Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui
{{Short description|Pakistani actor}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sheheryar Munawar
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|08|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| occupation = Actor, filmmaker
|spouse = {{Marraige|Maheen Siddiqui|2024}}
| years_active = 2012–present
| relatives = Siddiqui family
}}
Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui (Urdu: شہریار منور; born 9 August 1988) is a Pakistani film and television actor, director and producer. He is the recipient of a Lux Style Award and a Hum Award.{{cite news|title=Top ten: Our favourites from television|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/483417/top-ten-our-favourites-from-television/|accessdate=28 October 2013|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=23 December 2012}}{{cite news|title=Hottie of the week: Shehryar Munawar Siddiqui|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/504088/hottie-of-the-week-shehryar-munawar-siddiqui/|accessdate=28 October 2013|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=12 February 2013}}
The nephew of Hum Network-founder Sultana Siddiqui, Munawar Siddiqui pursued finance and marketing from the Institute of Business Administration. Aspiring to take up a career in acting, he worked as a model for various brands and made his acting debut with the acclaimed television series Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley (2012), winning the Hum Award for Best Television Sensation.
Munawar Siddiqui then went on to play the romantic interest of female leads in the romance Kahi Un Kahi (2013), and received praise for portraying a struggling husband in the Geo TV series Aasmanon Pay Likha (2014). He followed it by starring and co-producing the coming-of-age musical film Ho Mann Jahaan (2016) and the romantic comedy film Parey Hut Love (2019). For the former, he won the Lux Style Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the latter earned him two Best Actor nominations at Lux Style, and both the films rank among the highest-grossing Pakistani films.
Early life and background
Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui was born on 9 August 1988 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.{{cite news |last1=Sheikh |first1=Rabiya |title=شہریار منور بے مثال شخصیت اور ادکاری کے مالک |url=https://jang.com.pk/news/589089-sheheryar-munawar |accessdate=9 August 2019 |work=Daily Jang |date=23 December 2018 |language=ur-PK}} His father, air commodore Munawar Alam Siddiqui, was in the Pakistan Air Force before switching to business after retirement, and his mother, Ameena Munawar Siddiqui, is a housewife. His father, Munawar, is also a board member of Hum Network, founded by his aunt Sultana Siddiqui. His sister, Nadia, is a business graduate, while his elder brother, Asfandyar, who died in a car accident on 23 December 2012, was an investment banker.Sabeen Faisal (23 November 2015), [https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1148389 "In conversation with Sheheryar Munawar on 'Ho Mann Jahaan'"], hip. Retrieved 23 June 2018. His younger brother, Manoucheher, was wounded in a café shooting in 2011.Faraz Khan (24 November 2011), [https://tribune.com.pk/story/296504/cracked-sheesha-businessmans-son-injured-in-shooting-at-cafe/ "Cracked sheesha: Businessman’s son injured in shooting at cafe, is now a banker too."], The Express Tribune. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
In a 2018 interview with Samina Peerzada, he revealed that he's of Sindhi descent from his paternal side and Brahui maternally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.humnetwork.tv/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors | HUM Network Ltd}} One of his uncles, Mazhar ul Haq Siddiqui, is one of Pakistan's senior most civil servants and an eminent educationist, who also served as the vice-chancellor of Sindh University and is a board member of Hum Network as well, while another of his uncle, Jahangir Siddiqui, is the founder of JS Group.Asif Noorani (24 June 2013), [https://www.dawn.com/news/1020436 "No challenge is too great: Sultana Siddiqi"], Dawn News. Retrieved 10 March 2019. Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, an entrepreneur who also served as ambassador of Pakistan to the United States for few months in 2018, and the businessmen Shunaid Qureshi and Duraid Qureshi, are his cousins.Haider Ali (23 June 2018), [https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/ali-jahangir-siddiqui-presents-credentials-to-donald-trump-as-pakistans-ambassador/ "Ali Jahangir Siddiqui presents credentials to Donald Trump as Pakistan’s ambassador"], Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 6 March 2019.[https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/289887-ali-jehangir-siddiqui-new-pak-envoy-to-us "Ali Jehangir Siddiqui new Pak envoy to US"] (8 March 2018), The News. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
Munawar Siddiqui relocated to Islamabad along with his family for a brief period of time, when he was young. He was educated at The City School with O Levels there. The family moved back to Karachi a few years later, and he finished his A levels from the Southshore School in Karachi. Munawar later graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA).
