Mehwish Hayat (born 6 January 1988) is a Pakistani actress who primarily works in Urdu films, and formerly, in television. She made her film debut with the comedy Jawani Phir Nahi Ani (2015) and followed that up with a lead role in Actor in Law (2016). Hayat has since starred in the comedies Punjab Nahi Jaungi (2017), Load Wedding (2018), and London Nahi Jaunga (2022), all of which rank among the highest-grossing Pakistani films.
Career The 2012 romantic drama series Meray Qatil Meray Dildar marked a significant turning point in Hayat's career, earning her praise and nomination for Best Actress at the Lux Style Awards. She later portraying of a strong headed in Kashif Nisar's acclaim series Kami Reh Gayi (2013).Vogue. "Fashion Style List – Celebrity Fashion Style Statement – Vogue India The biggest celebrities featured on the Fashion Style List by Vogue India". vogue.in. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016. She achieved further success by featuring in four of Momina Duraid's romantic dramas—Phir Chand Pe Dastak (2011), Mirat-ul-Uroos (2012), Ishq Mein Teray (2013), Ru Baru (2014) and Anjum Shahzad's highly successful family drama Kabhi Kabhi (2013). Her last Pakistani television appearance was Nadeem Baig's tragic romance Dil Lagi (2016). In 2022 she had a supporting role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series Ms. Marvel, as the character Aisha, who has to flee India to Pakistan during the 1940s.
Hayat is the recipient of Lux Style Award and was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2019.
In 2024, Hayat made her television comeback with ARY Digital's television film Ijazat, along with Hassan Sheheryar Yasin. In 2025, she made her small screen appearance after 7 years in Geo Entertainment's television series Dayan, along with Ahsan Khan and Hira Mani.
In 2026, Hayat was announced as a judge for the first season of Pakistan's Got Talent, the Pakistani version of the international Got Talent franchise, alongside Ali Zafar and Tabish Hashmi.
Personal life Hayat was born on 6 January 1988 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Her mother, Rukhsar Hayat, was a popular television actress during the 1980s,Khushbakht Shahid (21 April 2018), "Pakistani mother-daughter celebrities who are too good to be ignored", Business Recorder. Retrieved 2 May 2019. her eldest brother Zeeshan is a singer-composer while her older sister, Afsheen, is a singer as well.Amber Liaqat (30 May 2018), "Mehwish Hayat lends voice to upcoming Punjabi track", The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 May 2019. Another older brother, Danish Hayat, is an actor and, through him, she's the sister-in-law of Faiza Ashfaq, a model.Desk Report (28 February 2019) "Mehwish Hayat dances her heart out at brother Danish's glitzy, star-studded wedding", Dawn News. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2014 Na Maloom Afraad Dancer Special appearance in song "Billi" 2015 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani Marina 2016 Actor in Law Meenu Screwala 2017 Punjab Nahi Jaungi Amal Dastoor 2018 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 Marina Voice cameo Load Wedding Meerab 3 Bahadur: Rise of the Warriors Erma (voice) Animated film 2019 Chhalawa Zoya Rafaqat Chaudhary Baaji Gangster Guriya Special appearance in song "Gangster Guriya" 2022 London Nahi Jaunga Sara Tiwana 2023 Teri Meri Kahaniyaan Sadaf Anthology film2024Daghabaaz DilZoya2026ZombeidZara
Short films Year Title Role Director Notes Ref(s) 2009 Insha'Allah Sahar Khurram Mahmood Short film 2015 Dho Dala: The Sin Washer Pari Iram Parveen Bilal
Television Year Title Role Director Notes Ref(s)2004 Wujood-e-Laraib Afshan Saqib RizviActing debut2009 Massi Aur Malika Hina Abid Ali 2010 Shehr-e-dil Ke Darwazay Maria Nadeem Siddiqui Thori Si Wafa Chahiye Mehreen “Mehru” Yasir Nawaz 2011 Meray Qatil Meray Dildar MahamAsim Ali Phir Chand Pe Dastak MariamSaife Hassan 2012Dil Tou Bhatkay GaHaseeb Hassan Man Jali Tooba Wahab Nadeem BaigMirat-ul-Uroos AimaAnjum ShahzadBin TereSamanAngeline MalikMain 2013Kabhi Kabhi IshaalAnjum Shahzad Ishq Mein TerayAizaFaheem Burney Kami Reh Gaee LailaKashif Nisar 2014 Ru Baru Seema (Sarmad's mother) Saife Hassan 2015 Unsuni SadafEhraz Ali Mirza 2016 Dil Lagi Anmol Nadeem Beyg2022 Ms. Marvel Aisha VariousAmerican debut2024Ijaazat LeenaAhmed BhattiTelefilm2025DayanNihaal/Misha Siraj-ul-HaqueDrama comeback 2026Pakistan's Got TalentJudge—Reality talent competition
Web series Year Title Role Notes Director Ref(s) 2019 EnaayaEnaayaWajahat Rauf
Other appearance Year Title Role Director Ref(s) 2013 Kitni Girhain Baaki HainZareenaAngeline Malik2013Hum Sab Umeed Se HainHostAnjum Shahzad
Discography "Pani Barsa"Man Jali (2010) "Tell Me Why"Meri Behan Maya (2011) "Har Saans Gawahi Deta Hai"Mirat-ul-Uroos (2012) "Mujhse Ab Meri Mohabbat Ke Fasanena Kaho"Talkhiyaan (2013) "Tu Hi Tu" with Shiraz Uppal in 3rd episode of Coke Studio 9 as featured artist (2016) "Dil Saab Dil Babu"Sitaron Bhari Raat (2019) "Chamkeeli" with Abrar-ul-Haq (2019)
Awards and nominations
! Ref |- ! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5"|Lux Style Awards |- | rowspan="2" | 2013 | Mere Qatil Mere Dildar | Best TV Actress – Satellite
| Mein | Best TV Actress – Terrestrial
| 2014 | Kami Reh Gaee | Best Television Actress – Terrestrial
| 2016 | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani | Best Actress (Film)
| rowspan="2" | 2017 | Dil Lagi | Best TV Actress | |rowspan="2" | |- | Actor in Law |rowspan="3"|Best Actress (Film)
| 2018 | Punjab Nahi Jaungi
| 2019 |Load Wedding
! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5"|Hum Awards |- | rowspan="2" | 2013 | rowspan="2" | Mere Qatil Mere Dildar | Best Actress (Drama) | | rowspan="2" |
| Best Onscreen Couple (Drama)
! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5"|Hum Style Awards |- | 2016 | | Most Stylish Actress (Film)
! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5"|Nigar Awards |- | 2017 | Actor in Law | Best Actress (Film)
! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5"|International Pakistan Prestige Awards |- | 2017 | Actor in Law |rowspan="2"|Best Actress (Film)
|2018 |Punjab Nahi Jaungi
See also
List of Pakistani models List of Pakistani actresses
References
External links