Anjum Shahzad
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Anjum Shahzad | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anjum Shahzad October 11, 1974 Islamabad |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Occupation(s) | TV & Film director, producer, writer and actor |
| Years active | 1997-present |
Anjum Shahzad (Urdu: انجم شہزاد) is a Pakistani TV and film director, producer, writer, actor and a philanthropist. Shahzad rose to fame and is best known for his role as Bobby in the critically acclaimed and madly-followed comedy series Family Front in 1997. The situational comedy earned him PTV Award for Best Debut Actor for his role as Bobby.
Early life and education
[edit]Anjum Shahzad was born and raised in Islamabad, where he spent his childhood engaged in outdoor activities such as climbing trees, playing badminton and football, and organizing informal performances with friends during school breaks.[1]
He initially intended to pursue a military career and applied twice to join the Pakistan Army, but was not recommended. He then considered preparing for the civil service examination (CSS) before ultimately deciding against pursuing a traditional career path. He later earned a master's degree in Economics from the University of the Punjab in Lahore.[1]
While studying in Lahore, Shahzad developed an interest in the performing arts. He enrolled in a one-year acting course and participated in several workshops covering theatre acting, theatre direction, television direction, and screenplay writing. In 1996, he joined the Lahore Drama School, where he completed an eight-month theatre program led by prominent figures such as Shoaib Hashmi, Samina Ahmed, Salman Shahid, and Ustad Paras. During this time, he co-founded the theatre group Daastan with fellow student Zain Ahmed, the son of Samina Ahmed.[1]
Career
[edit]Television
[edit]Shahzad began his career with the role of Bobby in the 1997 sitcom Family Front.[1] Soon after the success of his character he stopped seeking roles for acting on screen, to pursue a successful career in direction.[2][3] Shahzad received accoldates for his directoral work, including his 3rd Best TV Director award at 15th Lux Style Awards for Rang Laaga (2015).[4]
Cinema
[edit]He debuted as film director in 2016 with a biopic Mah-e-Mir[5][6] inspired by the life of a genius Urdu poet of 18th century, Mir Taqi Mir, with semi-fictional elements.[citation needed] The movie was screened as part of the official selection of the Guam International Film Festival, which included around 60 films, according to its website. The film picked up the Best Narrative Film award at the festival.[citation needed] Later that year, it won Best Film and Best Music awards at India's most prestigious awards at the Dada Saheb Film Festival, held in Delhi.[7] Mah e Mir was selected by the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee as the Pakistan's Official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.[8]
Anjum Shahzad's second film Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai was released in 2016.
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Armaan | Yes | Yes |
| 2016 | Mah-e-Mir | Yes | |
| Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay | Yes |
Television series
[edit]| Year | Title | Actor | Director | Writer | Producer | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Family Front | Yes | PTV | |||
| 1998 | Kyun? | Yes | ||||
| 2000 | College Jeans | Yes | ||||
| 2008 | Pehla Chand | Yes | Geo Entertainment | |||
| Satrangi | Yes | |||||
| 2013 | Kabhi Kabhi | Yes | ARY Digital | |||
| 2014 | Dusri Biwi | Yes | ||||
| 2015 | Rang Laaga | Yes | ||||
| 2016 | Mera Yaar Miladay | Yes | Yes | |||
| 2017 | Dil‑e‑Nadaan | Yes | Yes | Express Entertainment | ||
| Khaani | Yes | Geo Entertainment | ||||
| 2018 | Romeo Weds Heer | Yes | ||||
| 2019 | Darr Khuda Say | Yes | ||||
| 2021 | Pehli Si Muhabbat | Yes | ARY Digital | |||
| 2023 | Jindo | Yes | Green Entertainment | |||
| Idiot | Yes | |||||
| 22 Qadam | Yes | |||||
| 2024 | Akhara | Yes | ||||
| Abdullahpur Ka Devdas | Yes | Yes | Zee Zindagi |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Nominated For | Event | Category | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Family Front | PTV Award | Best Debut Actor | Won |
| 2005 | Woh Tees Din | Lux Style Award | Best TV Director - Satellite | Won |
| 2008 | Pehla Chand | 7th Lux Style Awards | Best TV Director - Satellite | Won |
| 2016 | Rang Laaga | 15th Lux Style Awards | Best TV Director | Won |
| Mah e Mir | Dada Saheb Film Festival | Best Film Award | Won | |
| Best Music Award | Won | |||
| Guam International Film Festival | Best Narrative Film | Won | ||
| 2017 | Prague Independent Film Festival | Best Director | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Won | |||
| 16th Lux Style Awards | Best Film Director | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | Khaani | 17th Lux Style Awards | Best TV Director | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Khan, Mariam (3–9 September 2016). "Anjum Shahzad Capturing Emotions On Reel". Mag The Weekly. Archived 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Anjum Shahzad has made a name for himself as a very capable director in a short span of time". Showbiz.pk. 16 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Top 5 Pakistani Drama Directors". Maila. Blush.com. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Lux Style Awards 2016 nominations revealed at star-studded event". correspondent. The Express Tribune. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Finding feet in films". The Express Tribune. Hasan Ansari. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Mah-e-Mir's promo leaves everybody star struck". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "The 15th LUX Style Awards 2016 nominations were unveiled today in Karachi at a star studded held at Movenpick, hotel in Karachi". correspondent. Trending in Social. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Mah-e-Mir selected as Pakistan's official submission to 2017 Oscars". The Express Tribune. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
External links
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