Career
After graduating from IBA, Munawar Siddiqui worked at a German venture capitalist company in Karachi, and during this time he participated and won an advertisement-making competition for KFC, and then appeared in an advertisement for Omoré. Munawar later quit his job to pursue acting and appeared in several advertisements for various brands and products. He soon received offers for acting roles and made his acting debut in 2012 with the Hum TV's drama series Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley, in which he played the character of a deaf and dumb boy. He later played leading and supporting roles in several television series, including the ensemble social drama Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay (2012), a spiritual sequel to the 1986 series Tanhaiyaan, the romantic series Kahi Unkahi (2012), opposite Ayeza Khan and Urwa Hocane, and played the friend of the lead character (played by Fawad Khan), on his aunt Sultana Siddiqui's insistence, in one of the highest-rated television dramas of the country, the romance Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2013). Munawar then gained nationwide success with the Geo TV's critically acclaimed melodrama series Aasmanon Pay Likha (2013), opposite Sajal Aly.{{cite news|title=Awards celebrate showbiz achievements|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/792549/awards-celebrate-showbiz-achievements|accessdate=28 October 2013|newspaper=Dawn|date=14 March 2013|author=Faisal Quraishi}}{{cite news|title=Drama Serial "Tanhaiyaan" to make a comeback|url=http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/187565/|accessdate=28 October 2013|newspaper=The Frontier Post|date=18 October 2012}}
Three years later, Munawar Siddiqui starred and produced the coming-of-age musical drama Ho Mann Jahaan (2016), a film about three college friends who are passionate about music and face difficulties for their common dream.{{cite news|last1=Mokhtar|first1=Nyda|title=16 facts you didn't know about Ho Mann Jahaan|url=http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/27103/16-facts-you-didnt-know-about-ho-mann-jahaan/|accessdate=6 June 2015|work=tribune.com.pk|date=11 April 2015}} Co-starring opposite Adeel Hussain and Mahira Khan, he was cast as a struggling musician who falls in love with his best friend. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, however Munawar was praised for his performance in the film. Commercially, the film went on to become one the highest-grossing films of 2016. At the annual Lux Style Awards, Munawar was awarded the Lux Style Award Best Supporting Actor for his performance and received an additional nomination in the Best Film category.{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1388667/ahsan-khan-wins-lsa-best-actor-favourite-star-take-trophy-home/|title=A complete list of LSA 2017 winners|date=20 April 2017|website=The Express Tribune}}{{cite news|date=21 February 2018|accessdate=21 February 2018|work=The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1639834/4|title='Baaghi' and 'Punjab Nahi Jaungi' stole the show at Lux Style Awards 2018}} Following the success of Ho Mann Jahaan, he starred in the romantic comedy 7 Din Mohabbat In (2018).{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1177183|title=Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar will star together in 'Saat Din Mohabbat In'|work=DAWN Images|date=1 March 2017|accessdate=3 August 2017}} Directed by Meenu–Farjad, his role was of an introverted man who is romantically involved with three women, played by Mahira Khan, Mira Sethi and Amna Ilyas, at different stages of his life.{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1179874|title=The teaser for 7 Din Mohabbat In is out now|date=17 April 2018|accessdate=17 April 2018|work=DAWN Images}} Amna Zaidi of Siddy Says praised Munawar, stating that "Tipu played by Sheheryar Munawar is the highlight of the film, not only does he act like a dorkey 29 year old to perfection, he looks amazing on screen".{{Cite web|url=https://www.siddysays.com/siddysays-tv-review-of-7-din-mohabbat-in/|title=SIDDYSAYS TV: REVIEW OF 7 DIN MOHABBAT IN - SiddySays|website=www.siddysays.com|date=20 June 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/haute-review-7-din-mohabbat-in/|title=Haute review: 7 Din Mohabbat In is absurd|date=2018-06-19|work=Something Haute|access-date=2018-07-19|language=en-US}} The film, despite receiving mixed to negative reviews, was a commercial success, with a worldwide earning of {{PKRConvert|13|m}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lollywoodonline.com/p/box-office.html|title=Box Office|website=www.lollywoodonline.com|access-date=2018-08-04}}{{Cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/20-Jun-2018/7-din-mohabbat-in-rules-box-office|title='7 Din Mohabbat In' rules box office|date=2018-06-20|work=The Nation|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-US}}
