Bushra Ansari

Bushra Ansari^[a] (Punjabi pronunciation: [bʊʃɾaː ənsaːɾiː]) is a Pakistani actress, comedian, singer, and playwright in Punjabi and Urdu cinema, who started her career as a child performer in the 1960s.^[2] Ansari won numerous awards during her career, including the Presidential Pride of Performance Award in 1989 for her contributions to Pakistani television.^[3][4][5]

Bushra Ansari PP SI
بشریٰ انصاری
Born	Bushra Bashir (1956-07-20) 20 July 1956 (age 68)[1] Karachi, Federal Capital Territory, Pakistan[1]
Alma mater	Bachelor's in Fine Arts from Rawalpindi
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer, writer
Years active	1965–present
Spouses	Iqbal Ansari (m. 1978; div. 2014) Iqbal Hussain (m.?)
Relatives	Ahmad Bashir (father) Asma Abbas (sister) Sumbul Shahid (sister) Zara Noor Abbas (niece)
Honours	Pride of Performance (1989) Sitara-i-Imtiaz (2021)

Personal life

Bushra was first married to Iqbal Ansari, but later they divorced.^[6] The couple has 2 daughters, Meera Ansari and Nariman Ansari.^[7] Meera Ansari was born in Karachi and now resides in the United States.^[8] She is also step-mother to her second husband's two sons.^[9]

Career

Bushra Ansari at Lux Style Awards 2011

Ansari's first dramatic acting role was in 1997 in PTV's Rishtay Aur Raastay.^[10] She first rose to prominence in 1984 with her portrayal of Jehan Ara Begum, a bossy and sharp-tongued housewife in PTV's classic Aangan Terha.^[11] She also appeared on PTV's most-watched shows, including Show Time, Show Sha, Rang Tarang, Emergency Ward, and the sketch comedy TV series Fifty Fifty.^[12][13]

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2015	Jawani Phir Nahi Ani	Zoya's Mother
2016	Ho Mann Jahaan	Nadir's Mother
2023	Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God	Lizzy Appa	Voice
2025	Deemak	TBA	[14]

Selected television

Year	Serial	Role	Notes
1978–1984	Fifty Fifty		[4]
1983	Saturday Night Live	Safia	PTV Classic series
1984	Aangan Terha	Jehan Ara Begum	[15]
1985	Karawaan	Sajida	PTV
1986	Raat Gaye		PTV[16]
1989	Neelay Hath	Jameela	PTV
1992	Zara si Aurat	Qudsia	PTV Telefilm[17]
1999	Neeli Dhoop	Nasira	Writer[18]
2003	Umrao Jan Ada	Khanam Jaan
2004	Meharun Nisa	Zainab
2006	Kuch Dil Ne Kaha	Shaista	Also a writer[19][20]
2006–2007	Makan	Tayee G	Also a writer
2006	Bushra Bushra	Host
2007	Aurat Aur Char Devari	Seema	Episode "Mein Akeli Hun"
	Amawas		Writer
2009–2012	Kis Ki Aayegi Baraat	Saima
2009	Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat	Saima Chaudry	[5]
2010	Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat	Saima Chaudry	[5] won Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress[21]
2010–11	Dil Hai Chota Sa	–	Writer[22]
2011	Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat	Saima Chaudry	[5]
	Mera Naseeb	Sabah	[18]
2012	Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain	Recurring
	Bilqees Kaur	Bilqees Kaur	[23]
	Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat	Saima Chaudry	[5]
	Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley	Zakia	Also a writer
2013	Kabhi Kabhi	Aarez's mother
2013	Bushra Bara Boor	Bushra
2013	1st Hum Awards	Presenter
2013–2014	Pakistan Idol (season 1)	Judge	[24]
2014	Jab We Wed	Faris's Mother	[25]
2015	Tum Mere Paas Raho	Tabish's Mother
2015	Utho Geo Pakistan	Host	[26]
2015	Khuda Dekh Raha Hai		[27]
2015–2016	Riffat Aapa Ki Bahuein	Riffat Aapa
2016	Udaari	Sheedan	Hum Award for Most Impactful Character[28]
	Jhoot	Saleha
	Pakeeza		Writer[29]
	Commander Safeguard's Mission: Clean Sweep: Jungle Main Mungle	Dirtee	Voice
	Seeta Bagri	Nandani Das	[30]
2017	Shaadi Mubarak Ho	Shahnaz
2018	Bay Dardi	Shafay's Mother	[31]
	Naulakha	Noor Jehan	[32]
2019	Deewar-e-Shab	Sitara Jahan	[33]
2020	Zebaish	Shahana	Writer also
2021	Mrs. Chaudhry Ka Tarka	Saima Chaudhry	Ramadan special cooking show
	Pardes	Mumtaz
2023	Tere Bin	Begum Salma Shahnawaz Khan
2024	Very Filmy		Ramadan Special series for Hum TV
2024	Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum	Shagufta Iftekhar Ahmed

Awards and honors

• Nigar Awards Best Actress Award for Aangan Terha in 1984.^[34]
• 6th PTV Awards Best Actress Award for Raat Gaye in 1986^[35]
• In 1989, she was awarded Pride of Performance for her contribution to Arts by the President of Pakistan.
• Iconic Women from Pakistan at Hum Women Leader Awards^[36]
• On 23 March 2021, she was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for her contribution to Arts during the annual civil awards conferred by the President of Pakistan.

Lux Style Awards

Ceremony	Category	Project	Result
3rd Lux Style Awards[37]	Best Television Actress	Umrao Jaan Ada	Nominated
5th Lux Style Awards	Best Television Actress (Satellite)	Kuch Dil Ne Kaha	Won
7th Lux Style Awards[38]		Vanee
10th Lux Style Awards[39]		Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat
10th Lux Style Awards[39]	Best Television Writer		Nominated
17th Lux Style Awards[40]	Best Television Actress	Seeta Bagri

Notes

1. Punjabi, Urdu: بشریٰ انصاری