Wahaj Ali
Wahaj Ali | |
|---|---|
| File:Wahaj Ali.jpg Ali in 2022 | |
| Born | 1 December 1988[1] Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Education | National College of Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse |
Sana Farooq (m. 2016) |
| Children | 1 |
Wahaj Ali (Urdu: وہاج علی, born 1 December 1988) 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 received critical acclaim for playing Bangladeshi freedom fighter Shafi Imam Rumi in Jo Bichar Gaye (2021). He has also appeared in other notable roles.[2][3]
In 2023, Ali earned wider recognition, especially across the South Asian continent, for his portrayal of Murtasim Shahnawaz Khan in the romance drama Tere Bin for which he received acclaim.[4][5]
Early life and family
Ali was born on 1 December 1988 into a Punjabi Muslim family in Lahore, Punjab.[6][1] His father worked in the government, and his mother was a teacher.[7] The only child of his parents, Ali is a business graduate, with a specialization in finance.[8] 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.[9] He met his wife, Sana Farooq, during an internship program on Samaa TV and married on 2nd March, 2016. The couple was blessed with a daughter in 2017, Amirah Ali.
Career
Early work as theatre actor and TV producer
Ali began his career as a theatre actor in 2007 before joining a TV channel in the news and programming department.[10] 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, an amateur Jimmy in Dil Na Umeed To Nahi were praised from both critics and 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 and especially due to his portrayal of Murtasim Shahnawaz Khan in Geo Tv’s record breaking romance drama serial Tere Bin opposite his previous co-star Yumna Zaidi from Dil Na Umeed To Nahi. Post 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 and garnered fitting commends.
Recently, he made his Lollywood debut with an anthology film Teri Meri Kahaniyaan co-starring Mehwish Hayat directed by Nadeem Baig which was released theatrically on Eid al-Adha, 29th June 2023.
Upcoming
He is awaited to personify the role of a cricket player Junaid, in soon launching Green Entertainment’s social women-empowerment drama series 22 Qadam, opposite Hareem Farooq which is set to air every Sunday from 8-10 pm as Green broadcasting begins on the 10th of July 2023. He has signed up for an ARY Digital project titled Mein which is penned by Zanjabeel Asim Shah, under the direction of Badar Mehmood and the production by Big Bang Entertainment, opposite Ayeza Khan. His web series with Sajal Aly is set to be released soon on Zee5. He is also set to star again in the second season of his popular TV Show Tere Bin.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Teri Meri Kahaniyaan | Asad | Segment: "Aik So Teeswaan" | [11] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Ishq Ibadat | Sahil | Hum TV |
| 2016 | Mera Dard Na Janay Koi | Bilal | |
| Wafa | Hashir | Geo TV | |
| Gila | Sanwal/Ramis | Hum TV | |
| Ahsas | Zohaib | Urdu1 | |
| 2017 | Zoya Sawleha | Faris | Geo TV |
| Mere Dil Mere Musafir | Hasan | TV One | |
| Hari Hari Churiyan | Ali | Geo TV | |
| Dil Nawaz | Fawad | A-Plus TV | |
| 2018 | Haiwan | Maan | ARY Digital |
| Mah-e-Tamaam | Taqi Lodhi | Hum TV | |
| 2019 | Bharam | Maarif Ali | |
| Dil-e-Bereham | Tabish | A-Plus Tv | |
| Haqeeqat | Asif | ||
| 2020 | Ehd-e-Wafa | Shariq Habib | Hum TV |
| Mera Maan Rakhna | Mohid | TV One | |
| Bikhray Moti | Ahad | ARY Digital | |
| Ghisi Piti Mohabbat | Rizwan/Riz | ||
| 2021 | Ishq Jalebi | Basim Hussain | Geo TV |
| Fitoor | Hamza | ||
| Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi | Jamshed “Jimmy” | TV One | |
| Jo Bichar Gaye | Shafi Imam Rumi | Geo TV | |
| 2022 | Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha | Saad Hussein | ARY Digital |
| Tere Bin | Murtasim Shahnawaz Khan | Geo TV | |
| 2023 | Jurm | Daniyal | Geo TV |
| 22 Qadam | Junaid | [12]Green Entertainment | |
| Mein | TBA | ARY Digital |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Doodh Patti | Salaar | Released on See Prime |
| 2021 | Digestive Showtime - Yorker | Ammar Saleem | Short Film |
Telefilms
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bitiya Hamaray Zamanay Mein | Fahad | Geo TV |
| 2020 | Love Siyappa | Shahabuddin
“Shobi” |
Special appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Team Muhafiz | Reza (voice over) |
Accolades
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ARY Social Media Awards | Best Newcomer Male | Haiwan | Won | [13] |
| 2021 | 1st ARY People's Choice Awards | Favourite Jodi (with Ramsha Khan) | Ghisi Piti Mohabbat | Nominated | [14] |
| 2022 | 21st Lux Style Awards | Best Television Ensemble | Dil Na Umeed To Nahi | Won | [15] |
References
- ^ a b "Birthday wishes pour in for actor Wahaj Ali". Dialy Pakistan. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ Maliha Rehman. "The Icon Interview - Wahaj Ali: 'Im in no hurry'". Dawn. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "Exclusive - Wahaj Ali goes into details about his choice to portray victim on-screen". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "Check out here how the drama serial 'Tere Bin' is ruling Twitter". MMNews.tv. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "'Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha' star Wahaj Ali tops the Twitter trends". ARY News. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Wahaj Ali, the versatile actor, celebrates his 32nd birthday". Bol News. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Wahaj Ali". Social Diary. 23 October 2018.
- ^ "Ehd e Wafa's Wahaj Ali | Part II | A Sensitive Soul | Rewind with Samina Peerzada". YouTube.
- ^ "Profile on LinkedIn". LinkedIn.
- ^ Shabbir, Buraq (31 May 2020). "From theatre to television to films". The News International. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ "Wahaj Ali, Mehwish Hayat come together for 'Teri Meri Kahaniyaan'". Express Tribune. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "'22 Qadam' seems to be a breath of fresh air in Pakistani dramas". Daily Times. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "ARY Digital Social Media Awards 2018 Complete Winners List". ARY Digital. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ "1st ARY People's Choice Awards Nomination List". ARY Digital. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "LUX Style Awards 2022 is all set to enter its third decade of celebrating and honouring Pakistani talent". Images. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
External links
