Zahid Ahmed (actor)

Zahid Iftikhar Ahmed is a Pakistani television actor and former RJ. Ahmed worked as a creative manager for PTV World, and later became an RJ. Although successful, he left it to pursue a career in acting, and made his broadway debut with a leading role in the play It Runs in the Family (2006). He received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Anwar Maqsood's, Sawa 14 August and its sequel Pawnay 14 August (both 2014). That same year, he made his television debut with the Hum TV romantic series Mehram.[1] His breakout role in the Hum TV series Alvida (2015), garnered him the Hum Award for Best Villain, and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Subsequently, he received wide recognition for his portrayal of leading roles in several of the successful series, including Jugnoo (2015), Tum Mere Paas Raho (2015), Sangat (2015), Zara Yaad Kar (2016) and Besharam (2016).

Zahid Ahmed
Born
Zahid Iftikhar Ahmed
Alma materPreston University
OccupationActor, RJ
Years active2006–present
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Spouse(s)Amna Zahid
Children2
Websitezahidahmed.com

Early life and education

Zahid received his early education in Rawalpindi and graduated from Preston University in marketing. From 2003 to 2011, Zahid worked as a COO facilitator (corporate trainer) for sales and customer service operations in an IT company, however he left the job when company was discovered fraudulent and joined Pakistan Television Network's flagship channel PTV Home and later as a creative manager to launch an PTV World, where he met Anwar Maqsood and accept the offer to play Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Maqsood's theater Sawa 14 August.

Career

Ahmed started his career as a RJ where he hosted Pakistani version of Australian morning shows The Breakfast Show and The Rush Hour for a year from 2002-2003, but left the show due to his job at call center in ISB. Due to his experience at radio, Zahid is a professional voice-over artist and has worked on various commercials for BBC, Nokia and is an official member of Voices.com. He also plays a small role in unreleased film Cedare a joint production of Canada and Pakistan.

In 2006, Ahmed made his stage debut in a Pakistani adaptations of Ray Cooney's comedy play, It runs in the family where he portray Dr. David, and in 2007's musical, Bombay Dreams as Vikram. His performances in these plays earned him critical appraisal and in 2008, he went on to play Raoul de Chagny in universally acclaimed musical, Phantom of the Opera and John Smith in Cooney's magnum-opus, Run For Your Wife in 2011, while he continued to work as a trainer. However, his claim to fame came later when he accept the role of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Anwar Maqsood's hit political-drama play, Sawa 14 August in 2013. Losing 48-pounds for the role he successfully plays the role in over 200 shows performed in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. He then quit his job at PTV to become a full-time actor and played Butt Sahab - a fat, bald blundering buffoon in another Maqsood's comedy-play Half Plate and reprise his role as Jinnah in Sawa 14 August's prequel Pawnay 14 August.[2]

Ahmed made a television debut with series Mehram alongside Ayesha Khan, that earned him widespread acclaim and recognition.[3] Sultana Siddiqui offered him the role after watching him at theater. He went on to star in hit drama serial Alvida alongside Imran Abbas Naqvi and Sanam Jung, where he portrayed the character Rameez a mentally disturbed husband of Jung,[4] describing his character Ahmed said, "Rameez's passion for Haya is similar to Zahid's passion for acting."[5] He established himself as a lead actor with these roles and appeared in four drama series in 2015 for Hum TV including Jugnoo,[6] Tum Mere Paas Raho,[7] Sangat (where he played the role of a rapist),[8][9] and Zara Yaad Kar.[10][11] For his debut work he was among the Best Television Sensation Male at 3rd Hum Awards but due to awards rules only winners received nomination and award, which he lost to Adnan Malik.[12] He received three nominations at 4th Hum Awards including Best actor in a Supporting Role for Alvida, Best Actor in a Negative Role for Alvida and Sangat.[13]

In 2016, he played Haider Bakht in ARY Digital's drama series Besharam opposite Saba Qamar, Atiqa Odho and Rehan Sheikh.[14] His performance received critical acclaim.[15] He was cast in Geo Entertainment high-budget fantasy period drama series, Mor Mahal directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat which features ensemble cast including Umair Jaswal, Meesha Shafi, Sania Saeed, Fiza Ali, Jana Malik and Hina Khawaja Bayat.[16] He portrayed the role of Kabeer who is a love interest of Meherbano (the third wife of Nawab Asif Jehan) and tasked by Meherbano to lure and murder first wife of Nawab Asif, Farrukh Zaad.[17][18]

