Nadia Afgan is a Pakistani actress who appears in Urdu films and television. She is known for her work in theatre and television. Her numerous works on television include a series of plays in both Urdu and Punjabi. She rose to prominence when she appeared in the hit TV serial Family Front in 1997. Further success came in 2000 with PTV Home's mostmemorable sitcom, Shashlik, which was later re-aired on Geo TV in 2011. Afghan garnered wider appreciation for her comic role in Hum TV's blockbuster comedy drama Suno Chanda (2018), and for its sequel, Suno Chanda 2, as Shahana Batool the following year.
Early life Nadia Afghan was born in Karachi and is the first-born among four siblings. Her parents are Naila Afghan and Tanvir Afghan, a retired Group Captain from the Pakistan Air Force. Due to her father's military postings, Nadia lived in various cities throughout her childhood. Inspired by her father's career, she aspired to become a fighter pilot herself but was unable to pursue this dream due to gender restrictions at the time.
Career Afgan started her career as an actress at PTV Lahore Center. She hosted talk shows and nighttime transmissions of PTV for early few years. In late 1990s and early 2000s, her comic roles in PTV's sitcoms such as Family Front, 1 2 3, and Hubahu earned her prominence but she gained recognition with her portrayal of Mishi in Sarmad Khoosat's directorial Shashlik. In early 2010s, besides her portrayals of comic roles, she played dramatic to tragic roles in Bilqees Kaur, Shehr-e-Zaat, Dil Muhallay Ki Haveli and Sannata. In 2016, she directed A&B Entertainment's Shaam Dhaley, and played a supporting role in it as well. In 2017, Afgan received her first ever award nomination–Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying an orphan nurse in Noorul Huda Shah's written and Saife Hassan's directorial Sammi. In 2018, her career saw a resurgence when besides popularity she gained widespread acclaim and various accolades for her portrayal of Shahana Batool, a typical Punjabi mother in Saima Akram Chaudhry's written Ramadan special Suno Chanda. The same year, her directorial venture Parlour Wali Larki debuted on Bol TV which revolves around two small town girls and their dreams and aspirations. In 2018, she respired her role of Shahana Batool in the sequel of Suno Chanda. In 2021, she received little praise for her role of a dutiful police officer in Shahzad Kashmiri's Parizaad. In 2022, she was praised for portraying the powerful head of a saraiki clan in Abullah Badini's Dushman. Following the success of Suno Chanda, she appeared in another Saima Akram Chaudhry's written, Kala Doriya in the same year, where she portrayed Tanno, a character similar to Shahana Batool. In 2023, Afgan portrayed Shamim, a selfless lover in Kashif Nisar's directed Kabuli Pulao.
In 2025, Afgan portrayed the gullible housewife from a small neighborhood in drama Sharpasand.
Personal life She is married to Jodi Pai, and the couple has been open about their decision not to have children. Nadia frequently shares her love for her pets, highlighting the joy and companionship they bring to her life.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2015 MantoSaugandhi 2019 DarlingNaginaShort film Zindagi Tamasha TV show Host Cameo
Television Year Title RoleNetwork Notes 1992 Maya ShamimPTV 1993 Nazli Rabia 1994 1 2 3 Sharmim 1995 Home Sweet Home Firdaus 1996 Teesra Aadmi Nadia 1997 Family Front Bushra 2000 Hubahu Sonia 2001 Shashlik Mishal (Mishi) 2004 Qurban Tere Ishq Pe Zebunnisa 2006 Mr and Misses Shaista 2010 Jinhein Raste Main Khaber Hui Bilqees Ye Jugnu Hamaray Shazia 2011 Karakti Bijliyan Samina Shashlik Xtra Hot Mishi 2012 Mere Huzoor Saleha Chalo Phir Se Jee Kay Dekhein Shazia Afsar Bekar e Khaas Saima Black & White Noor Wilyti Desi Ayesha Larka Karachi Ka Kuri Lahore di Anjuman Raju Rocket Sameen Bilqees Kaur Mumtaz Shehr-e-Zaat Tabinda Hum TV 2013 Sannata Husna Dil Mohallay Ki Haveli Safiya Zindagi Teray Bina Safiya 2014 Ladoon Mein Pali Samreen 2015 Surkh Jorra Sabiha 2016 Shaam Dhaley Wajeeha Director also Baaghi Esma Faltu Larki Lubna 2016 Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain Amina/KausarHum TV Episode 9 and 17 2017 Sammi Naheed Nominated — Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress Dil-e-Nadaan HinaGeo Entertainment 2018 Zamani Manzil Kay Maskharay Mehrunnisa Suno Chanda Shahana Jamshed Ali aka Shanoo Hum TV Hum Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Hum Award for Most Impactful Character Dukh Kam Na Hoge Saima Parlour Wali Larki Rahat Director also2019 Hoor Pari Hajra Suno Chanda 2 Shahana Jamshed Ali aka ShanooHum TV Bhool ShabanaARY Digital 2020 Tum Se Kehna Tha Saba Chaudhary 2021 Dil Na Umeed To Nahi Batool a.k.a. BatoolanPTV Terha Aangan Shakila Parizaad DSP Badar MunirHum TV 2022 Ibn-e-Hawwa Shabratan Sang-e-Mah Sheherzaad's boss 2022-2023 Dushman MalkaniPTV Kala Doriya Tehniyat Shuja Ahmed A.K.A TannoHum TV 2023 Kabuli Pulao ShamimGreen Entertainment Khel Rafiya Honey Moon Shabnam Tere Ishq Ke Naam Ronaq Jehan2024 Radd Shehla Zamin ShahARY Digital Jafaa SadiaHum TV Pas-e-Dewar Najm-Ul-NisaGreen Entertainment Tan Man Neel o Neel MehnazHum TV2025 Dastakhat Kulsoom Sher SaiqaARY Digital Jinn Ki Shadi Unki ShadiFaridaHum TV SharPasand Rubina "Ruby" ARY Digital2026 Aik Aur Pakeeza Aliya Geo Entertainment
Telefilm YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes 2010 Ronak Jehan Ka Nafsiyati Gharana Gul-e-Banfashan Pichal Pairiyaan Imrana Shaukat 2013 Behadd Shafaq 2023 Mera Dil Meri Marzi Shehnaz Bano 2025 Miss B.A Pass Ramsha's mother
Web series YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes 2020 Churails Aasia ZEE5 Episode 3 2023 Khoj Nargis OTT Khoj trailer reveals dark cinematic mystery. Hum News. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
Accolades Year Awards Category Work Result 2018 Hum Awards Best Supporting Actress Sammi 2019 Suno Chanda Most Impactful Character 2020 Pakistan International Screen Awards Best Television Actress in Comedy role
Philanthropy Nadia has recently become active in the charitable sector, with a particular focus on water-related relief efforts. She launched a fundraising campaign with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan aimed at improving access to clean drinking water in Pakistan. Through her initiative, she successfully raised over PKR 1 million, which has been allocated to sponsor the installation of a water filtration plant in the region.
References
External links