In 2019, Munawar Siddiqui featured alongside Humayun Saeed and Syra Yousuf in the science fiction Project Ghazi, a film about a group of rogue men try to seize a project.{{cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/entertainment/2017/06/project-ghazi-takes-film-making-to-another-level/|title='Project Ghazi' takes film-making to another level|publisher=Samaa TV|date=20 June 2017|author=Omair Alavi|work=Samaa TV |accessdate=12 July 2017}} The film was a commercial disappointment.{{cite news |last1=Lodhi |first1=Adnan |title=All eyes on 'Avengers: Endgame' as Pakistani films fail to revive box office |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1946595/4-eyes-avengers-endgame-pakistani-films-fail-revive-box-office/ |accessdate=12 April 2019 |work=The Express Tribune |date=9 April 2019}} Munawar next played the role of one of a self-confessed aspiring actor in Asim Raza's romantic comedy Parey Hut Love (2019).{{cite news |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/333989- |title=Maya Ali to star opposite Sheheryar Munawar in Paray Hut Love |date=26 June 2018 |accessdate=30 March 2019 |work=The News}} The film, divided in four chapters, tells the story of a commitment phobic guy who falls in love with an already engaged girl (played by Maya Ali).{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/385799- |title="Parey Hut Love was meant to be," says Maya Ali |date=25 October 2018 |work=The News |accessdate=30 March 2019}} The film received positive reviews from critics, and Munawar earned critical acclaim for his performance.{{Cite news |url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/parey-hut-love-is-a-romantic-melodrama-with-gloss-and-glamour/ |title=Trailer Review: Parey Hut Love is a romantic melodrama with gloss and glamour |work=Something Haute |accessdate=22 June 2019 |date=22 June 2019 |author=Syeda Zehra}}{{Cite web |date=10 July 2019 |title=The Parey Hut Love songs are out and are as melodious as we'd hoped |url=https://somethinghaute.com/parey-hut-love-music-album-is-out-and-its-as-melodious-as-wed-hoped/|access-date=19 July 2020 |website=Something Haute |language=en-US}} The Express Tribune worte that "[Sheheryar] has come a long way and that's evident in this movie — he is not the best but definitely not the worst".{{Cite web |date=16 August 2019 |title=Parey Hut Love: a spectacular visual treat with a half-baked story |url=http://tribune.com.pk/article/86762/parey-hut-love-a-spectacular-visual-treat-with-a-half-baked-story|access-date=19 July 2020 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Dawn noted that "He takes the emotional highs and lows of his character in stride to look within and struggle with introspection and repeated career and personal setbacks."{{Cite web |date=12 August 2019 |title=Review: Parey Hut Love is pure rom-com escapism |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183489 |access-date=12 August 2019 |website=Dawn |language=en-US}} Mahwash Ajaz thought that the film is a "stunning cinematic experience" and added that Munawar is "definitely the new heartthrob of the nation. He’s the it boy you’ve been waiting for. His eyes and vulnerability express a lot and you can’t help but root for him and his struggle."{{Cite web |date=10 August 2019 |title=Parey Hut Love Movie Review |url=https://www.masala.com/parey-hut-love-movie-review-sheheryar-munawar-and-maya-alis-feature-is-a-stunning-cinematic-291719 |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Masala |language=en-US}} Parey Hut Love earned over {{PKRConvert|300|m}} to emerge as one of the highest-grossing Pakistani films.{{Cite web |date=12 August 2019 |title=Parey Hut Love-becomes the highest-grossing Pakistani film worldwide for 2019 |url=https://www.entertainmentpk.com/parey-hut-love-becomes-highest-grossing-pakistani-film-worldwide-for-2019/ |access-date=12 August 2019 |website=Entertainment |language=en-US}} He has since created much hype for his upcoming television series, titled as Pehli Si Mohabbat, opposite Maya Ali, that will start airing on Hum TV in 2021.{{Cite web|date=26 December 2020|title=The future looks rosy for Sheheryar Munawar, Maya Ali and Pehli Si Mohabbat|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1186274|access-date=26 December 2020|website=Dawn|language=en-US}}
