Ayesha Omar (; born 12 October 1981) is a Pakistani actress and YouTuber. Considered a style icon in her home country, Omar is one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses in Pakistan.
In 2012, she released her first singles "Chalte Chalte" and "Khamoshi" which, although a commercial success in Pakistan, was met with a mixed reaction from critics. Omar went on to win Lux Style Award for Best Album. She made her film debut in the lead role with successful romantic-comedy Karachi Se Lahore in 2015, followed by supporting characters in war film Yalghaar (2017) and the drama Kaaf Kangana (2019).
Early life and education
Omar was born in Lahore. She was one year old when her father died and her mother raised Omar and her brother as a single parent. She described her childhood as ''tough'' and ''independent''. She attended Lahore Grammar School, and went to the National College of Arts for her Bachelors and Masters qualifications. While in school and college, she participated in co-curricular activities and learnt dance through theatre plays.
Career
Modeling
Omar started her career as a model. She has done many commercials, including for Kurkure, Harpic, Capri, Pantene and Zong. Omar first hosted the show Meray Bachpan Kay Din on PTV at the age of eight. She then hosted Morning show Yeh Waqt Hai Mera on CNBC Pakistan, Rhythm on Prime TV and Hot chocolate on ARY Zauq. In 2018, she attended the New York Fashion Week as Pakistan's representative for the beauty brand Maybelline New York.
Acting
Omar made her acting debut with the serial College Jeans, which aired on PTV. Following this, she appeared in Geo TV's drama serial Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat alongside veteran actors like Bushra Ansari, Saba Hameed and Jawed Sheikh. Since 2009, she appears on popular sitcom Bulbulay as Khoobsurat, opposite actor Nabeel. Bulbulay become the most watched sitcom of Pakistan. Following the success of Bulbulay, Omar received strong media coverage and became a household name. Its second season currently airs on ARY Digital.
Omar then appeared in PTV serial Dil Ko Manana Aya Nahi opposite Amanat Ali, and Geo TV's drama serial Ladies Park alongside Humayun Saeed, Azfar Rehman, Hina Dilpazeer and Mahnoor Baloch.
In 2012, she was seen in Hum TV's highly successful romantic-drama serial Zindagi Gulzar Hai. She portrayed Sara, a girl with grey shades. In the serial, she played the role of on-screen sister of Fawad Khan. In an interview with The News International, she commented: ''Fawad I’ve known since I was in college. We were part of the same underground music scene in Lahore – he was with EP and I was with my college band. We’ve spent some great times and practically grown up together. He was always very cute and very talented. But no, I can never think of him ‘that’ way and I didn’t mind playing his sister at all.''
In 2013, she played the main antagonist called Arzoo in Tanhai on Hum TV. The show was a success.
She was also seen in Geo Kahani's serial Soha or Savera and Hum TV's serial Woh Chaar. Apart from television, she also performed item songs in Pakistani films Love Mein Ghum and Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, both of which were commercially successful.
After becoming an established actress of Pakistani television, Omar stepped into film industry in lead role with Wajahat Rauf's road drama film Karachi Se Lahore, in which she was paired opposite Shehzad Sheikh. Upon release, the film received generally mixed reviews from critics. The Express Tribune criticized Omar's appearance in the movie and wrote: ''There was barely anything for Ayesha Omar in the script, which is why her performance doesn't get noticed more than a girl wearing a revealing top, in a jeep flooded by guys. Even her item number Tutti Fruity was a touch jittery and certainly not worth the hype.'' Although Karachi Se Lahore was not critically well-received, it surprisingly came out as a major box office success, with a total earning of 10 Crore (US$1.0 million) worldwide.
Omar continued to act in television plays after signing few films, and made episodic appearances on Mr. Shamim and Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain 2.