Aamina Sheikh
Aamina Sheikh | |
|---|---|
| Born | Aamina Abdul Sheikh August 29, 1981 |
| Nationality | Pakistani American |
| Alma mater | American International School Hampshire College |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, Supermodel |
| Years active | 2003 – Present |
| Spouse | Mohib Mirza (2005-present) |
| Website | Aamina Sheikh.com |
Aamina Sheikh (born as Aamina Abdul Sheikh, on August 29, 1981) is an Pakistani American actress and model. She has won one Lux Style Awards, one New York Film Festival Award, one SAARC Film Festival Award, one Tarang Housefull Award and one Veet Beauty Award in different categories.
Sheikh started her acting career with 2008 telefilm Baarish mein deewar. In 2010, she earned commercial success with Hum TV's serial Daam and later earned recognition for playing glamorous roles in male-centric serials such as Hum Tum (2010), Uraan (2010), Mera Saaein (2010), Main Abdul Qadir Hoon (2010). Sheikh subsequently played more prominent roles in serials like Maat (2010), Mera Saaein 2 (2012), and Mirat Ul Uroos (2013).
Despite acting in serials, sheikh made her film debut in the 2012 reincarnation melodrama Seedlings for which she won New York Film Festival Award and SAARC Film Festival Award in Best Actress category. In 2012, She achieved further critical and commercial success for her role of Zarnab, a tomboy in Abdullah Kadwani's Armaan. Sheikh went on to win Tarang Housefull Awards—Best on screen Couple with Fawad Afzal Khan. The following year, she starred in social drama Josh: Independence Through Unity, a critical and commercial success. Through her successful acting career, she has established herself as a commercially successful actress of Pakistani cinema.
Sheikh garnered international recognition as a spokesperson for the French beauty brand L'Oreal.[1]
Early life
Sheikh was born in New York City, USA and is the daughter of Abdul Sheikh, a pharmacist by profession.[2] Sheikh's paternal side of family have established themselves in the textile business, but her father had a passion for chemistry; he pursued it and became a pharmacist.
Sheikh has spent her childhood in Karachi and Riyadh. She received her primary education from Mama Parsi School and secondary from American International School in Riyadh. Sheikh continued further studies in Karachi and did her O and A levels from St.Joseph's Convent and The Lyceum, respectively. Aamina has majored in film video production from Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts and has worked as an assistant at Manhattan-based multi-media company Curious Pictures.[3]
Career
Debut (2003-2007)
Returning to Pakistan, Sheikh landed a job with Geo Television, where she directed and produced children talkshow Bachey Man Ke Sachey. In 2007, Aamina made her on-screen debut in Sharjil Baloch and Khalid Ahmed's telefilm, Gurmuch Singh ki Waseeyat. It was based on Saadat Hassan Manto's novel, The Will of Gurmukh Singh.[4] Set during the time of partition, it is a story of Sheikh Sahab and his friendship with Gurmukh Singh, a revered elder of the neighborhood. In the wake of Partition, Muslims — with the exception of Sheikh Sahib — are leaving a largely Sikh village. Sheikh Sahib is confident that as long as his friend Gurmukh Singh is there no harm can come to him or his family. On the night of Eid, Gurmukh passes away leaving instructions with his son that sweets should be delivered to Sheikh Sahib's house as had been the tradition for decades. His wish is carried out in the morning but in an unexpected way. The telefilm was well received and caught the attention of drama addicts.[2] Aamina first major serial's offer came soon after that with Wilco, the ISPR and 7th Sky Entertainment's joint venture, where she portrayed a woman from Thar desert.
