Meesha Shafi
Meesha Shafi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | 1 December 1981 |
| Other names | Meera Shafi[a] |
| Citizenship | Canadian[1] Pakistani |
| Occupations |
|
| Parent(s) | Saba Hameed (mother) Syed Pervaiz Shafi (father) |
| Relatives | Saba Hameed (mother) Faris Shafi (Brother) Hameed Akhtar (maternal grandfather) |
| Musical career | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2009 – present |
| Labels |
|
Meesha Shafi[b] is a Pakistani-born Canadian[1] singer, actress and model.[2]
She made her film debut with a supporting role in the 2013 Mira Nair film The Reluctant Fundamentalist. She achieved further critical success for her role as Laxmi, an operative of the Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing, in Bilal Lashari's action thriller film Waar, which ranks among the highest-grossing Pakistani films of all time.
Early life
Shafi was born in Lahore, Pakistan 1981 to actress Saba Hameed and Syed Pervaiz Shafi. She did her A Levels from Lahore Grammar School and graduated with a degree in fine arts from the National College of Arts in 2007.[3] In 2016, Shafi became a Canadian citizen.[1]
Career
Modelling
Shafi entered the modelling industry at the age of 17, when she starred opposite Jawad Ahmed in the music video for the song "Bin Teray Kya Hai Jeena".[4] In 2009 Shafi became the brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris Pakistan.[3] She has featured in many Pakistani magazines and in international publications such as L'Officiel and Vogue India.[4]
Acting
Shafi made her screen debut with the 2006 serial Muhabbat Khawab Ki Soorat on Hum TV. She then appeared in Geo TV serial Ye Zindagi To Woh Nahi in 2007.
She made her film debut with Mira Nair's 2012 Hollywood film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (based on Mohsin Hamid's novel of the same name), alongside Kate Hudson and Riz Ahmed. The film describes the bad impact of Americans toward Muslims after 9/11. Shafi had a minor role and appeared in only two scenes in the film, in the role of the male lead's sister. The film received mixed reviews from critics, and failed to break even at the box office.[5][6]
She then acted in Bilal Lashari's Pakistani film Waar, alongside Shaan Shahid. Her portrayal of Laxmi, an Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing's operative was critically praised by the Pakistani media. The movie won her the 'Best Supporting Actress' award at the ARY Film Awards in 2014.
In 2016, Shafi had a lead role in the TV costume drama Mor Mahal which is set in the mid-19th century.
In 2023, Shafi appeared in the film Mustache, which premiered at the South by Southwest film festival.
Music career
Shafi started her singing career with the band Overload with her husband, but left in 2011. Shafi sang along with the internationally acclaimed folk singer Arif Lohar on Coke Studio Pakistan Season 3, with the song "Alif Allah (Jugni)". The single, originally composed and performed by Lohar, gathered over 20 million+ views on YouTube, was the most-viewed Coke Studio song ever, until it was overtaken by "Tajdaar-e-Haram", and was used in several films like Cocktail, Diary of a Butterfly and Jugni.[4]
She sang a rendition of the folk song "Chori Chori", which received mixed reviews. She returned to Coke Studio (Season 5) in 2012 when she sang "Ishq Aap Bhi Awalla" with the Chakwalees and sang a ghazal by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, "Dasht-e-Tanhai".
In 2014, Meesha Shafi returned to the Coke Studio floor for a third time to perform "Sun Ve Balori" with the composer and tabla guru Ustad Tafu and producers Strings.
In 2015, Meesha Shafi lent her vocals to two OSTs. One being 'EVA' that was produced by Strings is featured on the soundtrack of the film Moor, released in August 2015, and directed by director Jami.
In August 2015, she released 'Mehram Dilaan De Mahi' for the OST of the biopic (directed and portrayed on screen by Sarmad Khoosat), based on the life and works of prose writer, Manto. The track is produced by True Brew Records and the lyrics are by Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi. 'Manto' was released on 11 September 2015.
TV appearance
In April 2013, Shafi joined Strings, Ali Azmat, Shahzad Hasan and Alamgir as a judge and mentor on the singing talent show Cornetto Music Icons, aired on ARY Digital.
In July 2017, Meesha Shafi joined Fawad Khan and Farooq Ahmed in the audition round as judge while Khan, Shafi, Atif Aslam and Shahi Hasan were the judges in the knockout round of Pepsi Battle of the Bands Season 2. Ayesha Omer is the host of the season.[12]
Shafi also went on to judge Season 3 and 4 of Pepsi Battle of the Bands!
