Noman Ijaz

Biography

Nauman Ijaz (Punjabi and Urdu: نُعمان اعجاز; born 14 February 1965) is a Pakistani actor. Active since 1989, he has played many roles and has been a senior actor on state television PTV. As of 2014, he had acted in some 175 television series. He is the recipient of several accolades, including 10 Lux Style Awards, 7 Hum Awards and a President's Pride of Performance award, which was presented to him in 2012 from the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari. Occasionally, he has also served as a television host, while before becoming an actor he was a lawyer.

== Early life and education == Ijaz was born on 14 February 1965 and grew up in Icchra town, Lahore into a Punjabi family. His father was the manager of a cinema house in Lahore and Ijaz has an elder brother and a younger sister. Ijaz began his education at Cathedral High School in Lahore. Later, he attended the Divisional Public School, Model Town, Lahore and then completed his further education at Forman Christian College. His parents wanted him to become a doctor, while he aspired to be a newscaster. However, inspired by his elder brother, he ultimately pursued a law degree from Punjab University.

== Acting career ==

=== Television === Ijaz began his acting career on PTV in 1989, after being rejected in 1985 and then in 1987, with a short appearance under the direction of Nusrat Thakur in the drama Aik Din. His role lasted only 50 seconds. He then did a TV serial on PTV (Quetta Center). He later appeared in many different roles, including negative roles in the dramas Rehaai (2013) and Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi (2013). In 2014, he played a Pakistani cab-driver based in Jackson Heights in Mehreen Jabbar's directed Jackson Heights. He received unanimous praise for his performance, with a reviewer from Dawn stating, "He was truly the linchpin, holding the interest level in Jackson Heights even when the pace was flagging." From 2016-17, he appeared in titular role in Bhai as Aslam alias Bhai, the troublemaker local councillor from the Walled City of Lahore. In 2017, he played the titular role of ruthless and influential politician in political-drama Khan. The same year, he played a household molestor in Kashif Nisar's directed Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila, for which he received Best TV Actor - Critics' Choice at the 18th Lux Style Awards. Some of his other notable serials include Noorpur Ki Rani (2009), Mera Saaein (2010), Durr-e-Shehwar (2011), Badi Aapa (2012), Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016), O Rangreza (2017), Raqeeb Se (2021), Parizaad (2021), and Sang-e-Mah (2022).

=== Cinema === He has appeared in the film Ramchand Pakistani (2008) where he romanced Nandita Das.

=== Webseries === Ijaz starred alongside Saba Qamar in the 2022 Zindagi original webseries Mrs. & Mr. Shameem, which received attention for its unconventional romantic storyline and premiered on ZEE5 on 11 March 2022.

== Other work ==

=== Legal career === Before becoming an actor, Ijaz initially began his professional journey as a lawyer, undertaking cases before family and civil courts in Lahore for several years before fully committing to the entertainment industry.