Quratulain Balouch () is a Pakistani American singer-songwriter. Also known as QB or the Humsafar Girl, she became popular for her title track "Woh Humsafar Tha" in Hum TV's serial Humsafar.
Early life Balouch was originally named "Shaheera" but later renamed "Quratulain" at two years old. She grew up in Pakistan and moved to the United States when she was around 18.
She returned to Pakistan five years later in 2011 where she became involved with working at an NGO that did relief work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. While working at the NGO, she met members of the music industry, who noticed her talent during an impromptu performance. She was encouraged to post her music on YouTube, which kickstarted her music career.
Balouch stated that while she had had a connection with music growing up, she never considered pursuing it as a career in her youth, and the path emerged through fortunate opportunities. She has shared that her family was unhappy about her career path, but later came "to terms with the fact that I was born to sing."
Career Balouch has no formal music education. She grew up listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Muhammad Juman, Pathanay Khan and others.
Her singing career started with her cover of Reshma's "Ankhian Nu Ren De" in 2011. She came into the limelight when she featured alongside Jal in the song "Panchi" as part of season 4 of Coke Studio. She rose to fame after her award-winning performance of "Woh Humsafar Tha" for 2011 drama serial Humsafar.
In 2012, she represented her country in a live performance with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2016, she made her debut in Bollywood with song "Kaari Kaari" in film Pink.
Personal life
Balouch has shared her love of Sufism as both the answer to her spiritual questions and the inspiration for her music.
In the past, Balouch has expressed that feminism requires action over “shouting for ‘rights’” causing her to garner backlash and criticism before clarifying she appreciates women who “work everyday towards what they believe in.”
Balouch has stated she dislikes being referred to as QB, due to sharing the initials Qandeel Baloch, clarifying she respects her as a “reflection of the society.. speaking her truth.”
On 5 September 2025, Balouch was injured by a bear attack while camping in Gilgit Baltistan, on a trip to assist victims of the 2025 Pakistan floods. She describes the incident, along with a car accident she was in, as making her “stronger, more resilient, and less fearful,” seeing her survival as a second chance at life that have motivated her to keep going.
Discography
Coke Studio Pakistan Year Season Song Co-singer(s) Ref.20114"Panchi"Jal20158"Sohni Dharti"Season's ft. artistes"Sammi Meri Waar"Umair Jaswal20169"Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo"Season's ft. artistes"Baliye (Laung Gawacha)"Haroon Shahid"Sab Jag Soye"Shuja Haider201710"Qaumi Taranah"Season's ft. artistes"Faasle"Kaavish"Laal Meri Pat"Akbar Ali and Arieb Azhar"Dekh Tera Kya/Latthay Di Chaadar"Farhan Saeed201912"Mundiya"Ali Sethi202214"Thagyan"Zain Zohaib
Soundtracks Year Song DramaNetwork NotesRef(s)2011"Woh Humsafar Tha"HumsafarHum TV2012"Roshan Sitara"Roshan Sitara"Behkawa"BehkawaGeo Entertainment2013"Naina Tere"Mera Pehla PyarARY DigitalCo-singer Shiraz Uppal2015"Aey Zindagi"Aey ZindagiHum TV2016"Tere Nal Main Layian"Mann MayalHum TV"Judaai"JudaaiARY Digital"Kaari Kaari"PinkHindi film Debut2017"Morey Saiyaan"Moray SaiyanARY DigitalCo-singer Uzair Jaswal2023"Jannat Sa Aggay"Jannat Se AagayGeo Entertainment"Khushbo Mein Basay Khat"Khushbo Mein Basay KhatHum TV2024"Gila Hai Kiya Tera"Qarz-e-Jaan
Others Year Song Note2011"Ankhian Nu Ren De"Cover2012"Mae Ni""Dekha Na Tha"2013"Uss Paar"music video"Mera Ishq"2014"Peera"co-singer Khawar Jawad"Koi Labda"Punjabi song"Every Teardrop is a Waterfall"English song2015"Bewafaiyan"Single2016"Saaiyaan"Single"Mere Maula"Tribute to Amjad Sabri, sung with Ali Zafar and Ali Sethi"Pyar Wyar"music video from Cornetto Pop Rock (season 1); co-singers Noori2017"Chal Diye"music video from Cornetto Pop Rock (season 2); co-singer Ali Azmat2018"COLORS"co-singer Jason Derulo"Dil Karda Ay / Agar Tum Mil Jao"co-singer Ali Sethi"Tak Meday Sona"co-singer Soch
Awards and nominations
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|Lux Style Awards |- |rowspan="2"|2012 |rowspan="2"|"Woh Humsafar Tha" – Humsafar |Song of the Year
|Best Original Soundtrack
|rowspan="2"|2017 |"Saaiyaan" |Song of the Year
|"Tere Naal Mein Laiyan" – Mann Mayal |Best Original Soundtrack
|2018 |"Chal Diye" – #CornettoPopRock2 |Song of the Year (shared with Ali Azmat)
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|Pakistan Media Awards |- |2012 |"Woh Humsafar Tha" – Humsafar |Singer of the Year (Female)
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|Hum Awards |- |rowspan="2"|2013 |"Woh Humsafar Tha" – Humsafar |Hum Honorary Phenomenal Serial Award
|"Roshan Sitara" – Roshan Sitara |Hum Award for Best Original Soundtrack
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|Achievement Award |- |2011 |"Woh Humsafar Tha" – Humsafar |Pakistan's Youngest Achievement Award
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|Filmfare Awards |- |2017 |"Kaari Kaari" – Pink |Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|Mirchi Music Awards |- | rowspan=2 | 2016 | rowspan=2 | "Kaari Kaari" – Pink | Female Vocalist of The Year
| Upcoming Female Vocalist of The Year
! style="background:#bfd7ff" colspan="4"|International Pakistan Prestige Awards |- |2017 |"Tere Naal Mein Laiyan" – Mann Mayal |Best Singer
References
External links