Actor

3 series in the catalog

Samiya Mumtaz (Urdu: سمیعہ ممتاز) is a Pakistani film and television actress. She has performed in several TV dramas. Her accolades include two Hum Awards and three Lux Style Awards nominations.

Career

Initially appearing in several musicals shows and in recurring roles in television serials of Pakistan Television Corporation, Mumtaz had her major role as an adult in the Shahid Nadeem-directed drama serial Zard Dopehar, which aired in 1995. While hosting a talk show, she was noticed by Umera Ahmed who chose her as the lead of the television adaptation of her book Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishaan. Mumtaz played the role of an ill-fated woman in the eponymous series which aired in 2009–10 on Geo Entertainment, the role earning her the Best Television Actress nomination at the 10th Lux Style Awards. She is also notable for her performance in drama serials such as Yaariyan. She also started off as a theater personality and then moved to television. Mumtaz then depicted a selfless mother in the drama Maaye Ni, playing the mother of Sami Khan and Fahad Mustafa's characters. Her antagonistic role in the biographical-romance Sadqay Tumhare as a short tempered and abusive Rasheeda earned her praise from critics and a Hum Award as well. She then appeared in the titular role of Maryam in drama Ali Ki Ammi portraying a hard-hitting and selfless woman. Little praise come from her performance of a timid yet supportive mother of a sexually abused child in social dramaUdaari. In 2022, her performance in the mystery drama Sang-e-Mah was well-received by critics where she appeared as Zarsanga, a character loosely based on Gertrude.

Mumtaz made her film debut in 2014 in a drama thriller film Dukhtar, written and directed by Afia Nathaniel. She also starred in a family drama film Moor directed by Jami, released in 2015. She will play the role of Fatima Jinnah in Danial K Afzal's upcoming web series based on her life.

Personal life

Samiya is the daughter of Khawar Mumtaz, a member of Women's Action Forum (WAF) and the chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for three consecutive terms from 2013 to 2019. Her father is Kamil Khan Mumtaz, a prominent architect and writer. Her mother's great-aunt was Ismat Chugtai. Her aunt is Kausar S. Khan, another WAF member and prominent researcher in Karachi.

Interview: Samiya Mumtaz