Mahira Khan’s Life and Career- A Biography of Highest paid Pakistani Actress

Mahira Khan, one of Pakistan’s most beloved and influential actresses, has become an iconic figure in the entertainment industry. Born on December 21, 1984, in Karachi, she started her career as a VJ before making her acting debut in 2011 with the critically acclaimed drama “Humsafar,” which earned her widespread recognition. 

Over the years, Mahira has not only starred in successful TV serials and films but also represented Pakistan on international platforms, including her debut in Bollywood opposite Shah Rukh Khan in “Raees.” But, how he touched the peak of popularity? What about her personal life which is like a roller coaster ride? Let us find out.

Mahira Khan Bio

Mahira’s Father Hafeez Khan Was Born In Delhi

The legendary Pakistani actress Mahira Khan was born on December 21, 1984, in Karachi, Pakistan, into a family with deep cultural roots. Her father Hafeez Khan was born during the British Rule in Delhi, India and moved to Pakistan after partition of India.

She started her schooling in Foundation Public School in Karachi, where she also took her O-Level examination. She later moved to California, USA for her higher education studies at Santa Monica College. 

There, she majored in an Associates in Arts in English Literature. But art and media field compelled her to enroll at the University of Southern California (USC) where she thought for a short time about a filmmaking career. However, Mahira decided to go back to Pakistan due to some promising opportunities that were available in the United States.

First Step In The Entertainment Industry

Khan started her career in entertainment via working as a Video Jockey (VJ) when she was only 16 years of age. In 2006 she began hosting MTV Pakistan’s most popular live show ‘Most Wanted’. This was the time when luck favored her and she rose to the popularity among the audience.

After MTV, Mahira has tried her hand in television show hosting with “Weekends with Mahira” on Aag TV. In 2011 she left the hosting and entered the acting field. Her first acting role came in the critically acclaimed drama Neeyat which is directed by Mehreen Jabbar. However, the drama did not gain any positive reviews from the critics but Mahira’s work could able to attract the audience and critics.

The actual breakthrough for the industry Queen came later in the same year she was cast for the female lead in the drama “Humsafar,” opposite Fawad Khan. Her portrayal of Khirad, a resilient and soft-spoken woman, resonated deeply with viewers, establishing her as a household name. 

Playing the character of Khirad, an indigenous simple, intelligent, and innocent woman of great spirit, made her popular among the viewers. Her early work took her to appreciation and her awards included the Lux Style Awards for the Best TV Actress making her one of the most prominent Pakistani actresses.

Another great drama in Mahira’s career is Shehr-E-Zaat in 2012 in which she played the character of Falak, a woman who is on a spiritual searching. “Sadqay Tumhare” (2014-2015) further showcased her versatility as an actress. In this drama, she acted the character of Shano which was inspired by a love story of the eighties. Her acting was received a large amount of appreciation due to the realistic feelings that she portrayed.

Staring In Bol, Ho Mann Jahan, Raees, And More

Besides her booming TV career, Mahira Khan has established quite a presence in the Pakistani film industry. Her first movie project was in “Bol” (2011) directed by Shoaib Mansoor in which she essayed the role of Ayesha as one of the supporting cast which showcased her film acting ability. This was followed by “Bin Roye” (2015), a romantic drama where she starred as Saba, a character caught in a tragic love triangle. 

In the same year, her performance in “Ho Mann Jahaan”, a coming of age musical drama, established her aptitude for younger and contemporary characters. Her ultimate film breakthrough came when she joined Bollywood and starred in “Raees” (2017) opposite Shah Rukh Khan. In this film Mahira portrayed the character of Aasiya which helped her to introduce herself to the international audience and also got good response form the audience.

Her other movies are the romantic comedy“7 Din Mohabbat In” released on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and musical romantic film, “Superstar” released on Eid-ul-Azha. Mahira Khan who has won many hearts from her previous movies also did quite well in a short movie named “Prince Charming” with Shehryar Munawwar in the year 2021.

Not only this, but the queen of Pakistan Television laid her hands on the award for best actress in Prince Charming at Indus Valley International film festival in New Delhi. Furthermore, she appeared in the action comedy film “Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad” (2022) opposite Fahad Mustafa. 

Furthermore, in the year 2023, she gained a lot of appreciation for her performance in the film, The Legend of Maula Jatt. Additionally, Mahira Khan has been announced as the lead in the upcoming film “Neelofar” directed by Ammar Rasool, but the release date is not confirmed yet.

Brand Ambassador For Lux

Besides her acting career on TV and in movies, the highest-paid actress is actively involved in public life and appears at many official ceremonies and events. She has been featured in many brand advertisement campaigns, which goes to show her important celebrity status.

As a brand ambassador for Lux, she has been a consistent presence in their campaigns, symbolizing elegance and grace.Furthermore, Mahira also set another record for Pakistani actresses by being the first who joined the list of the L’Oréal Paris in the glamour world and was the first Pakistani actress who walked the red carpet of the renowned Cannes Film Festival. 

Apart from acting, the 39-year-old has been quite active in terms of representing brands and products and being part of brands such as Eighteen Islamabad.

Married The Second Time To Salim Karim

Mahira Khan has been married to a Pakistani businessman named Ali Askari in the year 2007. The couple was blessed with a son Azlan Askari in the year 2014. However, they declared their split in 2015 and officially divorced as well. The details of what led to the end of their marriage remain undisclosed to the general public. 

However, Mahira Khan in an interview said that she and her ex-husband have been different people with different interests. Though Mahira Khan and Ali Askari are no more husband and wife, they have been on friendly terms for the sake of their kid.

Recently the actress of Maula Jatt tied the knot for the second time with Salim Karim. Salim Karim is a worldly wealthy businessman from Pakistan and is among the most prominent personalities in the entrepreneur club. He is the founder of Simpaisa, a start-up firm specializing in payment services for cross-border business activities; and with operations in over fifteen countries.

As per reports, Salim and Mahira met for the first time at an event for the television application, Tapmad TV.  In 2020, during an interview, she confirmed their relationship and shared her feelings by saying, “I must have done something good in my life that God has sent him my way.”

Highest Paid Actress In The Industry

She is, undoubtedly, the highest paid actress in the entire industry , at the moment.

As per the current trends and sources, Mahira Khan, who has acted in ‘Humsafar’, is worth USD 5-8 million (About Rs. 57 crores). She is also one of the many famous brand promoters and an entrepreneur. Her source of wealth includes her occupation in TV and film, and her endorsement deals and businesses.