Babra Sharif

Babra Sharif, (born 10 December 1954), is a Pakistani film actress, best known for her roles from the mid-1970s to the 1990s.

She started her career in television commercials.

She has worked with many famous names of her time, including Shahid, Nadeem, Waheed Murad, Ghulam Mohyedin, Faisal Rehman, Muhammad Ali and even Sultan Rahi.

She had great success in Urdu films in Pakistan.

She was also known as Audrey Hepburn of Pakistan due to her fashion styles roles and romantic comedy roles in films.

She did a variety of roles which proved her versatility as an actress.

Some critics have also considered her among the best actresses of her time in Pakistan.

She has worked in more than 150s movies.

Sharif was born in Lahore, Pakistan in a middle-class family.

From her early childhood, she took considerable interest in show business.

Sharif began modelling at the age of 12; she made her presence felt in a 'Jet' washing powder commercial in 1973 and came to be known as the 'Jet' powder girl.

Fair-haired, attractive and intelligent, she soon became a household name.

In the same year, she appeared in Mohsin Shirazi's television play, which was telecast from PTV Karachi station and also in the PTV drama Kiran Kahani, a classical slapstick comedy written by Haseena Moin and directed by Shirin Khan which had Roohi Bano, Manzoor Qureshi and Jamshed Ansari in the cast.

In 1974, Shamim Ara signed Sharif for her film Bhool which was scheduled to be directed by S. Sulaiman.

At the same time, S. Sulaiman also signed Sharif for his film Intezaar.

Both films released in 1974 but incidentally, Intizaar was released before Bhool.

Hence, Sharif debuted in the film Intezaar as a supporting character.

Another of her films in 1974 Shama, directed by Nazar Shabab and co-starring Waheed Murad, Deeba, Mohammad Ali and Nadeem, was a golden jubilee.

Despite her work in films, Sharif had to look for more opportunities in movies, which did not came immediately.

In 1975, she appeared as supporting actress, in director Masood Pervez's film Mera Naa Paatay Khan.

Neelo and Shahid played the lead roles.

Her efforts took on a new intensity and she proved her worth in the Pakistani cinema.

She worked in director Iqbal Kashmiri's film Shareef Budmaash.

Ali Sufyan Aafaqi's film Ajnabi, Nazar Shabab's film Naukar.

An undeterred Sharif, dressed to perform, played the lead role opposite Ghulam Mohyedin in director Wazeer Ali's film Masoom.

Her most memorable role came in the super hit 1975 film Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat, directed by Shabab Kiranvi and earned her Special Award from Nigar Awards.

Her next five releases in 1976 were Pervez Malik's film Talaash, Shabab Kiranvi's Dewar, Ali Sufyan Aafaqi's Aag aur Aansoo, Aslam Daar's Zubeida and one of her most successful films Shabana, directed by Zafar Shabab.

The film successfully completed golden jubilee, by winning performances turned in by Sharif, Waheed Murad and Shahid.

Sharif also won Best Actress award from Nigar Awards.

Sharif continued her success with Zafar Shabab's Waqt in which she co-starred with Waheed Murad, Kavita and Shamim Ara.

Next year in 1977 she played the title character in film Aashi.

In 1980, she appeared in Iqbal Akhtar's film Chotay Nawab.

From 1980 to 1990 Sharif worked in a number of films.

Some of them were successful, some were not but her overall career remained successful in that decade.

She again collaborated with Akhtar in the 1981 film Dil nay phir yaad kya with Shahid and Waheed Murad.

Her first release of 1982, was Sangdil; her performance was appreciated and she also won her second Nigar Awards for best actress.

Some of her notable films of the decade are Deewanay Do, Chakkar, Khahish, Deikha Jaaye Ga, Jawani Deewani, Mausum hai Aashiqana, Aladin, Maa Bani Dulhan, Kaali, Insaan, Do Dil, Qudrat da Intiqaam, Hero, Miss Colombo (1984) and Miss Bangkok (1986).

For her performances in the last two films, she won two Best Actress award by Nigar Awards.

After a long while, she came back to television in 1992 for Nadan Nadia, a Pakistan television comedy play by Anwar Maqsood.

Her appearance in the 'Lux' advertisement with the message, 'Aakhir loag hamara chehra he to deikhtay hain',(Urdu meaning: After all it is our face that people see) took her fame to the top.