Vaneeza Ahmad

Vaneeza Ahmed Ali
ونیزہ احمد
Vaneeza at an Event
Born
Vaneeza Ahmed

(1971-06-24) 24 June 1971 (age 53)
Kamalia, Punjab, Pakistan
Other namesVinnie[1][2]
Occupation(s)Actress and model
Years active1994–present
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
SpouseAli Afzal Malik (m. 2010)
RelativesBindiya (aunt)

Vaneeza Ahmad (Urdu: ونیزہ احمد; born 24 June 1971) is a Pakistani model and actress, and occasional singer. As a model she has seen success as the face of brands in Pakistan, and is the first Pakistani model to model for Donna Karan and Calvin Klein.[3][4][2][1]

Biography

Early life

Ahmad reportedly said to news media that when she was a youngster, the college students those days mostly had three career options – medicine, engineering or teaching. Modelling as a career was not an option for girls back then.[2] Ahmad returned to Pakistan at the age of 18 to attend the Kinnaird College liberal arts university in Lahore[5] and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

While at University, Ahmad started to model casually.[5] Although not much interested in modelling as a career option, she received offers from various fashion designers, some of whom were notable in the Pakistani fashion industry[5] including the likes of fashion designer Nilofer Shahid.[1]

Modelling as a career

When designer Nilofer Shahid approached Ahmad, she was unsure of which career to pursue and settled for fashion modeling. In dealings with corporate heads of the entertainment industry, her business acumen was similarly praised.[5]

Vaneeza, the brand

Ahmad conceived the brand name Vlawn[6] for her range of lawn fabrics. The collection consisted of nine different lawn prints created by designers that included Nomi Ansari, Umar Sayeed and Hassan Sheheryar Yasin. In March 2006, the collection sold-out in a series of exhibitions.[6] In 2011, she continued with her "VLawn" brand of women's lawn suits.[2]

Acting and acclaim

Ahmad made her acting debut in Jamal Shah's controversial saga Kal and has since acted in Marina Khan's Tum Hi Tau Ho, Janey Anjaney and Tum Say Mil Ker; Armaan; Khayal; and Talaash (Pakistani TV series). She played the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah's daughter Dina Wadia in Jamil Dehlavi's 1998 biographical film, Jinnah.[1]

On 16 April 2008, Vaneeza Ahmad was selected as one of the Olympic torch bearers when the torch arrived in Islamabad. She was one of the few selected celebrities[7] to hold the torch in the relay out of the chosen 66.[8]

Personal life

She married Islamabad-based businessman Ali Afzal Malik in July 2010 and has two daughters. She also runs her own side business.[3] Vaneeza's aunts Bindiya is an actress and Meena Pervaiz is a newscaster.[9][1]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Ref
1998 Jinnah Dina Jinnah [1]

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes
Tum Se Mil Kar PTV [1]
2000 Tum Hi Tou Ho PTV
2002 Tere Siwa PTV & AAJ TV
2002 Phir Youn Love Hua Indus Vision, PTV & AAJ TV
2002 Sirf Tumhare Liye PTV
Suraj Girhan PTV & AAJ TV
Zanjeer PTV
2001 Chehrey PTV
Achanak
2013 Armaan Nida Geo TV Television film
Aisa Bhi Hota Hai PTV Home
Baaghi
2004 Batain Dil Ki PTV
Chahatein
2006–2014 Criminal Minds: Beyond Boundaries Agent Vinnie ARY Digital, The Musik, CBS, Star Utsav and Star World India[citation needed] Seasons 1–9
(N/A) Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders CBS
2003 Jaane Anjaane PTV
Jannat PTV Home
2008 Khamoshiyan Hum TV [9][1]
2008 Marina Mornings ARY Digital
2008 Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai TVOne Pakistan
2009 Nestlé Nido Young Stars
Na Jaane Keya Ho Gaya PTV
2005 1st Indus Drama Awards Indus TV
2006 Na Tum Apnay Na Dil Mera ARY Digital Telefilm
Pyar Ho Jaane Do TVOne Pakistan
2007 Lux Style Awards
2010 No Reservations Dawn News
Nadia Hussain lounge AKS TV
2011 Jago Pakistan Jago Hum TV
Morning With Hum Hum TV [9]
Spotlight TVOne Pakistan
Aks Express News
E-Tech Express News
The Sahir Show Geo TV
The Morning Show Express 24/7 TV show
2013 Without Shepherds Self
2014 Veet Miss Supermodel Hum Sitaray and Hum TV [9]
Morning With Juggun PTV Home
Mazaaq Raat Dunya TV
2nd Hum Awards Hum TV [9]
2014–2018 Tonite with HSY Hum Sitaray and Hum TV [9]
2015 Weekend World PTV World
Good Morning Pakistan ARY Digital
The Celebrity Lounge PTV Home
2016 Mehmaan Nawaaz See TV Episode 19
Ek Naya Subah With Farah Hussain A-Plus TV
Samaa Kay Mehmaan Samaa TV
Sunrise From Istanbul See TV
10 Years of Masala Hum Masala
Eidi Sab Ke Liye ARY Zindagi
2017 Miss Veet Pakistan Hum TV and Hum Sitaray
Pakistan Ke Liye Geo Geo TV
The Morning Show ARY News
Breaking Weekend ARY Zindagi
2016–2017 Salam Zindagi ARY Zindagi
Pond's Miracle Journey
2018 The After Moon Show Hum TV [9]
2018–2019 Marham Tajwar BOL Network
2019 Breakfeast @ Home PTV Home
Star Iftar Urdu 1
G Kay Sang GNN
2019–2020 Ehd-e-Wafa Faryal; Saad's Mother Hum TV [10][1]
2020 Rising Pakistan PTV Home
2021 16 Years LIVE Telebrations Hum TV
Hum Women Leaders Award Hum TV
GMP Shan-e-Suhoor ARY Digital
Girlee Talks With Huma
GMP Eid Special ARY Digital
NCIS: Los Angeles CBS
S.W.A.T. CBS
2023 Kuch Ankahi Sofia Agha ARY Digital [11]
Subah Se Aagay Guest Hum News
2024 Hasna Mana Hai Guest Geo News

