Vaneeza Ahmad Explained

Vaneeza Ahmed Ali
Birth Name:Vaneeza Ahmed
Birth Date:24 June 1971
Birth Place:Kamalia, Punjab, Pakistan
Other Names:Vinnie
Occupation:Actress and model
Years Active:1994–present
Spouse:Ali Afzal Malik (m. 2010)
Height:168cm (66inches)
Relatives:Bindiya (aunt)

Vaneeza Ahmad (Punjabi, Urdu: {{Nastaliq|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.[1] [2] [3]

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.[4] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[3]

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.[1] Vaneeza's aunts Bindiya is an actress and Meena Pervaiz is a newscaster.[9] [3]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
Tum Se Mil KarPTV
2000Tum Hi Tou HoPTV
2002Tere SiwaPTV & AAJ TV
2002Phir Youn Love HuaIndus Vision, PTV & AAJ TV
2002Sirf Tumhare LiyePTV
Suraj GirhanPTV & AAJ TV
ZanjeerPTV
2001ChehreyPTV
Achanak
2013ArmaanNidaGeo TVTelevision film
Aisa Bhi Hota HaiPTV Home
Baaghi
2004Batain Dil KiPTV
Chahatein
2006–2014Criminal Minds: Beyond BoundariesAgent VinnieARY Digital, The Musik, CBS, Star Utsav and Star World IndiaSeasons 1–9
(N/A)CBS
2003Jaane AnjaanePTV
JannatPTV Home
2008KhamoshiyanHum TV
2008Marina MorningsARY Digital
2008Jeena Isi Ka Naam HaiTVOne Pakistan
2009Nestlé Nido Young Stars
Na Jaane Keya Ho GayaPTV
20051st Indus Drama AwardsIndus TV
2006Na Tum Apnay Na Dil MeraARY DigitalTelefilm
Pyar Ho Jaane DoTVOne Pakistan
2007Lux Style Awards
2010No ReservationsDawn News
Nadia Hussain lounge AKS TV
2011Jago Pakistan JagoHum TV
Morning With HumHum TV
SpotlightTVOne Pakistan
AksExpress News
E-TechExpress News
The Sahir ShowGeo TV
The Morning ShowExpress 24/7 TV show
2013Without ShepherdsSelf
2014Veet Miss Supermodel Hum Sitaray and Hum TV
Morning With JuggunPTV Home
Mazaaq RaatDunya TV
2nd Hum Awards Hum TV
2014–2018Tonite with HSYHum Sitaray and Hum TV
2015Weekend WorldPTV World
Good Morning PakistanARY Digital
The Celebrity LoungePTV Home
2016Mehmaan NawaazSee TVEpisode 19
Ek Naya Subah With Farah HussainA-Plus TV
Samaa Kay MehmaanSamaa TV
Sunrise From IstanbulSee TV
10 Years of MasalaHum Masala
Eidi Sab Ke Liye ARY Zindagi
2017Miss Veet PakistanHum TV and Hum Sitaray
Pakistan Ke Liye GeoGeo TV
The Morning ShowARY News
Breaking WeekendARY Zindagi
2016–2017Salam ZindagiARY Zindagi
Pond's Miracle Journey
2018The After Moon ShowHum TV
2018–2019MarhamTajwarBOL Network
2019Breakfeast @ HomePTV Home
Star Iftar Urdu 1
G Kay SangGNN
2019–2020Ehd-e-WafaFaryal; Saad's MotherHum TV[10]
2020Rising PakistanPTV Home
202116 Years LIVE TelebrationsHum TV
Hum Women Leaders AwardHum TV
GMP Shan-e-SuhoorARY Digital
Girlee Talks With Huma
GMP Eid SpecialARY Digital
CBS
S.W.A.T.CBS
2023Kuch AnkahiSofia AghaARY Digital[11]
Subah Se AagayGuestHum News
2024Hasna Mana HaiGuestGeo News

TV commercials

Reality Shows

Music videos

Song titleCo-singerYear
"Spring Blossom"2007
"Yaad"Shehzad Roy2005
"Na Re Na"Ali Azmat2003
"Bulleya"Junoon (band)1999

Accolades

Ceremony Category Result
1st Lux Style Awards[12] Best Model of the Year (female)rowspan="2"
4th Lux Style Awards[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Vaneeza Ahmad: Beauty and brains . Sheharyar Rizwan . 8 February 2015. Dawn (newspaper). 16 June 2020.
  2. News: In Fashion: The affair of the 'Supermodel' . Maliha Rehman . Dawn (newspaper). 2 November 2014. 16 June 2020.
  3. News: The undisputed supermodel – Vaneeza Ahmed, Pakistani model turned actress, speaks exclusively about her two-decade long journey and career. Muhammad Asadullah. 11 March 2020. Gulf Times (newspaper). 17 June 2020.
  4. News: All I see in models now are nakhray: Vaneeza Ahmed. Amber Liaqat. 9 February 2017. The Express Tribune (newspaper). 16 June 2020.
  5. Web site: Page 3 Bollywood: Vaneeza Ahmad. 12 April 2008 . WordPress. 16 June 2020.
  6. Web site: Vaneeza: Biography. 16 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20080531150655/http://www.vaneezaahmed.net/. 31 May 2008. dead.
  7. News: Sports Update: Pakistan torch bearers for Olympics named. Dawn (newspaper). 16 June 2020.
  8. Web site: Olympic torch comes to Pakistan after 44 years. 15 April 2008 . All Things Pakistan website. 16 June 2020.
  9. News: Vaneeza Ahmed: Of nap times and nappy changes. Hani Taha. The Express Tribune (newspaper). 12 May 2012. 16 June 2020.
  10. News: Vaneeza Ahmed is playing Ahad Raza Mir's mother in Ehd-e-Wafa . Dawn (newspaper). 19 September 2019. Irfan-ul-Haq . 16 June 2020.
  11. Web site: Villainising phupos, double standards and women rights: Vaneeza candidly pushes for change in dramas . 18 May 2023 . Express Tribune . 1 June 2023.
  12. Web site: 2003-07-15 . ..::LUX Style Awards 2003::.. . 2024-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030715233432/http://www.luxstyleawards.com/winners/pastwinners.asp . 15 July 2003 .
  13. Web site: khan . Athar . 2003-10-14 . LUX Style Awards for the year 2004 . 2024-03-26 . Rewaj Women Lifestyle . en-US.