Farhan Saeed (born 14 September 1984) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, actor and entrepreneur. Saeed is the former lead vocalist of the Pakistani band Jal and owns the Cafe Rock restaurant in Lahore. He sings in Urdu and Punjabi. He made his acting debut with the drama De Ijazat Jo Tu (2014).
Saeed had his breakthrough with Udaari (2016), for which he received the Hum Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. He earned wider recognition with his portrayals in Suno Chanda (2018), Suno Chanda 2 (2019) and Mere Humsafar (2021-22). The former won him Hum Award for Best Actor Popular. Saeed made his film debut with Tich Button (2022).
Early life and education The full name of Farhan Saeed is Farhan Saeed Butt. He belongs to a family of medical professionals; his father and both brothers are all doctors. Saeed did his A-Level from the Keynesian Institute of Management & Sciences (KIMS), Lahore in 2001, and later pursued a B.Sc. in Computer Science. He had studied the subject at the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU), where other musicians were his seniors, including "Xulfi" Khan and Fawad Khan, which would ignite his interest in music.
Music career Jal the band
Saeed first rose to prominence when he joined the Lahore-based pop rock band Jal, at the age of 17, as a vocalist. Saeed replaced Atif Aslam in 2003, who quit because of musical differences with Jal's founding member Goher Mumtaz.
Solo music career In September 2011, in an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Saeed shocked the fans claiming that he had left Jal to pursue a solo career despite Goher Mumtaz offering him to continue his solo career while being a part of Jal. On 8 September 2011, Saeed's departure was confirmed by Jal's guitarist Goher Mumtaz who wished him luck for his solo career. He did a collaboration with Aima Baig, Adnan Qazi and Bilal Saeed for the song "Na cher malangaan nu". His song with Hania Aamir for Asim Jofa was directed by Qasim Ali Mureed.
He made his Bollywood-singing debut in 2014, by contributing a song to Vikram Bhatt's Creature 3D. The song, Naam-e-Wafa, is a romantic-duet, with Indian vocalist Tulsi Kumar as a co-singer and Mithoon as the composer.
Acting career Saeed started his acting career by debuting in a leading role in the 2014 Hum TV drama serial De Ijazat Jo Tu alongside Sohai Ali Abro, Saba Hameed and Javaid Sheikh. He then played the lead role as Mohid Shuja in ARY Digital's Mere Ajnabi alongside Urwa Hocane who was the female lead. He has also played the lead role of Arsh in the drama Udaari as a lawyer along with female lead Urwa. Apart from acting in the drama, Saeed has also collaborated with Hadiqa Kiani for the OST that has topped music charts all over Pakistan.
In 2016, he also played the lead role again in ARY Digital's Teri Chah Mein, alongside Maria Wasti and Saboor Ali, and Hum TV's Sila alongside Ainy Jaffri.
In 2018 he grabbed the leading role of Arsal Jamshed Ali (Arsal) in Hum TV's drama serial Suno Chanda, with Iqra Aziz as the leading female role, and due to the critical success of the show, a season 2 was immediately announced by the producers. He reprised his role as Arsal Jamshed Ali in the second installment of Suno Chanda alongside Iqra Aziz in 2019. The season was also a critical success.
He had the leading role in Karachi Se Lahore 3 with Kubra Khan as co-star, the third installment of Wajahat Rauf's successful series including Karachi Se Lahore and Lahore Se Aagey which would have been his feature film debut, but he had to quit the project because of music tours and concerts he was already committed to.Ayesha Ghaffar (5 November 2018), "Farhan Saeed reveals why he opted out of Karachi Se Lahore 3", SomethingHaute. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
In early 2019 it was announced that Saeed would appear in his first lead film role in Tich Button, a rom-com co-produced by his wife Urwa Hocane under their joint new production company Shooting Star Studio.Staff Report (19 January 2019), "Urwa confirms Farhan Saeed, Feroze Khan as ‘Tich Button’ leads", Daily Times. Retrieved 3 February 2019. After some delay, the movie was released in 2022.
