Durefishan Saleem is a Pakistani actress who works in Urdu television. She made her acting debut with a supporting role in Hum TV‘s comedy drama Dil Ruba (2020)[1] and subsequently had a leading role in the romantic family Bhaaras (2020). She received wider popularity after starring in a tragic romance series Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi (2022),[2] the light-hearted series Ishq Murshid (2023) and Sanwal Yaar Piya (2025).[3] She is the Recipient of Hum Awards.
Early life and education
Durefishan was born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan to Saleem-ul-Hassan, who worked as a director and producer for PTV in the 2000s. Her mother’s name is Shumaila Saleem. She has three siblings – two brothers Abdullah and Rohan and a sister Rameen. She obtained her LLB from University College London. In 2019, she moved to Karachi to make her career in acting.[4][5]
Career
Early work and breakthrough (2020–present)
Saleem made her acting debut with a supporting role of Erum Jameel in Dil Ruba starring Hania Amir and Mohib Mirza. She received a nomination for a Lux Style Awards for Best Emerging Talent in Television.[6] The same year, she starred in a leading role Zoya in family romantic series Bhaaras opposite Zubab Rana and Omer Shahzad.[7] After that, she acted in Pardes[8] with Affan Waheed and Juda Huay Kuch Is Tarha.[9]
In 2022, she portrayed an innocent Mehak in love-dramatic series Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi[10] opposite Danish Taimoor in their first on-screen appearance which gained her wider popularity and recognition and the series crossed more than 1 Billion Views.[11] In 2023, she briefly appeared in the thriller series Jurm[12] alongside Wahaj Ali then in an antholology-series Siyaah, and she portrayed as a motivational speaker in family classic series Jaisay Aapki Marzi opposite Mikaal Zulfiqar.[13] She was also offered to act in Jhok Sarkar along with Farhan Saeed.[14][15]
She ended the year with her portrayal of a head-strong woman Shibra Shahmeer in the romantic series Ishq Murshid opposite Bilal Abbas Khan.[16] The series emerged as the major success crossed more than 1 billion views.[17] Writing for Redbrick opined, “Khan’s transition between two personality is “effortless”. In 2024, she starred as a Pashtun woman Zamda in revenge-thriller series Khaie[18][19]
In 2025, Saleem appeared as a college student in Sanwal Yaar Piya along with Feroze Khan and Ahmed Ali Akbar[20] which also marks their first project together.[21] And it became the first Pakistani drama of 2026 to enter the 1 Billion Views Club, achieving the massive milestone also, the series was well received by audiences.[22] In 2026, saleem going to appear in Dar-e-Nijaat opposite Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui, Nameer Khan and Sahar Hashmi in their first on-screen appearance.[23][24]
Other work and media image
Fishan has also appeared as a guest on various shows. In 2023, she portrayed as Sara in Siyaah.[citation needed] She was placed in Hello Pakistan’s HOT100 list, in the “Trailblazers” category in 2020.[25] Also, in the same year she featured in “Most Talented New Pakistani Actors” for her performance in Dil Ruba.[citation needed] The actress serves as a brand ambassador for several products such as Garnier Color Naturals and Vivo V50 and has done several photoshoots.[26] In 2024, she was placed “Top 10 Pakistani Actresses” for her performance in Jaisay Aapki Marzi and Ishq Murshid.[27]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dil Ruba | Erum Jameel | Hum TV | [citation needed] | |
| 2020–2021 | Bharaas | Zoya | ARY Digital | [28] | |
| 2021 | Pardes | Aimen | [29] | ||
| Juda Huay Kuch Is Tarha | Maha | Hum TV | [30] | ||
| 2022 | Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi | Mehak Shamsher | ARY Digital | [31] | |
| 2023 | Jaisay Aapki Marzi | Aleezay | [32] | ||
| 2023–2024 | Ishq Murshid | Shibra Shahmeer | Hum TV | [33] | |
| 2024 | Khaie | Zamda Khan | Geo Entertainment | [34] | |
| 2025–2026 | Sanwal Yaar Piya | Piya Aslam | [35] | ||
| 2026–present | Dar-e-Nijaat | Zaryab | ARY Digital | [citation needed] |
Telefilms and Special appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Ref | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hangor S-131 | Sameera | ARY Digital | [36] | Telefilm |
| 2023 | Jurm | Ayla Nadeem | Geo Entertainment | [37] | Miniseries |
| 2023 | Siyaah | Sara | Green Entertainment | [38] | Episode: “Mask Man” |
Music videos
| Year | Song | Artist | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | “Dard” | Asim Azhar | [citation needed] |
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ Karishma Soorthy (12 January 2021). “How ‘Bharaas’ Succeeds at Keeping Us Involved”.
- ^ “Top 10 most viewed Pakistani dramas: Meri Zindagi Hai Tu enters list”. 5 February 2026.
- ^ “Durefishan Saleem receives peck of love at ‘Ishq Murshid’ finale screening”. 5 May 2024.
- ^ Maliha Rehman (31 July 2020). “For aspiring actors looking for stardom, Karachi is the city of opportunities”. images.dawn.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ “Faysal Quraishi claims Khaie ‘isn’t about Pashtuns’ but that doesn’t mean it isn’t perpetuating harmful stereotypes”. 23 February 2024.