Television
Year Title Role(s) Channel
2014 Mehram Hamza Hum TV
2015 Alvidaa Rameez
Jugnoo Zulfi
Tum Mere Paas Raho Tabish
Sangat Shavez
2016 Zara Yaad Kar Hadi
Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain (Season 2) Hassaam
Mor Mahal Kabir Geo Entertainment
Besharam Haider ARY Digital
Naimat Babar
Mera Kya Qasoor Tha Rohail Geo Entertainment
2017 Dil e Jaanam Shavez Hum TV
Pujaran Aabis TV One
Tau Dil Ka Kia Hua Saif Hum TV
Gustakh Ishq Sikandar Urdu1
Daldal Shuja Hum TV[19]
2018 PukaarSarangARY Digital[20]
VisaalAkku
Dil Diyan Gallan Hassan Hum TV[21]
2019 Choti Choti BatainFahadHum TV
Ishq Zahe NaseebSameerHum TV
Mein Na JanooZulqarnain "Nain"Hum TV
2020 Mohabbat Tujhe AlvidaShahaanHum TV

Filmography
Year Title Role(s)
TBA Jhol
Sorry: A Love Story

Stage
Year Production Role
2006 It Runs in the Family
2007 Bombay Dreams Vikram
2008 Home is where your Clothes Are Ronnie
2009 Phantom of the Opera Raoul de Chagny
2011 Run for Your Wife John Smith
2013 Sawa 14 August Muhammad Ali Jinnah
2013 Half Plate Butt Sahab
2014 Pawnay 14 August Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Radio shows
Year Show Station Role
2002-03 The Breakfast Show City FM 89 Host, RJ
The Rush Hour
2011 The Bumper2Bumper Gaming Show Drive FM 89.9

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Nominated work Result Ref(s)
2016 Hum Awards Best actor in a Supporting Role Alvida Nominated
[22][23]
Best Actor in a Negative Role Won
Sangat Nominated
2017 Lux Style Awards Best Television Actor Besharam Nominated
ARY Viewers Choice Awards Best Couple with Saba Qamar Nominated
Best Actor Nominated [24]
gollark: Oh, hey, a survey?
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gollark: No, I bought some OpenWRT-able routers cheaply.
gollark: Sure. Check the OpenWRT compatibility list.
gollark: Unless they're "tri-band" ones, which are better.

References
  1. "Zahid Ahmed's journey from zero to hero will leave you inspired". The Express Tribune. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. "The different Shades of Zahid Ahmed". MagWeekly. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. "Many faces of Zahid Ahmed". Falak Amaar Khan. fuchsia. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. "10 Pakistani dramas from 2015 that everyone should watch". Correspondent. The Express Tribune. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. "Zahid Ahmed- Dawn of A New Era". Hum Network. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  6. "Jugnoo Upcoming Drama Serial (Synopsis/Pictures)". Saud. Pakium. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. "Tum Mere Paas Raho kicks off". Saadia Farooq. HIP. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. "In Sangat, the rapist is both hero and villain — and that's a problem". Sadaf Haider. Dawn News. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  9. "The on-going TV serial, starring Zahid Ahmed, Saba Qamar and Mikaal Zulfiqar, can be credited with tackling the sensitive and often controversial subject of rape but does it do it justice?". Buraq Shabbir. The News International. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  10. "Zahid Ahmed talks about upcoming play 'Zara Yaad Kar'". Ahmed Hussain. HIP. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  11. "Zahid Ahmed Will Play A Positive Role In "Zara Yaad Kar"". Saud. ARY Digital. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. "2014 Hum Awards winners". Correspondent. Dawn News. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  13. "Hum Awards 2016 Complete Nominations List". Maheen Nusrat. Brandsynario. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  14. "First look of ARY Digital's upcoming drama serial "Besharam"". trendinginsocial.com. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  15. "Is Besharam worth your time?". Sadaf Haider. The Express Tribune. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  16. "Mor Mahal is the story of resilient, fiercely powerful women". The News International. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  17. "Moor Mahal Cast and details". Geo News. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  18. "Mor Mehal (مور محل) on Geo Tv". Rashid Nazir Ali. Review It. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  19. "Daldal portrays illegal immigration". The Nation. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  20. Khan, Saira (23 October 2017). "Zahid Ahmed- the man on a roll- signs another serial titled "Pukaar"". HIP. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  21. NewsBytes. "Zahid Ahmed on his upcoming Eid telefilm with Saba Qamar". Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  22. "Fourth HUM Awards will take place in Karachi next month". Rozina Bhutto. HIP. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  23. "The awards will be held in Karachi on April 23rd and the voting lines are open till April 6, 2016". HIP. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  24. "ARY Viewers Choice Awards – Winners Announced!". reviewit.pk. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
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