Saba Qamar, Pakistani actress-model
Saba Qamar Zaman (Urdu:
صبا قمر زمان;born 5 April 1984), known professionally as Saba Qamar, is a Pakistani actress and television presenter. She is one of Pakistan's most popular and highest-paid celebrities, her roles have been credited as a significant departure from the traditional portrayal of women in Urdu television. Her accolades include four Lux Style Awards, and a Filmfare Award nomination. The Government of Pakistan honoured her Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2012, and the Pride of Performance in 2016.
Qamar first received positive media attention for the role of Fatima Jinnah in the historical drama Jinnah Ke Naam (2007), and this breakthrough was followed with further success in several television series, including the pre-partition drama Dastaan, the melodrama Uraan (both 2010), the romantic dramas Maat, Jo Chale To Jaan Se Guzar Gaye and Pani Jaisa Piyar (all 2011). She established herself for her critically acclaimed performances in the socio drama Thakan (2012), the thriller drama Sannata, the revenge drama Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi, the romantic drama Bunty I Love You (all 2013), the family drama Digest Writer (2014), the crime thriller Sangat (2015), and the Show business-based dramas Mein Sitara and Besharam (both 2016), receiving Best Actress awards and nominations for each of them. Her career prospect advanced with the acclaimed biographical film Manto (2015), the romantic comedy Lahore Se Aagey (2016), and the educational drama Hindi Medium (2017). The latter ranks among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time and garnered her a Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination. Qamar continued to draw praise for portraying Fouzia Azeem and Noor Jehan in the 2017 biographical dramas Baaghi and Main Manto, and a strong woman, fighting for her friend's attempted rape and murder in the 2019 courtroom drama Cheekh. The first of these earned her a Lux Style Award for Best Television Actress.
In addition to acting, Qamar is involved with several humanitarian causes and is vocal about issues faced by women and children. She features in listings of the nation's most popular personalities, has participated in concert tours and stage shows, has featured as a host and comedian on the political satire Hum Sab Umeed Se Hain (2009–2015), and launched her own YouTube channel in 2020. Despite maintaining privacy, Qamar's off-screen life is the subject of substantial media coverage.