Momina Mustehsan Biography: Age, Family, Songs, Afreen Afreen & Latest News
Momina Mustehsan (born 5 September 1992) is a Pakistani singer and songwriter who shot to international fame in 2016 with “Afreen Afreen”, her Coke Studio duet with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, which became one of the most-watched Pakistani music videos on YouTube. Before music took over her life, she studied biomedical engineering and applied mathematics in the United States. She has sung for the Bollywood film Ek Villain (“Awari”) and the Pakistani film Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, released popular singles such as “Aaya Na Tu” with Arjun Kanungo and “Baari” with Bilal Saeed, and was named in the BBC’s 100 Women list in 2017 and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2018.
Momina Mustehsan Latest News (October 2026)
- Music: Momina continues to perform and release music, and she remains one of Pakistan’s most-followed singers on social media, where she regularly connects with fans in Pakistan and India.
- “Afreen Afreen” legacy: A decade after its 2016 release, her Coke Studio duet with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is still one of the most-viewed Pakistani music videos ever on YouTube.
Momina Mustehsan Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Momina Mustehsan |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter |
| Known for | Afreen Afreen (Coke Studio), Awari, Aaya Na Tu, Baari |
| Career | |
| First song | Pee Jaun with Farhan Saeed (2012) |
| Bollywood song | Awari – Ek Villain (2014) |
| Breakthrough | Afreen Afreen, Coke Studio season 9 (2016) |
| Honours | BBC 100 Women (2017), Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2018) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 5 September 1992 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 34 years |
| Birthplace | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan (some sources say Quetta) |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| School | Lahore Grammar School |
| University | Stony Brook University, New York (biomedical engineering and applied mathematics, 2016) |
| Family | |
| Father | Kazim Mustehsan (retired brigadier, Pakistan Army) |
| Mother | Huma Mustehsan (doctor) |
| Brothers | Hashim and Haider |
Momina Mustehsan Early Life, Family and Education
Momina was born on 5 September 1992 into an army family. Her father, Kazim Mustehsan, is a retired brigadier in the Pakistan Army, and her mother, Huma Mustehsan, is a doctor. She has two brothers, Hashim and Haider. Sources differ on whether she was born in Lahore or Quetta.
She studied at Lahore Grammar School and then moved to the United States for university. At Stony Brook University in New York, she completed a demanding double major in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics, graduating in 2016, the same year her Coke Studio performance made her famous.
Momina Mustehsan Music Career
Early Songs (2012–2015)
Momina’s first notable release was “Pee Jaun” (2012), which she co-wrote and sang with Farhan Saeed. The song caught the attention of listeners on both sides of the border. In 2014 she sang “Awari” for the Bollywood thriller Ek Villain, giving her a first taste of the Indian film music audience while she was still a student.
Coke Studio and “Afreen Afreen” (2016)
Momina made her Coke Studio debut in season 9 in 2016, singing “Afreen Afreen” with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The song, a reinterpretation of a classic by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, became an instant sensation. Its video crossed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and made Momina a household name in Pakistan and India almost overnight. It established her as one of Coke Studio’s breakout voices.
Singles and Collaborations (2018–2020)
In 2018 she released “Aaya Na Tu” with Indian singer Arjun Kanungo, a popular cross-border collaboration, and sang “Ishq Hoa Jo Tari” for the Pakistani comedy Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2. Her 2019 Punjabi song “Baari” with Bilal Saeed went viral and became one of the year’s biggest Pakistani pop songs. She followed with “Uchiyan Deewaran” in 2020.
Recognition
Momina’s rise from engineering student to pop star brought her international recognition. In 2017 the BBC named her one of its 100 Women, a list of inspiring and influential women around the world, and in 2018 she was included in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in the entertainment category.
The Story Behind “Afreen Afreen”
“Afreen Afreen” was first recorded by the qawwali legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, on the 1996 album Sangam. Two decades later, Coke Studio’s ninth season, produced by the pop duo Strings (Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia), paired Nusrat’s nephew, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, with the then little-known Momina. Their version blended Rahat’s classical style with Momina’s soft, modern vocals, and the video’s simple, intimate staging helped it spread quickly on social media in both Pakistan and India.
