Ayesha Omar (Urdu: عائشہ عمر; born 12 October 1981) is a Pakistani actress and occasional singer. Considered a style icon in her home country, Omar is one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses in Pakistan.
In 2012, she released her first singles "Chalte Chalte" and "Khamoshi" which, although a commercial success in Pakistan, was met with a mixed reaction from critics. Omar went on to win the Lux Style Award for Best Album. She made her film debut in the lead role with successful romantic-comedy Karachi Se Lahore in 2015, followed by supporting characters in war film Yalghaar (2017) and the drama Kaaf Kangana (2019).
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Early life and education
Omar was born in Lahore, Pakistan on 12 October 1981. She was one year old when her father died, so her mother raised Omar and her brother as a single parent. She described her childhood as "tough" and "independent". She attended Lahore Grammar School, and went to the National College of Arts for her Bachelors and Masters qualifications. While in school and college, she participated in co-curricular activities and learnt dance through theatre plays.
Career
Modeling
Omar started her career as a model. She has done many commercials, including for Kurkure, Harpic, Capri, Pantene and Zong. Omar first hosted the show Meray Bachpan Kay Din on PTV at the age of eight. She then hosted Morning show Yeh Waqt Hai Mera on CNBC Pakistan, Rhythm on Prime TV and Hot chocolate on ARY Zauq. In 2018, she attended the New York Fashion Week as Pakistan's representative for the beauty brand Maybelline New York.
Acting
Omar made her acting debut with the serial College Jeans, which aired on PTV. Following this, she appeared in Geo TV's drama serial Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat alongside veteran actors like Bushra Ansari, Saba Hameed and Jawed Sheikh. Since 2009, she has appeared on the popular sitcom Bulbulay as Khoobsurat, with actor Nabeel. Bulbulay become the most watched sitcom of Pakistan. Following the success of Bulbulay, Omar received strong media coverage and became a household name. Its second season currently airs on ARY Digital.
Omar then appeared in PTV serial Dil Ko Manana Aya Nahi opposite Amanat Ali, and Geo TV's drama serial Ladies Park alongside Humayun Saeed, Azfar Rehman, Hina Dilpazeer and Mahnoor Baloch.
In 2012, she was seen in Hum TV's highly successful romantic-drama serial Zindagi Gulzar Hai. She portrayed Sara, a girl with grey shades. In the serial, she played the role of on-screen sister of Fawad Khan. In an interview with The News International, she commented: "Fawad I’ve known since I was in college. We were part of the same underground music scene in Lahore – he was with EP and I was with my college band. We’ve spent some great times and practically grown up together. He was always very cute and very talented. But no, I can never think of him ‘that’ way and I didn’t mind playing his sister at all."
In 2013, she played the main antagonist called Arzoo in Tanhai on Hum TV. The show was a success.
She was also seen in Geo Kahani's serial Soha or Savera and Hum TV's serial Woh Chaar. Apart from television, she also performed item songs in Pakistani films Love Mein Ghum and Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, both of which were commercially successful.
After becoming an established actress through Pakistani television, Omar stepped into the film industry in the lead role of Wajahat Rauf's road drama film Karachi Se Lahore, in which she acted with Shehzad Sheikh. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics. The Express Tribune criticized Omar's appearance in the movie and wrote: "There was barely anything for Ayesha Omar in the script, which is why her performance doesn't get noticed more than a girl wearing a revealing top, in a jeep flooded by guys. Even her item number Tutti Fruity was a touch jittery and certainly not worth the hype." Although Karachi Se Lahore was not critically well-received, it was a box office success, with a total earning of 10 Crore (US$1.0 million) worldwide.
Music
Omar first sang the song "Man Chala Hai" for her commercial Capri. She also sang the song "Bhooli Yaadon Mein", the title song of her serial Ladies Park and "Manjali", the title song of the Geo TV serial Manjali. She also sang the songs "Aoa" and "Tu Hi Hai".
In 2012, Omar released two albums "Chalte Chalte" and "Khamoshi" for which she won the Lux Style Award for Best Album. In 2013, she released her third album "Gimme Gimme". She also recorded an old classical song named "Laage Re Nain" and another fusion song "Miyan Ki Malhar" for Coke Studio Pakistan (Season 6) during the same year.
Painting
A Fine Arts graduate from NCA, she said that, even before acting and modelling, painting and singing were her first passions and career choices.
Personal life
In December 2015, Ayesha Omar and her co-star Azfar Rehman met with a road accident. The actors were reportedly travelling from Karachi to Hyderabad when the accident occurred. According to a source, another vehicle collided into their car, causing the car to swerve off the road and fall into a ditch. After recovering from her injuries, Omar said: "My entire life flashed in front of my eyes as I held onto my seat waiting to be hit by a truck."
In a 2020 interview with Ahsan Khan on his show Bol Nights with Ahsan Khan, Omar revealed that she has also been a victim of sexual harassment, stating: "I have been through harassment in my career and life, so I understand how it feels. I don’t have the courage to talk about it yet, maybe someday I will. But I can totally relate with everyone who has been through it."
She remains friends with her former boyfriend Sikander Rizvi.