Pakistan’s entertainment industry is going through a tough phase at the moment; TV serials are doing well like never before while films are either doing average business or falling flat. In this scenario, we have entered the year 2018 where a lot of films and TV dramas are slated for release and audience have high hopes from these productions. We have shortlisted 10 actresses who will appear in high-profile projects this year and might help in changing the tide with their exceptional performances.

Armeena Rana Khan

The Canadian-Pakistani actress has the stamina of a superhuman since she is currently working in one of the most successful TV plays and is also slated to be part of two British films later this year. She is likely to take her short-film The Achilles Protocol to Cannes (she has been there, done that before) while the other flick The Real Target featuring her in the role of a government agent might get released in Pakistan to cash in on her popularity. She is currently working in a Pakistan Air Force film Sherdil in Islamabad which might release later in the year or sometime next year.

Last/Current Projects: Daldal
Upcoming Film Projects: The Achilles Protocol, The Real Target, Sherdil

Mahira Khan

She was the saving grace of Verna and has hinted on taking a break from films sometime this year but one hopes that the break will come after the release of Saat Din Mohabbat In and after the completion of her first Punjabi flick Maula Jutt (or whatever title the producers decide). Mahira is also the brand ambassador for many products and we will most definitely be seeing her selling beauty products, instant coffee, and other items.

Last/Current Projects: Verna (Film)
Upcoming Film Projects: Saat Din Mohabbat In, Maula Jutt

Mawra Hocane

Ever since she appeared in the Bollywood film, the audience on this side of the border have been waiting for her film debut in Pakistan – 2018 might provide the answer since she is playing the female lead opposite Fahad Mustafa in Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2. Mawra will also be seen in Ehteshamuddin’s period drama Aangan alongside Sonya Hussyn, Sajal Aly as well as Ahsan Khan and Ahad Raza Mir.

Last/Current Projects: Sammi
Upcoming Projects: JPNA 2 (Film), Aangan

Sonya Hussyn

Sonya Hussyn’s rise as an actress has been slow but she is bagging the best projects to take giant strides in the field of acting. Not only has she surprised all with her amazing performance in Aisi Hai Tanhai but she is also set to play the romantic lead opposite Ahsan Khan in Aangan as part of an ensemble cast featuring Ahad Raza Mir, Sajal Aly and Mawra Hocane. Her second film after Moor will also be released sometime later this year as Azaadi, where she plays a British returned Kashmiri who falls in love with Moammar Rana’s character who is a freedom fighter in Kashmir.

Last/Current Projects: Aisi Hai Tanhai
Upcoming Projects: Azaadi (Film), Aangan

Mehwish Hayat

The globe-trotting Mehwish Hayat has kept herself busy as a singer throughout 2017 and also played the titlular role in the biggest Pakistani hit of all time – Punjab Nahi Jaungi. She may not be a part of Jawani Phir Nahi Ani’s sequel but will join her Actor In Law team for Load Wedding where she will reunite on-screen with Fahad Mustafa and behind the camera with Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza.

Last/Current Projects: Punjab Nahi Jaungi (Film)
Upcoming Projects: Load Wedding (Film)

Kubra Khan

She came, she saw and she became The Kubra Khan in no time. The British-Pakistani actress has been active on both film and TV mediums and is one of the few actresses who refused to film an anti-Pakistan sequence in a Bollywood film, resulting in her losing the chance to act in an Indian flick. In return, she became a star with

Sang-e-Mar Mar, Muqabil and Alif Allah Aur Insaan while the audience is praising her acting in a supporting role in Daldal. She will play Humayun Saeed’s romantic interest in the upcoming Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 while also appear as Shaz Khan’s wife in Parwaaz Hai Junoon which is likely to release later this year.

Last/Current Projects: Daldal, Alif Allah Aur Insaan
Upcoming Projects: JPNA 2, Parwaaz Hai Junoon

Sajal Aly

Who would have thought that the girl who played the lead in Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (2016) will end 2017 with a bang! With Mom, Yaqeen Ka Safar and O Rangreza under her belt (she also sang the OST of the drama) Sajal Aly managed to end the year on a high and is likely to raise the bar higher in the next 12 months. She is currently busy shooting for Ehteshamuddin’s Aangan where she is playing the romantic lead opposite Ahad Raza Mir and shares the screen with Ahsan Khan, Mawra Hocane and Sonya Hussyn.

Last/Current Projects: Yaqeen Ka Safar, O Rangreza
Upcoming Projects: Noor ul Ain, Aangan

Sanam Saeed

In 2016, she worked in as many as five feature films including Bachaana and Dobara Phir Se winning the award for the latter. In 2018, she is likely to bag accolades for her brilliant acting in the upcoming movie Cake as well as Rehan Sheikh’s directorial debut Azad.

Last/Current Projects: The 39 Steps (Theatre)
Upcoming Projects: Azad, Cake (Both Films)

Naaz Norouzi

The Iranian supermodel primarily works in India and has appeared on-screen with the likes of Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan; she has appeared for the first time working in a Pakistani movie Maan Jao Naa and one hopes that she becomes a regular on this side of the border too, so we can see more of her in films and on TV.

Last/Current Projects: Indian commercials, Maan Jao Naa (Film)

Amina Sheikh

Although she has been around for more than a decade, Amina Sheikh continues to grow as an actress; her popularity can be judged from the fact that even her absence from TV for most of 2017 didn’t lessen her popularity and she was back with two dramas that are currently on-air and doing well. She will appear in Asim Abbasi’s Cake in March this year where she will portray one of the two sisters (Sanam Saeed being the other) from a family that has issues of their own.

Last/Current Projects: Khudgharz, Nibah
Upcoming Projects: Cake (Film)