Nauman Ijaz

Nauman Ijaz (Punjabi and ; born 14 February 1965) is a Pakistani actor. Active since 1989, he has played many roles and has been a senior actor on state television PTV.^[2][3] As of 2014, he had acted in some 175 television series.^[4]

He is the recipient of several accolades, including 10 Lux Style Awards, 7 Hum Awards and a President's Pride of Performance award, which was presented to him in 2012 from the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari.^[1]

Occasionally, he has also served as a television host, while before becoming an actor he was a lawyer.

Early life and education

Ijaz was born on 14 February 1965 and grew up in Icchra town, Lahore into a Punjabi family.^[5] His father was the manager of a cinema house in Lahore and Ijaz has an elder brother and a younger sister.^[5]

Ijaz began his education at Cathedral High School in Lahore. Later, he attended the Divisional Public School, Model Town, Lahore and then completed his further education at Forman Christian College. His parents wanted him to become a doctor, while he aspired to be a newscaster. However, inspired by his elder brother, he ultimately pursued a law degree from Punjab University.^[5][6][2]

Acting career

Television

Ijaz began his acting career on PTV in 1989, after being rejected in 1985 and then in 1987, with a short appearance under the direction of Nusrat Thakur in the drama Aik Din.^[4] His role lasted only 50 seconds.^[5] He then did a TV serial on PTV (Quetta Center).

He later appeared in many different roles, including negative roles in the dramas Rehaai (2013) and Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi (2013).

In 2014, he played a Pakistani cab-driver based in Jackson Heights in Mehreen Jabbar's directed Jackson Heights.^[7] He received unanimous praise for his performance, with a reviewer from Dawn stating, "He was truly the linchpin, holding the interest level in Jackson Heights even when the pace was flagging."^[8] From 2016-17, he appeared in titular role in Bhai as Aslam alias Bhai, the troublemaker local councillor from the Walled City of Lahore.^[9] In 2017, he played the titular role of ruthless and influential politician in political-drama Khan.^[10] The same year, he played a household molestor in Kashif Nisar's directed Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila, for which he received Best TV Actor - Critics' Choice at the 18th Lux Style Awards.^[11]

Some of his other notable serials include Noorpur Ki Rani (2009), Mera Saaein (2010), Durr-e-Shehwar (2011), Badi Aapa (2012), Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016), O Rangreza (2017), Raqeeb Se (2021), Parizaad (2021), and Sang-e-Mah (2022).^[12]

Cinema

He has appeared in the film Ramchand Pakistani (2008) where he romanced Nandita Das.^[13]

Webseries

Ijaz starred alongside Saba Qamar in the 2022 Zindagi original webseries Mrs. & Mr. Shameem, which received attention for its unconventional romantic storyline and premiered on ZEE5 on 11 March 2022.^[14][15]

Other work

Legal career

Before becoming an actor, Ijaz initially began his professional journey as a lawyer, undertaking cases before family and civil courts in Lahore for several years before fully committing to the entertainment industry.^[16]

Hosting career

In the early 2010s, he hosted a TV comedy show called Mazaaq Raat on Dunya News. Earlier, he had hosted a comedy show on PTV Home.^[6] Later, he also hosted a prime time talk show on Neo News HD titled G Sarkar.^[6]

Personal life

Ijaz tied the knot with Rabia in the 1990s. In an interview, he shared that he first met Rabia at a college function. Initially, she acted reserved and asked him to keep his distance, but he persisted. During a charity event for Shaukat Khanum Hospital, he proposed to her, asking if she would marry him. Rabia asked him to talk to her parents, and he decided to do so. The couple has three sons, including actor Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz.^[5]