Personal life
Siddiqui announced his engagement to Hala Soomro, a doctor, on his social media account in March 2019.Web Desk (5 March 2019), [https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/440145-pakistani-actor-sheheryar-munawar-gets-engaged "Pakistani actor Sheheryar Munawar gets engaged"], The News. Retrieved 5 March 2019. However, the engagement was called off after a few months in October and no reason was given.[https://dailytimes.com.pk/491654/is-sheheryar-munawar-no-longer-engaged/ "Is Sheheryar Munawar no longer engaged?"], Daily Times. Retrieved 30 October 2019.[https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/548362-sheheryar-munawar-responds-to-backlash-over-breaking-off-his-engagement "Sheheryar Munawar breaks silence on his engagement getting called off"], The International News. Retrieved 30 October 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bolnews.com/showbiz/2024/12/sheheryar-munawar-surprises-fans-with-his-marriage-news/|title=Sheheryar Munawar surprises fans with his marriage news|date=3 December 2024 |publisher=Bol News}}{{cite web |title=Pakistani actor getting married, Mahira Khan shines at Dholki |url=https://www.siasat.com/pakistani-actor-getting-married-mahira-khan-shines-at-dholki-3149579/|website=Siasat |author=Rasti Amena |date=2024-12-17 |access-date=2024-12-18 |language=en}}
Later on, Siddiqui was in a relationship with his Parey Hut Love & Pehli Si Muhabbat co-star, actress Maya Ali and they broke up in December 2021.
On 27 December 2024, Siddiqui married actress Maheen Siddiqui in a traditional Sindhi wedding in Karachi.{{cite web |title=Sheheryar Munawar and Maheen Siddiqui host qawwali night|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2517414/sheheryar-munawar-and-maheen-siddiqui-host-qawwali-night|website=The Express Tribune|author=Rasti Amena |date=2024-12-27 |access-date=2024-12-27 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Sheheryar Munawar ties the knot with Maheen Siddiqui|url=https://arynews.tv/sheheryar-munawar-ties-the-knot-with-maheen-siddiqui/|website=The Express Tribune|author=ARY News |date=2024-12-28 |access-date=2024-12-28 |language=en}}
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Director ! Screenwriter !Network ! Notes ! Ref. |
|---|
| 2012
| Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley | Arooj | | | rowspan="2" | Supporting role |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| Zarak Khan | | |
| Kahi Unkahi
| Shahryar | | | rowspan="2" |Hum TV |Leading role |
| Zindagi Gulzar Hai
| Osama | | |Supporting role |
| 2014
| Aaliyan | | | rowspan="2" |Leading role |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| Aslam | | | rowspan="2" |ARY Digital |
| Sinf-e-Aahan
| Major Usama | | |Supporting role |
| rowspan="3" | 2023
| Qais | | | Cameo |
| Kuch Ankahi
| Asfar Motiwala | | |ARY Digital |Leading role |
| Budhi Ghori Lal Lagam
|{{na}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |Geo Entertainment |Telefilm |
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| Radd | Salaar Shah | | | rowspan="2" |ARY Digital | rowspan="2" |Leading role |
| Aye Ishq e Junoon
|Rahim Ali Nawaz | | | |
=Films=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Producer ! Ref. |
| 2015
| Arhan | {{ya}} |
| 2017
|Shahryar | |
| 2018
| Tipu | |
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| Zayn | |
| Parey Hut Love
| Shahryar | {{ya}} |
| 2021
|Wajih Karamullah (Dada) | | |
| 2023
|Salman | |
=Web=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Director ! Platform ! Notes ! Ref. |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|Prince Charming |{{na}} |{{ya}} |See Prime on YouTube |Short film; Directorial debut | |
| Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam
| Bilal | |ZEE5 |Web series |
| 2023
|Likhari |Kabir Khan | |See Prime on YouTube |Short film |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5615995}}
- {{Instagram|sheheryarmunawar}}
- [https://www.fuchsiamagazine.com/2019/02/08/gup-shup-sheheryar-munawar Gup Shup With Sheheryar Munawar - Fuchsia Magazine]
{{Hum Award Best Television Sensation Male}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munawar, Sheheryar}}
Category:Pakistani male television actors
Category:Pakistani male film actors
Category:Pakistani film producers
Category:Pakistani television hosts
Category:Male actors from Karachi
Category:Institute of Business Administration, Karachi alumni