Vaneeza Ahmad

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. Ahmad returned to Pakistan at the age of 18 to attend the Kinnaird College liberal arts university in Lahore and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

While at University, Ahmad started to model casually. 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 including the likes of fashion designer Nilofer Shahid.

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.

''Vaneeza'', the brand

Ahmad conceived the brand name Vlawn 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. In 2011, she continued with her "VLawn" brand of women's lawn suits.

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.

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 to hold the torch in the relay out of the chosen 66.

Personal life

She married Islamabad-based businessman Ali Afzal Malik in July 2010 and has two daughters. She also runs her own business.

Filmography

Films

Television

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

Accolades

References

References

1. Sheharyar Rizwan. (8 February 2015). "Vaneeza Ahmad: Beauty and brains". Dawn (newspaper).
2. Maliha Rehman. (2 November 2014). "In Fashion: The affair of the 'Supermodel'". Dawn (newspaper).
3. 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).
4. Amber Liaqat. (9 February 2017). "All I see in models now are nakhray: Vaneeza Ahmed". The Express Tribune (newspaper).
5. (12 April 2008). "Page 3 Bollywood: Vaneeza Ahmad". [[WordPress]].
6. "Vaneeza: Biography".
7. "Sports Update: Pakistan torch bearers for Olympics named". Dawn (newspaper).
8. (15 April 2008). "Olympic torch comes to Pakistan after 44 years". All Things Pakistan website.
9. Hani Taha. (12 May 2012). "Vaneeza Ahmed: Of nap times and nappy changes". The Express Tribune (newspaper).
10. Irfan-ul-Haq. (19 September 2019). "Vaneeza Ahmed is playing Ahad Raza Mir's mother in Ehd-e-Wafa". Dawn (newspaper).
11. (18 May 2023). "Villainising phupos, double standards and women rights: Vaneeza candidly pushes for change in dramas". Express Tribune.
12. (2003-07-15). "..::LUX Style Awards 2003::..".
13. khan, Athar. (2003-10-14). "LUX Style Awards for the year 2004".