Ushna Shah

Ushna Shah (born 12 February 1990) is a Pakistani-Canadian film and television actress. Her accolades includes a Hum Award and a Pakistan Media Award, and a nomination for Lux Style Award.

Shah graduated from the York University and made her debut with a supporting role in the 2013 romance Mere Khwabon Ka Diya, winning a Pakistan Media Award for Best Emerging Talent. After playing a series of roles, she starred as a struggling wife in the blockbuster thriller Bashar Momin (2014) and went on to feature as the female lead in the 2017 spiritual drama Alif Allah Aur Insaan and the 2018 psychological thriller Balaa, and earned further praise as a victim in the thriller Cheekh (2019), the love interest of the main character in the drama Parizaad (2022), and a naive wife in the romance Habs (2022).

Early Life
Shah was born on 12 February 1990, in Karachi, Sindh, to Muhammad Shah, a businessman, and Ismat Tahira, a veteran actress and a radio artist. She has one elder brother, Shah Sharabeel, a theater director, and an elder half-sister from her mother's first marriage, Irsa Ghazal, another television actress. The family relocated to Toronto, when Shah was a child, where she was raised. Shah moved back to Pakistan in 2012, to pursue a career in acting. Shah graduated with a major in English Literature and Professional Writing from the York University.

Career
Shah began her career with character roles, including the serial Bashar Momin in 2014, the drama serial Duaa (2015) in which she played the title character, and Alif Allah Aur Insaan (2017) in the role of a beggar turned courtesan. She was cast in Jawad Bashir's Teri Meri Love Story in which she played the leading character Eesha, but the film was halted post-production and the official release never happened. She also starred in the first online Pakistani comedy film Oye Kuch Kar Guzar by D-juice Pakistan. She then appeared as a guest in the film Punjab Nahi Jaungi in 2017. She has been the brand ambassador for the fashion label Nickie Nina, and has done campaigns for various lawn brands such as Jahanara. In June 2017 she wrote on Facebook criticizing what she said was the trend of various talk shows using Ramadan to cash in on television rating points.

Personal life
Shah married professional golfer Hamza Amin, the son of golfer Taimur Hassan Amin, on 26 February 2023 in Karachi, two months after announcing her engagement.

Telefilm

 * 2013: Anokhay Raqeeb
 * 2013:Dil Kaleji Hogaya
 * 2014:Mujhse Shaadi Karogi
 * 2014: Rab Ne Bna Di Jodi
 * 2014: Zindagi Ab Bhi Muskurati Hai
 * 2014: Kuch Iss Tarha
 * 2015: Pyari Bhangan 
 * 2015: Jhoot Wala Love 
 * 2015: Rahay Salamat Jodi
 * 2016: Sab Say Mushkil Shaadi
 * 2016: Sanaullah Ki Dusri Shaadi
 * 2016: Socha Na Tha Pyaar Karenge
 * 2016: Aitebaar
 * 2017: Rishta Baraye Farokht
 * 2017: Meray Sanwariya Ka Naam
 * 2017: Aisay Na Tu Jaa
 * 2021: Hum Tum
 * 2022: Mast Mohabbat

Awards and nominations

 * Best Emerging Talent Female at 4th Pakistan Media Awards for Mere Khwabon Ka Diya
 * Hum Awards for Best Soap Actress at 3rd Hum Awards for Hum Tehray Gunahgar'
 * Hum Award for Best Negative Character at 6th Hum Awards for Alif Allah Aur Insaan
 * Nominated-Lux Style Awards for Best Television Actress for Balaa