- ^ Jawaid, Mohammad Kamran (12 April 2020). “PRIME TIME: BINGE WATCHING Dilruba, Tarap, Sabaat… BUT FOR HOW LONG?”. DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ “Bharaas:The story of love and obsession”.
- ^ “Shaista Lodhi to pair up with ace actor Sarmad Khoosat for ‘Pardes”. Mag The Weekly.
- ^ “4 onscreen couples that have sent Pakistani drama fans into a frenzy”. The Express Tribune. 30 April 2024.
- ^ “Dur-e-Fishan says she would not watch or do dramas like Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi again”. images.dawn.com. 29 January 2023.
- ^ “This Pakistani star is only actor with 5 dramas in 1 Billion club”. 16 August 2025.
- ^ Mohammad Nasir (6 May 2023). “Last episode of drama serial ‘Jurm’ on Geo TV today”. The News International (newspaper).
- ^ “‘I cry every time…’: Dur-e-Fishan Saleem reacts to ‘Jaisay Aapki Marzi’ reviews”. ARY News. 14 September 2023.
- ^ “Hiba Bukhari to replace Durefishan Saleem in new drama ‘Jhok Sial’“. www.bolnews.com. 17 March 2023.
- ^ “Sher enters 1 Billion club; Full list of 15 Pakistani drama in it”. 15 August 2025.
- ^ “List of 12 Pakistani dramas with 1 Billion+ views [Until 2024]”. 3 March 2025.
- ^ Shailaja Rao (4 March 2024). “Cute and Choppy Pakistani Romantic Drama ‘Ishq Murshid’ Wins Hearts and Viral Fame in India and Beyond”. American Kahani.
- ^ Moeeza Arshad (9 February 2024). “Ishq Murshid: The Epitome of Television Triumph”. Hum TV. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ “Faysal Quraishi shares why he chose Case No. 9 after Khaie”. 11 October 2026.
- ^ “2 Reported upcoming Pakistani dramas of Durefishan Saleem”. 21 October 2024.
- ^ “Ahmed Ali Akbar gears for exciting new project ‘Sanwal Yaar Piya’“. 12 December 2024.
- ^ “First Pakistani drama of 2026 to enter prestigious 1 Billion club”. 12 January 2026.
- ^ “Umera Ahmed makes her comeback to TV with new drama”. 30 August 2025.
- ^ “Sheheryar Munawar, Durefishan Saleem & Nameer Khan Upcoming Drama Details”. 29 August 2025.
- ^ “Headliners, trailblazers, trendsetters – Celebs who made it to Hello Pakistan’s #HOT100 list”. Hello Magazine Pakistan. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ “vivo Announces Bilal Abbas and Durefishan Saleem as Brand Ambassadors for the V40 Series”. 27 September 2024.
- ^ “vivo Continues Partnership with Bilal Abbas Khan & Durefishan Saleem for V50 5G: A New Era of Smartphone Excellence”. 12 March 2025.
- ^ “Tuba Anwar makes her television debut through Bhaaras”. 20 December 2021.
- ^ Gaitee Ara Siddiqi (6 June 2021). “Pardes – The untold story”. www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ “Everything we know about Dur-e-Fishan, Nabeel Zuberi starrer ‘Juda Huay Kuch Is Tarah’“. thecurrent.pk. 10 July 2021.
- ^ “Can channels take responsibility? Fans calls out ‘Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi’ for romanticising abuse”. 18 August 2022.
- ^ “It talk about marzi, consent: Dur-e-Fishan Saleem on her new serial”. ARY News. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ “‘Ishq Murshid’ – Bilal Abbas and Durefishan Saleem team up for upcoming project”. Daily Pakistan. 10 March 2023. Event occurs at 10:18 pm.
- ^ “It’s a fictional story, enjoy it: Faysal Quraishi addresses Khaie’s stereotyping of Pashtuns”. 23 February 2024.
- ^ “Durefishan Saleem set to share screen with Feroze Khan, Ahmed Ali Akbar”. jang.com.pk. 21 October 2024.
- ^ “ARY to release Hangor — a telefilm based on a Pakistani submarine that took down Indian warships in 1971”. Dawn Images. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ Images Staff (14 April 2023). “We’re going to see Wahaj Ali, Durefishan Saleem and Tooba Siddiqui in a thriller very soon”. images.dawn.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ “All the stars set to star in upcoming anthology TV series Siyaah”. 3 May 2023.
- ^ Images Staff (26 August 2021). “Lux Style Awards announces nominations for its 20th edition”. Images. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ “LSA 2022: And the nominees are”. Tribune. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ “LSA2024 » Lux Style Awards”. www.luxstyle.pk. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ “The nominations for the 24th Lux Style Awards are out”. 4 December 2025.
- ^ “10th HUM Awards reveal six nominations for viewers’ choice awards”. Tribune. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ “Hum Awards 2025: full list of winners revealed in star-studded Houston event”. Minute Mirror. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ Yumna Aftab (5 March 2021). “Ramsha Khan, Feroze Khan win big at the ARY People’s Choice Awards”.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
