Veena Malik

Zahida Malik (born 26 February 1976), better known as Veena Malik, is a Pakistani actress, TV host, reality television personality and model who has appeared in Pakistani and Bollywood films.

Veena made her film debut in 2000 with Sajjad Gul's Tere Pyar Mein.

She made her acting debut alongside Shaan and Zara Sheikh in Askari's Tere Pyar Mein (2000), which was a box office hit.

She played a supporting role in the film and was barely acknowledged.

In 2002, she starred in Akbar Khan's Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa and Sassi Punno and later played roles in female-centric films such as Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (2005), Mohabbatan Sachiyan (2007), Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai (2005), Kabhi Pyar Na Karna (2008) and Ishq Beparwaah (2008).

In 2002, Veena hosted the Prime TV series, Prime Gupshup for them ushering a new direction for her comic skills and she improvised on the hour-long show occasionally mimicking actors.

Veena hosted the Geo TV show Hum Sub Umeed Se Hain, in which she was hailed for her comedic parodies.

Later on, she appeared in a supporting role in Javed Sheikh's Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa (2002).

In 2003, Veena appeared in Indo-Pak cross venture Punjabi film Pind Di Kudi which failed commercially, however, it was the first Indo-Pak venture film with a budget of approximately 70 million rupees.

She also appeared in Askari's Sassi Punno (2003) alongside Sana and Moammar Rana, however the film failed to do well at Lahore's cinemas and further screenings stopped in cinemas after a week of its release.

She then appeared in Rafique's Jageer.

In 2005, she appeared in a short Punjabi film Bau Badmash (2005) which also failed to garner recognition.

Her breakthrough role was in Reema Khan's Koi Tujh Sa Kahan which was a commercial success in Pakistan.

In the same year, she played the parallel lead role of Farwa in fantasy film Naag aur Nagin.

In 2007, she appeared at the Lux Style Awards and was awarded as being the Most stylish celebrity on the carpet.

In 2008, Veena appeared in Rafique's Punjabi film, Mohabbatan Sachiyan, alongside ex-fiancée Babrik Shah and newcomers Maria Khan and Adnan Khan.

The film went on to become a commercial success.

The same year, she appeared in Raza's Kabhi Pyar Na Karna in a supporting role, but the film was a flop.

Her last film of 2008 was Altaf's Ishq Beparwah, which also failed to impress the audience.

She was a contestant on Bigg Boss in 2010.

Veena was born as Zahida Malik on 26 February in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, in a Punjabi family to Malik Mohammad Aslam and his wife, Zeenat Malik.

In October 2010, Veena appeared in the Indian television reality show Bigg Boss Season 4.

She was evicted two weeks before the finals, and was one of the final six contestants out of the original fourteen who had participated.

Veena was also part of the finale of the show.

After her Bigg Boss stay, she was mentioned in the media as the voice of liberal Muslims, including leading dailies, Daily Times, Express Tribune, and The Australian.

Sabbah Hajim, from the Haji Amina Charity Trust in Jammu and Kashmir, writing in the magazine Tehelka, when comparing her with liberal rector of Darul Uloom Deoband said, "these two newly public figures might teach Muslims to stop feeling eternally outraged."

In 2010, she worked in Rafique's Main Jeena Tere Naal, and Beyg's debut comedy film Miss Duniya.

In February 2011, Veena became part of the Cricket World Cup reality show in Delhi, India, called "Big Toss."

Big Toss was a reality game show with contestants and Veena as the captain of one team, against Rakhi Sawant and her team.

In March 2011, Veena engaged in a passionate debate with a mufti, who claimed she had engaged in immoral behaviour as a contestant on Bigg Boss, even though he admitted to not having watched the show.

Veena countered pointing out the double standards of Pakistani media against women among other rebuttals.

Another show Veena Malik – Veena Ka Vivah was planned where Veena would search for her soul-mate, but the show was cancelled when Imagine TV, the channel on which the show was being shown, announced that it was shutting down.

Veena collected almost 71,000 entries from all over the world for the show.

Before starting as an actress, Veena was a comedian for several television shows and series.

In 2012, she was seen in Bollywood with a comedy film, Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai.

The following year, she appeared in the comedy-drama Zindagi 50-50, Supermodel and the Kannada film Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Maga.

In 2012, Veena debuted in Bollywood with an item song in Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai entitled "Chhanno" which was a big hit.

Then in the same month she did another item song "Fann Ban Gayi" in Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya.

Then she made her acting debut with a comedy Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai.

She also appeared in 2014 horror film Mumbai 125 KM 3D.