TV commercials

  • (1996) | "Aisa Asar Dekhai Ke Bahar Bhi Dhoke Khai | Tibet Snow
  • (1997) | "Kyun Ke Yeh Dil Ka Mamla Hai" | Habib Oil
  • (2000) | "The World's Best Materess" | Master Celeste
  • Sab Say Ghara Doodh | Haleeb Milk
  • Pepsi Diet | Pepsi
  • Head & Shoulders
  • (2001) | "Express Yourself" | Instaphone
  • Lipton by Unilever
  • (2006) | "Ramzan Mubarak" | Olpers
  • (2006) | "50 Years" | LUX by Unilever
  • (2007) | Brings People Closer | Indigo by Jazz Pakistan
  • (2007) | Subah Bakhair Zindagi | Olpers
  • (2008) Sunsilk by Unilever
  • (2009) Dettol
  • (2010) | "Ghee" | Kissan Oil
  • (2011) | "Prints" | V Lawn
  • (2016) | "Ghizayat Bhara Har Ghoont" | Olpers
  • (2020) | "Khulay To Dil Khulay" | Coca-Cola

Other appearances

Reality Shows

Music videos

Song title Co-singer Year
"Spring Blossom" 2007
"Yaad" Shehzad Roy 2005
"Na Re Na" Ali Azmat 2003
"Bulleya" Junoon (band) 1999

Accolades

Ceremony Category Result
1st Lux Style Awards[12] Best Model of the Year (female) Won
4th Lux Style Awards[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Muhammad Asadullah (11 March 2020). "The undisputed supermodel – Vaneeza Ahmed, Pakistani model turned actress, speaks exclusively about her two-decade long journey and career". Gulf Times (newspaper). Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Amber Liaqat (9 February 2017). "All I see in models now are nakhray: Vaneeza Ahmed". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b Sheharyar Rizwan (8 February 2015). "Vaneeza Ahmad: Beauty and brains". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. ^ Maliha Rehman (2 November 2014). "In Fashion: The affair of the 'Supermodel'". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Page 3 Bollywood: Vaneeza Ahmad". WordPress. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Vaneeza: Biography". Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Sports Update: Pakistan torch bearers for Olympics named". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Olympic torch comes to Pakistan after 44 years". All Things Pakistan website. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Hani Taha (12 May 2012). "Vaneeza Ahmed: Of nap times and nappy changes". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ^ Irfan-ul-Haq (19 September 2019). "Vaneeza Ahmed is playing Ahad Raza Mir's mother in Ehd-e-Wafa". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Villainising phupos, double standards and women rights: Vaneeza candidly pushes for change in dramas". Express Tribune. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  12. ^ "..::LUX Style Awards 2003::." 15 July 2003. Archived from the original on 15 July 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. ^ khan, Athar (14 October 2003). "LUX Style Awards for the year 2004". Rewaj | Women Lifestyle. Retrieved 26 March 2024.