizwan in Ghisi Piti Mohabbat; the irascible Basim in Ishq Jalebi; and an amateur Jimmy in Dil Na Umeed To Nahi shaped him as a household name among the creative audience.
Ali’s career was propelled further with his intricate personification as gloomy but winsome Saad Hussein in ARY Digital’s romantic drama Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha opposite Hania Aamir. He rose to worldwide prominence for his portrayal of Murtasim Shahnawaz Khan in Geo Tv’s romance drama serial Tere Bin opposite his previous co-star Yumna Zaidi from Dil Na Umeed To Nahi. After his sweeping fame, Ali depicted the equivocal anguishes of a layered character in Geo Tv's mystery-thriller miniseries Jurm where he exhibited the appearance of the charming convict Daniyal.
In June 2023, he made his Lollywood debut with the anthology film Teri Meri Kahaniyaan, co-starring Mehwish Hayat, directed by Nadeem Baig, which was released theatrically on Eid al-Adha, and met with mixed to positive reviews. He then personified the role of a cricket player Junaid in Green Entertainment’s social women-empowerment drama series 22 Qadam, opposite Hareem Farooq.
Simultaneously, he starred opposite Ayeza Khan in ARY Digital’s Mein, which was penned by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Badar Mehmood respectively while it was produced under the banner of Big Bang Entertainment. The drama went on to garner mixed to negative reviews from the audience and critics but received favourable ratings.
Currently, Ali’s seen in a Geo Entertainment’s signature project Sunn Mere Dil with an ensemble cast which marks his second collaboration with actress Maya Ali. The show is penned by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and directed by Haseeb Hassan. Ali's name is also integrated with the highly anticipated second season of his blockbuster drama Tere Bin.

## Media image

Ali has established himself as one of the leading Urdu television actors. Dawn noted, "The fact that all his different avatars have been so well-received is testament to his talent." Something Haute noted, "Wahaj Ali's choices and the credibility they have amassed, have played a pivotal role in positioning him right at the top of the artistic food chain." He has been placed in Hello Pakistan's HOT100 list, in the "Trailblazers" category. Ali has received the "Sexiest Heartthrob" title at Hello Magazine Awards in 2023. He serves as an ambassador for a number of brands such as Head & Shoulders and 7 Up.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
| 2019 | Superstar | Young Salim Malik | Cameo appearance | |
| 2023 | Teri Meri Kahaniyaan | Asad | Segment: “Aik So Taeeswaan” | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
| 2015 | Ishq Ibadat | Sahil | Hum TV |
| 2016 | Mera Dard Na Janay Koi | Bilal | Hum TV |
| 2016 | Wafa | Hashir | Geo Entertainment |
| 2016 | Gila | Sanwal/Ramis | Hum TV |
| 2016 | Ahsas | Zohaib | Urdu1 |
| 2017 | Zoya Sawleha | Faris | Geo Entertainment |
| 2017 | Mere Dil Mere Musafir | Hasan | TV One |
| 2017 | Hari Hari Churiyan | Ali | Geo Entertainment |
| 2017 | Dil Nawaz | Fawad | A-Plus TV |
| 2018 | Haiwan | Maan | ARY Digital |
| 2018 | Mah-e-Tamaam | Taqi Lodhi | Hum TV |
| 2019 | Dil-e-Bereham | Tabish | A-Plus TV |
| 2019 | Bharam | Maarif Ali | Hum TV |
| 2019 | Ehd-e-Wafa | Shariq Habib | Hum TV |
| 2019 | Haqeeqat | Asif | A-Plus TV |
| 2020 | Mera Maan Rakhna | Mohid | TV One |
| 2020 | Bikhray Moti | Ahad | ARY Digital |
| 2020 | Ghisi Piti Mohabbat | Rizwan/Riz | ARY Digital |
| 2021 | Ishq Jalebi | Basim Hussain | Geo Entertainment |
| 2021 | Fitoor | Hamza Sadiq | Geo Entertainment |
| 2021 | Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi | Jamshed “Jimmy” | TV One PTV Home |
| 2021 | Jo Bichar Gaye | Shafi Imam Rumi | Geo Entertainment |
| 2022-2023 | Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha | Saad Hussain | ARY Digital |
| 2022-2023 | Tere Bin | Murtasim Shahnawaz Khan | Geo Entertainment |
| 2023 | 22 Qadam | Junaid Malik | Green Entertainment |
| 2023 | Mein | Zaid Asif | ARY Digital |
| 2024–2025 | Sunn Mere Dil | Bilal Abdullah | Geo Entertainment |
| 2025 | Mitti De Baway | TBA | Green Entertainment |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Doodh Patti | Salaar | Released on See Prime |
| 2021 | Digestive Showtime - Yorker | Ammar Saleem | Short film |
| 2023 | Jurm | Daniyal Mujib | Mini-series |
| TBA | The Pink Shirt | Umer | Stream ZEE5 |

### Telefilms

| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
| 2016 | Bitiya Hamaray Zamanay Mein | Fahad | Geo TV |
| 2020 | Love Siyappa | Shahabuddin “Shobi” | Geo TV |

### Special appearances

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | Team Muhafiz | Reza (voice over) | Animated series |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2016 | Hum Awards | Best Soap Actor | Ishq Ibadat | Nominated |
| 2019 | ARY Social Media Awards | Best Newcomer Male | Haiwan | Won |
| 2021 | ARY People's Choice Awards | Favourite Jodi (with Ramsha Khan) | Ghisi Piti Mohabbat | Nominated |
| 2024 | Hum Style Awards | Most Stylish Television Actor - Male | Himself | Nominated |