Other work
Direction He turned to direction with the 2018 music video of O Jaana from the singer-songwriter Hamza Malik, starring actress Iqra Aziz and featuring musicians Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sahir Ali Bagga.NewsBytes (5 January 2018), "Farhan Saeed set for directorial debut", International The News. Retrieved 6 November 2018.Asma Malik (21 July 2018), "Hamza Malik, Iqra Aziz’s mesmerizing clips from ‘O Jaana’ will melt your heart" , Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
Personal life Saeed married Urwa Hocane on 16 December 2016, in Lahore, Pakistan. On 6 October 2023, Saeed and Hocane announced their pregnancy through social media.
Discography
Film songs +All films are Pakistani except where noted YearFilmSongMusicLyricsCo-singer(s)Note2012Dil Tainu Karda Ae Pyar"Kyun Gayee"Jaidev KumarKumaarPunjabi filmQasam Se Qasam Se"Meethi Yaadein"Sayanti-ShailendraShailendra KumarHindi film, as member of Jal2014Creature 3D"Naam-e-Wafa"MithoonTulsi KumarHindi filmMain Aur Mr. Riight"Bhool Na Jaana"Astiva Band2017Punjab Nahi Jaungi"Rab Rakha"Ali MustafaHimselfHalf Girlfriend"Thodi Der"HimselfKumaarShreya GhoshalHindi film2018Parwaaz Hai Junoon"Musafir"Azaan Sami KhanShakeel SohailZenab Fatimah Sultan2023Tich Button"Ehsaan Hai Tumhara"Adrian David EmmanuelJonita Gandhi2025Love Guru"Toot Gaya"Saad SultanSaad Sultan, Tahir AbbasYashal Shahid, Zain, Zohaib
TV series songs +YearSerialSongMusicLyricsCo-singer(s)Note2014De Ijazat Jo Tu"De Ijazat Jo Tu"Sohail Haider2016Teri Chah Mein"Teri Chah Mein"Sohail HaiderSamina Ejaz2017Mere Ajnabi"Mere Ajnabi"Adrian David Emmanuel2018Suno Chanda"Suno Chanda"Naveed NashadAehsun TalishAangan"Haari Haari"Imran RazaNaveed Nashad2019Suno Chanda 2"Suno Chanda"Aehsun TalishDamia Farooq, Rimsha Khan2020Prem Gali"Prem Gali"Adrian David EmmanuelShakeel Sohail, Ahmad FaradNish Asher2023Jhok Sarkar"Meri Matti"Sibtain Khalid2024Aye Ishq e Junoon"Yaara Ve"Sami Khan2025Shirin Farhad"Sochon Se Jaati Nahi"Hassan Rai, Qasim DahirHassan Rai, Ali MoeenAmna Rai
Non-film songs
Jal Albums +YearTitleNote2004Aadatas member of Jal2007Boondh
Solo albums +YearTitle2025Khat
Singles Year SongAlbum/Single Notes2011"Khuwahishon"Single"Ik Arzu"2012"Pi Jaon"co-singer Momina Mustehsan; Nominated – Lux Style Awards for Best Song of the Year2013"Tu Thori Dair" (Original Punjabi Version)Compiled in 2020 album Dhanak Kay Rang by ISPR media productionsSingle"Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai"2014"Roiyaan"Lux Style Awards for Best Song of the Year, Hum Awards for Best Music Single2015"Sajna"Single2016"Saathiya""Ji Jaun""Sajna Ve Sajna" Udaari co-singer Hadiqa Kiani"Jab Se Miley Tum"co-singer Maryam Fatima"Bol Ke Lab"co-singer Hadiqa Kiani"Koi Rokay Na Mujhe"Nominated-Hum Award for Best Music Video2017"Dekh Tera Kya/Latthay Di Chaadar"#CokeStudio10 2018 "Dil Hua Panchi" Single"Maula" collaboration with Rishi Rich2020"Baliyay"In The Box by Saad SultanSingle2021"Pyaar Sufiyana" Ft. Hania AmirFor "Asim Jofa""Na Cher Malangaan Nu"co-singer Aima Baig 2022"Khush Bichar Ker"Kashmir Beats S2"Naukar Shah Da"co-singer Shuja Haider"Kadi Kadi"Single2025"Khwabeeda"