Filmography

Films

Television serials

Webseries

Host

Awards and nominations

Lux Style Awards

References

1. ^ Saadia Qamar & Rafay Mahmood (15 August 2011). "Civil awards: Pride of the nation". The Express Tribune newspaper. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
2. ^ "Profile of Naumaan Ijaz". Awaz TV website. Archived 15 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
3. ^ "Naumaan Ijaz Profile". www.pakistannewshd.com. Archived 26 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
4. ^ Qamar, Saadia (20 December 2014). Naumaan Ijaz: Keeping it real. The Express Tribune. Archived 26 June 2025.
5. ^ Sheikh, Rabia (7 April 2019). "Nauman Ijaz Brings Life to His Characters with His Acting" (Urdu: ’’نعمان اعجاز‘‘ اپنی اداکاری سے کردار میں جان ڈال دیتے ہیں). Daily Jang. Archived 26 June 2025.
6. ^ "Noman Ijaz Biography". tv.com.pk website. Archived 2016-12-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
7. ^ "#100HAPPYDAYS: Noman Ijaz, Aamina Sheikh, Ali Kazmi shoot for Jackson Heights". The Express Tribune. 16 August 2014.
8. ^ Sadaf Siddique (30 March 2015). "Review: 'Jackson Heights' shines as an immigrant's take on love and loss". Dawn.com
9. ^ "Bhai: New TV serial sees Noman Ijaz in a different avatar". Daily Times. January 27, 2016.
10. ^ Buraq Shabbir (February 26, 2017). "The ruthless new Khan". The News International
11. ^ "Who won at the mega Lux Style Awards 2019?". www.thenews.com.pk. 7 July 2019.
12. ^ Khan, Asif (24 January 2023). "A league of his own – Nauman Ijaz". The News International. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
13. ^ "Ramchand Pakistani (2008 film)". The Times of India newspaper. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
14. ^ Mid-Day Web Correspondent (2 March 2022). "Mr. & Mrs. Shameem trailer: Saba Qamar and Nauman Ijaz share a distinctive love story". Mid-Day. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
15. ^ Images Staff (3 March 2022). "The trailer for ZEE5’s Mr & Mrs Shameem is gripping — if only Pakistanis had access to the show". Dawn Images. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
16. ^ Web Desk (10 November 2024). "Nauman Ijaz Stepped into Acting after Practicing Law" (Urdu: وکالت کر کے اداکاری کی فیلڈ میں قدم رکھا، نعمان اعجاز). Daily Pakistan. Archived 1 January 2026.
17. ^ "Rangeelay Chor (1991) Movie Still". Desimovies.biz. Archived 25 June 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Cast: Madiha Shah, Ajab Gul, Sapna, Nauman Ejaz, Tariq Shah, Anwar Iqbal
18. ^ "Classic Drama Online: Ptv Drama Fishaar". April 25, 2011. Archived February 2, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
19. ^ "Nauman Ijaz doesn't want to receive awards in a ceremony despite winning". Daily Times (newspaper). 26 December 2021. Archived 10 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
20. ^ Eendhan. June 9, 1990. OCLC 37691074
21. ^ Dunyā: Urdū ḍrāmah. June 9, 2004. OCLC 773787537
22. ^ Fariduddin Ahmad. "Life stories from far off land". The News on Sunday. Archived from the original on 29 September 2001.
23. ^ Iqbal, Faisal (January 27, 2011). "Pakistani Drama: Ptv Drama Nigah نگاہ". Archived August 8, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
24. ^ "Noorpur ki Rani to highlight social issues". 20 July 2014. Archived 10 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
25. ^ Asif Khan (24 January 2023). "A league of his own - Nauman Ijaz". The News International. Archived 25 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
26. ^ Entertainment Desk (September 1, 2014). "Mehreen Jabbar returns with new drama Jackson Heights". DAWN.COM. Archived June 9, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
27. ^ Irfan Ul Haq (23 August 2021). "Atif Aslam is starring in drama Sang-e-Mah, reveals Naumaan Ijaz". Dawn Images
28. ^ Shah, Saud (4 February 2017). "Pinjra A Plus Drama, Timings, Schedule And Cast". pakistani.pk. Archived 2018-02-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
29. ^ "Noman Ijaz chooses to keep mum about backlash on 'Dunk'". Daily Times. 16 February 2021.
30. ^ "Yumna, Wahaj Ali begins shooting Dil Na Umeed to Nahi". Samaa TV. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
31. ^ "Hadiqa Kiani is ready to make her acting debut". Dawn. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
32. ^ "The Week That Was Gunjal". Dawn News. 26 June 2023.
33. ^ Desk, News (2025-07-30). "Shar Pasand Drama: Cast, Schedule, Timing, and Exciting Details". Brides & You. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
34. ^ "Saat Mulaqatain is a web series about a couple falling out of love". DAWN. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
35. ^ NewsBytes. "Anjum Shehzad Turns To Web Series With "Abdullahpur Ka Devdas"". LENS. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
36. ^ "https://images.dawn.com/news/1182224" "https://tribune.com.pk/story/2324144/lsa-2021-winners-bayaan-and-pyaar-ke-sadqay-reign-supreme?" "https://images.dawn.com/news/1179502" "https://images.dawn.com/news/1177454" "http://www.trendinginsocial.com/nominations-15th-lux-style-awards-2016-unveiled/" "https://www.ebuzztoday.com/14th-lux-style-awards-2015-announces-nominees-in-24-categories/" "https://web.archive.org/web/20140819125919/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/entertainment/12-Aug-2014/nominees-announced-for-2014-lux-style-awards" "https://web.archive.org/web/20170118100355/http://www.desifreetv.com/news/12th-lux-style-awards-2013-pictures-and-winners-list/" "https://tribune.com.pk/story/239961/lux-style-awards-a-trip-down-memory-lane/" "https://web.archive.org/web/20111108022835/http://www.rewaj.com/fashion/lux-style-awards-2011-nominations.html" "https://fashioncentral.pk/fashion_events/9th-lux-style-awards-2010/" "https://www.fashioncentral.pk/people-parties/events/celebrations/story-383-winners-announced-for-8th-lux-style-awards/" "https://www.rewaj.pk/lux-style-awards-for-the-year-2004/" "https://web.archive.org/web/20030715233432/http://www.luxstyleawards.com/winners/pastwinners.asp"
37. ^ "The LSA 2009 winners are". Dawn.com. 29 November 2009.
38. ^ "And the Winner Is: A Look at the Big Victories of the HUM 22ndLux Style Awards 2023!". Daily Times. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
39. ^ "LSA2024 » Lux Style Awards". www.luxstyle.pk. Archived 2025-03-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-11-19.

External links

• Nauman Ijaz at IMDb