Television Serials, Modeling and Film (2008-present)
2008 had Sheikh rolling with three major telefilms: Aasmaan Chu Lay, Pachees Qadam Pe Maut and Baarish Mein Deewar. Sheikh played a rickshaw driver who's determined to become the soul breadwinner of the family, in Syed Ali Reza's Aasmaan Chu Lay. Sheikh had to learn and drive a rickshaw on Karachi's busiest M.A. Jinnah road and Garden Area, with a massive camera attached to it and had to attract real passengers.[5] In the same year Sheikh made her runaway debut with Rehana Saigol’s fashion show.[2][6] She has done extensive print work for fashion/advertising labels/companies, such as Maria B, Deepak Perwani, Amir Adnan, Nomi Ansari, Niche Lifestyle, Khaadi, Teejays, The Men's Store, Fahad Hussayn, Hang Ten, Maheen Khan, Umbereen Sharmeen, Chinyere, Crossroads and Limited Edition. In the following year, she did her second photoshoot for Niche Lifestyle, with Popstar and actor Atif Aslam.[7]
In 2010, Sheikh did Mehreen Jabbar's mega drama serial Daam and Haissam Hussain's Ishq Gumshuda. Both had huge casts and were received well by the audiences and critics.
In 2011, Sheikh played the role of a grieving mother in Summer Nicks' multi award-winning feature film Seedlings and went on to win New York Film Festival Award for Best Actress and SAARC Film Festival Award for Best Actress. She then went on to play the lead in Iman Paveen's feature Josh before taking on the role of Natasha in the high-octane action spy thriller, Operation 021, produced by Zeba Bakhtiar and directed by Australian filmmaker, Summer Nicks. [8] [9] [10]
In 2013, Sheikh was awarded Miss Photogenic Award at the 1st Veet Celebration of Beauty Awards.
Personal life
Sheikh is married to seasoned actor and comedian Mohib Mirza in an Islamic wedding ceremony.[11] Sheikh had known Mirza since her school days when she was doing English plays with veteran actor Rahat Kazmi; she officially met Mirza on the sets of Geo Entertainment's Bachay Mann Kay Sachay which she was directing and Mirza was hosting.[2] In 2005, they decided to get married. Since then they have co-starred in a number of telefilms and drama serials as an on-screen couple.[2]
When asked about her family she has a very positive picture of a supporting and caring family: “I take great pride in my family, my support system that is built around me, my husband Mohib Mirza and all our close relations attached to my marriage”.
Filmography
Acting
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Additional Notes |
| 2011 | Love Mein Ghum | Herself | Special Appearance in song Love Mein Ghum |
| 2012 | Seedlings | Maliha | New York Film Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actress SAARC Film Festival Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| 2013 | Armaan | Zarnab | Remake of Armaan (1966 film) Tarang Housefull Award for Best on screen Couple with Fawad Khan |
| 2013 | Josh: Independence Through Unity | Fatima | Silent River Film Festival Award for Best Actress |
| 2014 | Operation 021 | Natasha | Post-production |
| Drama | |||
| Year | Serial | Role | Additional Notes |
| 2008 | Wilco | Megha | PTV |
| Qisson Ki Chadar | Aimen Hajra |
Episode Ghutan Episode Tum Aurat Mein Mard, Hum TV | |
| Mera Naam Hai Muhabbat | Huma | Appeared in episode Aashiq Pan Shop | |
| Boltay Afsanay | Razia | Appeared in episode Daayin (witch) - a story by Ismat Chughtai, TV One | |
| 2009 | Dil-e-Nadan | Seema | Geo TV |
| Agar Tum Na Hotay | Shireen | Nominated - Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress (Satellite) Indus Vision | |
| 2010 | Haal-e-Dil | Seerat | ARY Digital |
| Daam | Maliha | ARY Digital | |
| Saleena | Bushra | ATV | |
| Tere Liye | Simran | ARY Digital | |
| Ishq Gumshuda | Neha | Hum TV | |
| Hum Tum | Amal | Geo Tv | |
| Uraan | Sana | Geo TV | |