Music video director Year Song Singers Company 2018 O Jaana Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Hamza MallikZee Music
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2017 Punjab Nahi Jaungi Himself Special appearance in song "Rab Rakha" 2022 Tich Button Kaka Saab2026Luv Di SaunZarshaan
Television series Year Title Role SingerNetworkDirector Notes Ref. 2014 Daay Ijazat Jo Tu SarmadHum TVFahim BurneyAlso playback singer for title song 2015 Mere Ajnabi Mohid ShujaARY DigitalAhmed Bhatti 2016 Udaari Taimoor Arshad "Arsh"Hum TVMohammed EhteshamuddinIfrah Salman (4 April 2017), "Urwa Hocane, Farhan Saeed bag 5 nominations at Hum Awards 2017", hipinpakistan. Retrieved 8 November 2018. Sila Taimoor AhsanSyed Aabis Raza Teri Chah Mein Faisal KhanARY Digital 2018 Suno Chanda Arsalan "Arsal" Jamshed Ali Hum TVAehsun Talish 2019 Suno Chanda 2 2020 Prem Gali Hamza HatimARY DigitalQasim Ali Mureed 2021 Mere Humsafar Hamza Raees Ahmed 2022 Badshah Begum Pir ShahzaibHum TVKhizer Idrees Meri Shehzadi Dr. HasanQasim Ali Mureed Special appearance 2023 Jhok Sarkar ArsalanSaife HassanAlso playback singer for title song 2024 Kaisi Hai Ye Ruswai BaarisExpress TVWajahat Rauf2025Shirin Farhad FarhadHum TVAsad Mumtaz Malik2026Bas Tera Saath HoAnas MujtabaARY DigitalQasim Ali Mureed
Telefilms Year Title Role Ref. 2017 Pyar Ki Love Story Haadi 2018 Iss Dil Ki Essi Ki Tessi Azhar 2021 Love Vaccine Nadeem
Web series Year Title Role Ref.2025ShamsherShamsher
Accolades Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2013 Lux Style Awards Best Song of the Year "Pi Jaun" 2014 Hum Awards Best Solo Artist "Kyun Gae" 2015 Lux Style Awards Best Song of the Year "Roiyaan" Hum Awards Best Music Single 2017 Hum Awards Best Supporting Actor Udaari Best Onscreen Couple (with Urwa Hocane) Best Onscreen Couple Popular (with Urwa Hocane) Best Music Single "Koi Ruke Mujhay" International Pakistan Prestige Awards Best Supporting Actor Udaari Best Onscreen Couple (with Urwa Hocane) 2018 Zee Cine Awards Best Music Director Half Girlfriend 2019 Lux Style Awards Best Original Sound Track Aangan Hum Awards Best Actor Suno Chanda Best Onscreen Couple (with Iqra Aziz) Best Actor Popular Best Onscreen Couple Popular (with Iqra Aziz) International Pakistan Prestige Awards Best Actor – Jury Best Actor – Viewer's choice Best Onscreen Couple (with Iqra Aziz) Pakistan International Screen Awards Best Television Actor Best Original Soundtrack 2021 ARY People's Choice Awards Favourite Actor Prem Gali Favourite Actor in a role of Damad Favourite Jodi (with Sohai Ali Abro) 2023Lux Style Awards Best TV Actor Mere Humsafar Best TV Actor – Critics' Choice 2024 Hum Awards Best Actor Popular Badshah Begum Jhok Sarkar Best Onscreen Couple Popular (with Hiba Bukhari) 2025 Lux Style Awards Best TV Actor – Critics' Choice
References
External links