The song turned Momina into an overnight celebrity. She went from being a student finishing her engineering degree in New York to one of the most searched Pakistani musicians online, with fans across South Asia and the diaspora. Interviews, brand deals and concert invitations quickly followed.
Momina Mustehsan’s Following in India
Momina has a large audience in India. Her first Bollywood song, “Awari” from Ek Villain (2014), came two years before Coke Studio, and her 2018 single “Aaya Na Tu” was a collaboration with Indian singer Arjun Kanungo. “Afreen Afreen” has been especially popular with Indian listeners, and she has often thanked her fans across the border on social media.
Momina Mustehsan Popular Songs
| Year | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Pee Jaun | With Farhan Saeed; co-writer |
| 2014 | Awari | Ek Villain (Bollywood) |
| 2016 | Afreen Afreen | With Rahat Fateh Ali Khan; Coke Studio 9 |
| 2018 | Aaya Na Tu | With Arjun Kanungo |
| 2018 | Ishq Hoa Jo Tari | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 |
| 2019 | Baari | With Bilal Saeed |
| 2020 | Uchiyan Deewaran | Single |
Awards and Honours
- BBC 100 Women (2017).
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia – Entertainment and Sports (2018).
- “Afreen Afreen” ranked among the most-viewed Pakistani music videos on YouTube.
Momina Mustehsan Personal Life
Momina became engaged to Ali Naqvi in late 2016, shortly after “Afreen Afreen” made her famous. The engagement was called off in early 2017, and she spoke publicly about the decision at the time. She keeps her relationships private since then.
Momina has spoken out on social media about online harassment, and she has a large following in both Pakistan and India. Her combination of a science degree and a music career has made her a role model for many young women in Pakistan.
Engineer Turned Singer
Few pop stars hold degrees in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics. Her story, studying in New York while releasing songs and then becoming famous the year she graduated, is part of what makes her stand out in South Asian music.
Why Momina Mustehsan Stands Out
Momina built a fan base across Pakistan and India at a time when cross-border collaborations were rare and often controversial. Her voice, her education and her outspoken personality have kept her in the spotlight for a decade since her Coke Studio debut.
Lesser-Known Facts About Momina Mustehsan
- She has a double degree in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics.
- Her father is a retired Pakistan Army brigadier, and her mother is a doctor.
- She sang a Bollywood song, “Awari”, before her Coke Studio fame.
- “Afreen Afreen” is a new version of a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan classic.
- She was named in the BBC 100 Women list at 25.
- She co-wrote her first released song, “Pee Jaun”, with Farhan Saeed.
- She completed her engineering degree the same year Coke Studio made her famous.
Related Biographies
- Mahira Khan Biography – Pakistani star
- Neha Kakkar Biography – Indian singer
- Mangli Biography – singer
- Sahher Bambba Biography
- More stars: Bollywood biographies
Momina Mustehsan FAQs
How old is Momina Mustehsan?
Momina Mustehsan was born on 5 September 1992, so she is 34 years old as of 2026.
Who sang Afreen Afreen with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan?
Momina Mustehsan sang Afreen Afreen with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan on Coke Studio season 9 in 2016.
Is Momina Mustehsan married?
No marriage has been publicly announced. She was engaged to Ali Naqvi in 2016, but the engagement ended in early 2017.
What did Momina Mustehsan study?
She double-majored in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics at Stony Brook University in New York, graduating in 2016.
Has Momina Mustehsan sung in Bollywood?
Yes. She sang “Awari” for the 2014 Bollywood film Ek Villain.
Who are Momina Mustehsan’s parents?
Her father is retired Pakistan Army brigadier Kazim Mustehsan, and her mother is Dr Huma Mustehsan.
What are Momina Mustehsan’s popular songs?
Her best-known songs are Afreen Afreen, Pee Jaun, Awari, Aaya Na Tu and Baari.
Where is Momina Mustehsan from?
She is from Pakistan; most sources give Lahore as her birthplace, though some say Quetta.
Was Momina Mustehsan on the BBC 100 Women list?
Yes. She was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2017.
Who originally sang Afreen Afreen?
The original Afreen Afreen was sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the 1996 album Sangam, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Momina Mustehsan and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recorded a new version for Coke Studio in 2016.
Which Coke Studio season was Momina Mustehsan in?
She appeared in Coke Studio season 9 in 2016, produced by Strings.