| Mera Saaein | Naina | ARY Digital | |
| Main Abdul Qadir Hoon | Nael | Hum TV | |
| 2011 | Maat | Aiman | Hum TV |
| Umm-e-Kulsoom | Umm-e-Kulsoom | ARY Digital | |
| Kuch Kami Si Hai | Asmee | Geo TV | |
| Mora Piya | Ujala | Geo TV | |
| Ek Hatheli Pe Hina Ek Hatheli Pe Lahoo | Hijab | Geo TV | |
| 2012 | Mera Saaein 2 | Naina | ARY Digital |
| 2013 | Mirat Ul Uroos | Aiza | Geo TV |
| Silvatein | Zaib | ARY Digital | |
| Telefilm | |||
| Year | Telefilm | Role | Additional Notes |
| 2007 | Gurmuch Singh ki Waseeyat | Mian saab's daughter | Based on Sadat Hassan Manto's work |
| 2008 | Baarish mein deewar | Asma-ul-Haq | AAG TV |
| Waapsi | Saba | Pakistan Independence Day Special on ARY Digital | |
| 2009 | Bibi Jee | Amber | ARY Digital |
| Aik Jaise Khuwab | Saba | ARY Digital | |
| Yeh Bakra Nahi Chalega | Mehreen | Eid al-Adha Special on ARY Digital | |
| 2010 | Mera Mian Bolay Maen | Saima | Eid al-Adha Special on TV One |
| 2011 | Bhag Amina Bhag | Amna | Geo TV |
Music work
| Year | Video | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Mann Jaa Vay" | Sheraz Uppal | Video for Album Jhuki Jhuki |
| 2008 | "Neend Naa Aye" | Fuzön | Music Video |
| 2009 | "Ajnabi" | Faraz Khosa | Appeared with Faisal Qureshi |
| 2009 | "Tere Liye" | Tania and Omer | Appeared with Mohib Mirza |
| 2010 | "Narmi Se Chu Jaye" | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan | Appeared with Faisal Rehman |
| 2012 | "Yeh Zameen Ga Rahi Hai" | R.D.Burman | Josh Music Video |
Awards
| Year | Film/Serial | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Dil-e-Nadan | Lux Style Awards | Best Emerging Talent | Won |
| Best Model | Nominated | |||
| Agar Tum Na Hotay | Best TV Actress (Satellite) | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Seedlings | New York Film Festival Awards | Best Performance by an Actress | Won |
| 2012 | Seedlings | SAARC Film Festival Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Won |
| 2013 | Armaan | Tarang Housefull Awards | Best on screen Couple with Fawad Khan | Won |
| 2013 | Veet Celebration of Beauty Awards | Miss Photogenic | Won | |
| 2013 | Lux Style Awards | Warid—Best Dress Celebrity | Won |
References
- ^ "Launch of L'Oreal Paris Makeup Studio". Fashion Central PK. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|newspaper=(help) - ^ a b c d e "There's something about Aamina". The Newsline Magazine. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Glamazon: absolutely-aamina". Fouzia Mapara. Dawn. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Gurmukh Singh ki Wasiyat". Video: Channel Unplugged. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Aamina Sheikh Interview". Mag4u. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Butt, Rabia. "Who will be Pakistan's next top model?". Instep Dawn. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Atif and Aamina for Niche". Desi manzil. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://tribune.com.pk/story/517734/chocolate-heros-armaan-has-big-plans-for-small-screen/
- ^ http://tribune.com.pk/story/517734/chocolate-heros-armaan-has-big-plans-for-small-screen/
- ^ http://tribune.com.pk/story/456379/lamha-does-it-again/
- ^ "Marriage, celebrity style". Maliha Rehman. Jang - Instep.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)
- Living people
- People from Karachi
- Pakistani television actresses
- Pakistani female models
- Actresses from Karachi
- 1981 births
- American models of Asian descent
- People from New York City
- American female models
- American film actresses
- American people of Pakistani descent
- Pakistani film actresses
- Actresses from New York City
- American television actresses
- 21st-century Pakistani actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Pakistani people of American descent