Sahira Kazmi

Kazmi was born in 1946 in Bombay to Shyam and Mumtaz Qureshi (also known as Taaji), both actors and prominent figures in the film industry of British India.[3][4] However, after her father Shyam's tragic death in 1951, her family moved to Lahore, which was part of the new state of Pakistan.[5] Sahira's mother, Mumtaz remarried a Pakistani entrepreneur with the surname Ansari. Sahira and her brother Shaakir changed their surnames and became Sahira Ansari and Shakir Ansari. Sahira and her brother also joined the acting field and both became prominent names in Pakistan's acting industry.[6][7]

In the later 1970s, Sahira married Rahat Kazmi; a prominent actor with whom Sahira had worked in many dramas.[8][9] It was then that Sahira changed her name to Sahira Kazmi. The two lived in Karachi and had a daughter Nida Kazmi and son Ali Kazmi.[10][11][12]

Sahira's career began in the 1970s when she started acting in PTV dramas at the PTV Rawalpindi. Her first play was Kurbatein aur Faslay (KAF) based on Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons followed by Parchaiyan (based on Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady), which was followed by Teesra Kinara.[13] Sahira became famous for her roles in Parchaiyan and Teesra Kinara alongside the actor Rahat Kazmi, who she later married in the late 1970s.[14][15][16]

Later, Sahira realized her passion lay in directing content and soon she turned towards directing and producing dramas. She had already directed a number of programmes after her first play. but she made her debut as a director when she launched the series Hawwa ke Naam. The highlighted “women’s rights and their imaging in Pakistan”. Sahira joined Pakistan television Karachi center as a permanent employee and worked as director.[17] She directed many dramas that went on to become a classic in the film industry.[18][19] Some of her best known dramas like Tappish, Dhoop Kinaray, Aahat, Hawwa Ki Beti, Nijaat and Zaibunnissa. Dhoop Kinaray (1987) written by Haseena Moin, starred Rahat Kazmi and Marina Khan.[20][21] The drama became Sahira's most notable work in her production career.[22][23] The series succeeded even after two decades of its production.[24][25] In 2019, the series were also translated into Arabic, to play the drama in Saudi Arabia.[26][27] The step was taken as part of a cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.[28][29] Federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom.[30][31] Arab News said the move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernize the Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.[32][33]

Sahira is known for producing dramas and plays that highlighted social and political issues. Her drama Tappish revolved around a student leader and also highlighted the issue of rape. Aahat, Nijaat, Hawwa Ki Beti and Zaibunnisa highlighted with issues like poverty, domestic abuse and hardships of women.[34] in 1993, Sahira took a break from her career and came back with a new project Tum Se Kehna Thaa ; a play inspired by the Hollywood film ‘While you were sleeping’.[35] Sahira is also the creator of telefilms like Rozee, which starred the late actor Moeen Akhter and Zikr Hai Saal Kaa, starring Rahat Kazmi and Attiqa Odho. She also produced the drama Kaise Kahoon, which starred the actress Marina Khan.[36] Sahira's last drama was Zaibunnisa.[37]

Sahira has also produced many music programs for PTV. She was behind the song Dekha Na Tha Kabhi Hum Nay Yeh Saman , which was sung by the singer Alamgir. Sahira also came up with a song ‘Tere Ishq Mein Jo Bhi Doob Gaya’, sung by the folk singer Allan Faqeer and pop star Mohammad Ali Shehki. The song combined the words of Urdu and Sindhi.[38]

In 2011, Sahira was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the government of Pakistan for her outstanding efforts in the field of television industry. During the ceremony, Sahira said:

I’m very glad that my work has been recognized after a while and not long after I am gone from the scene! We should pay tribute to other people who have done things during their lifetime.[39]

• Zaib-Un-Nisa (2001)
• Zikar Hai Kai Saal Ka (1995)
• Aahat (1991)
• Hawa Ki Beti (1990)[40]
• Dhoop Kinare (1987)[41][42]
• Khaleej (1986)
• Parchaiyan (1976)[43]
• Teesra Kinara