Personal life
Shafi's maternal grandfather, Hameed Akhtar, was a novelist and newspaper columnist, president of the Progressive Writers' Movement, and editor of Urdu daily newspapers including Imroz and Nawa-e-Waqt. In 2008, she married musician Mahmood Rahman.[7] The couple have two children, a daughter named Janevi, and a son named Kazimir.[8]
Ali Zafar case
On 19 April 2018, Shafi accused fellow singer Ali Zafar of sexual harassment on Twitter. More women came in Shafi's support and accused Zafar of misconduct. Zafar categorically denied the allegations and filed a legal defamation suit. Reported as a "high-profile" case, it was ruled in Zafar's favour on 31 March 2026, and Shafi was ordered to pay Rs. 50 lakh in damages. Meanwhile, other cases that were filed include Shafi's workplace harassment case, Zafar's cybercrime case, and two counter-defamation suits against Zafar. While Shafi's legal team seeks an appeal against the verdict, Zafar's legal team claimed that no other case can be pending due to the verdict covering everything.[9][10][11][12][13]
Acting career
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Reluctant Fundamentalist[6][4] | Bina Khan | English | |
| 2013 | Bhaag Milkha Bhaag[6] | Perizaad | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Waar[4] | Zoya, Laxmi | Urdu, English | ARY Film Award for Best Supporting Actress[14] |
| 2014 | The Tournament of Shadows[4] | English | Filming | |
| 2023 | Mustache | Asiya | English, Urdu |
TV
| Year | Show | Role | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mor Mahal | Farrukh Zaad | Urdu |
Discography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Pichal Pairee |
| 2012 | The Reluctant Fundamentalist[4] |
Coke Studio songs
| Year | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Chori Chori" | Originally sung by Reshma |
| 2010 | "Alif Allah" [4] | Performed with Arif Lohar |
| 2012 | "Dasht-e-Tanhai | Originally sung by Iqbal Bano |
| 2012 | "Ishq Aap Bhe Awalla" | Performed with Chakwal Group |
| 2014 | "Sunn Ve Balori" | Originally sung by Noor Jehan |
| 2014 | "Jugni"[4] | Originally sung by Alam Lohar |
| 2016 | "Aa Rahe Haq Ka Shaheedo" | Originally sung by Naseem Begum[15] |
| 2016 | "Bholay Bhalay" | |
| 2016 | "Aya Lariye" | |
| 2020 | "Gal Sunn" | |
| 2020 | "Na Tutteya Ve" | |
| 2022 | "Muaziz Shaarif" |
Lollywood
| Year | Song | Film | Composer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | EVA | Moor | Strings |
| 2016 | Sun Vey Bilori | Shaan-e-Ishq | Amir Munawar |
| 2017 | 24/7 Lak Hilna | Punjab Nahi Jaongi | Shani Arshad |
| 2022 | Mahiya Ve Mahiya | London Nahi Jaunga | Shani Arshad |
Pepsi Battle of the Bands
| Year | Season | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | "Speaker Phaar"
|
|
| 2018 | 3 | "Koi Sarda Aye Te Sare"
|
Originally sung by Noor Jehan |
| "Mein"
|
|||
| 2019 | 4 | "Leela"
|
Velo Sound Station Songs
| Year | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Boom Boom" | Originally sung by Nazia Hassan |
| 2020 | "Amrit" | |
| 2023 | "Saranjaam" |
Miscellaneous Songs
| Year | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | “Sakal Ban” | Written by Amir Khusrau |
| 2021 | “Hot Mango Chutney Sauce” | |
| 2022 | “Rajkumari” |
See also
- Coke Studio
- List of Pakistani models
- List of Pakistani actresses
Footnotes
- ^ Legal name
- ^ Urdu: میشا شفیع
References
- ^ a b c "Meesha Shafi's legal team demands public apology from Ali Zafar". The Express Tribune. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Meesha Shafi becomes certified yoga instructor Daily Pakistan (newspaper), Published 14 June 2021, Retrieved 14 June 2021
- ^ a b "Meesha interview with Fashion Central". Fashion Central. 6 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mansuri, Anam (9 September 2012). "It's getting hot in here". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Film review of The Reluctant Fundamentalist on Box Office Mojo website Retrieved 16 June 2021
- ^ a b c Crossing Dangerous Borders (in the movie 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist') The New York Times, Published 19 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2021
- ^ Ben, Mark (31 May 2016). "Meesha Shafi Singer 'A Daughter of Saba Waseem'". globiesfeed.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Syed, Madeeha (11 May 2014). "Spotlight: Mum's the word! (Meesha Shafi and her actress mother Saba Hameed)". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Hannah Ellis-Petersen (1 January 2021). "Pakistan's #MeToo movement hangs in the balance over celebrity case". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ^ "SHC asks Ali Zafar to file response by Feb 15 in Leena Ghani case". Geo News. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ "Ali Zafar-Meesha case: Witness confronted with pictorial evidence in court". Dawn. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ Sarah Shamim (1 April 2026). "Pakistani singer Ali Zafar wins #MeToo defamation case: Why it matters". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 1 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ^ Qaisar Kamran (6 April 2026). "'Justice must rest on evidence, not pressure', says Ali Zafar". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "'Waar' dominates ARY Film Awards with 13 major wins". Daily Times (newspaper). Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Anis Ahmed Shakur (17 April 2001). "Naseem Begum: The Tragedy Queen". PakistaniMusic.com website. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
External links
- Meesha Shafi at IMDb