Nauman Ijaz: The Veteran's Veteran

Nauman Ijaz is the actor other actors reference. Active since 1989, with a filmography that by 2014 already numbered some 175 television series, he is one of the most awarded and most respected performers in Pakistani television.

Quick facts

• Born: 14 February 1965
• Profession: Actor
• Known for: Raqeeb Se, Sang-e-Mah, Parizaad
• Awards: Ten Lux Style Awards, seven Hum Awards, and the President's Pride of Performance (2012)

A career measured in decades

Ijaz came up through state television, where he spent years building the kind of range that only volume can teach: comedies, tragedies, social dramas, and everything between. He has stayed with each era of the industry, from PTV's single-channel days to the streaming age, without ever seeming nostalgic for any of them.

The late-career purple patch

Rather than easing off, his recent work may be his most admired. In Raqeeb Se (2021) he played a man caught between old love and family duty, in Sang-e-Mah he added another unforgettable character to the canon, and in Parizaad he showed how a supporting role can quietly steal a scene from anyone. Younger viewers discovered him through these, while longtime fans saw the same precision they have watched for decades.

The honours

Ten Lux Style Awards and seven Hum Awards put him among the most decorated television actors in the country, and in 2012 he received the President's Pride of Performance.

He is proof that in this industry, the longest careers are built on craft first.

Where to follow

Fans can find his work across Pakistan's major streaming platforms.