Mahira Khan Biography: Age, Husband, Son, Dramas, Raees & Latest News
Mahira Khan (born 21 December 1984) is a Pakistani actress and one of the biggest stars of Pakistani television and film. She began as a VJ, made her film debut in Bol (2011) and became a household name across South Asia with the drama Humsafar (2011). She is also known for Shehr-e-Zaat, Sadqay Tumhare, Bin Roye, Verna and The Legend of Maula Jatt, and she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the Bollywood film Raees (2017). She has won seven Lux Style Awards and is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan. In 2026 she returned to television with Mitti De Baway.
Mahira Khan Latest News (October 2026)
- Mitti De Baway breaks records (October 2026): Her new drama with Wahaj Ali, which premiered on 23 September 2026 on Green Entertainment, was reported to be the fastest Pakistani drama to reach 200 million YouTube views, doing so in six episodes. Mahira plays Billo, who becomes the powerful Bari Sarkar. The drama is written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain.
- Fake posts fact-checked (October 2026): Viral Instagram posts claiming Mahira supported a political protest were confirmed to be fake by Pakistani fact-checkers.
- 2025 films: She starred in the romantic comedy Love Guru with Humayun Saeed and the drama Neelofar with Fawad Khan.
Mahira Khan Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mahira Khan |
| Profession | Actress, former VJ |
| Known for | Humsafar, Bin Roye, Raees, The Legend of Maula Jatt, Mitti De Baway |
| Career | |
| Started as | VJ on MTV Pakistan (2006) |
| Film debut | Bol (2011) |
| Breakthrough | Humsafar (2011) |
| Bollywood film | Raees (2017), with Shah Rukh Khan |
| Latest drama | Mitti De Baway (2026) |
| Awards | Seven Lux Style Awards |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 21 December 1984 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 41 years |
| Birthplace | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| School | Foundation Public School, Karachi |
| College | Santa Monica College; University of Southern California (studied, did not complete) |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Salim Karim (married October 2023) |
| Former husband | Ali Askari (married 2007, divorced 2015) |
| Son | Azlaan Askari
|
| Father | Hafeez Khan |
| Brother | Hissan Khan |
Mahira Khan Early Life, Family and Education
Mahira was born in Karachi. Her father, Hafeez Khan, was born in Delhi and moved to Pakistan after Partition, and she has described her family as Urdu-speaking. Her younger brother, Hissan Khan, is a journalist and entrepreneur.
She completed her A-Levels at Foundation Public School in Karachi and moved to California at 17. She studied at Santa Monica College and then enrolled at the University of Southern California for a degree in English literature. She left after her first year and returned to Pakistan to pursue a career in entertainment.
Mahira Khan Career
VJ Years (2006–2010)
Mahira started as a video jockey on MTV Pakistan in 2006 and later hosted Weekend with Mahira on AAG TV in 2008. Her natural on-screen presence led to acting offers.
Bol and Humsafar (2011)
She made her film debut in Shoaib Mansoor’s social drama Bol (2011). The same year she played Khirad in Hum TV’s Humsafar, opposite Fawad Khan. The drama became one of the most popular Pakistani serials ever, also gaining a large Indian audience when it was later broadcast in India, and turned Mahira into a star.
Television Queen (2012–2016)
Mahira followed Humsafar with a string of hit dramas, including Shehr-e-Zaat (2012), Sadqay Tumhare (2014) and Bin Roye (2016) with Humayun Saeed. She also played the lead in the 2015 film version of Bin Roye and starred in the romantic drama Ho Mann Jahaan (2016).
Raees and Verna (2017)
In 2017 Mahira made her Bollywood debut as Aasiya, the wife of Shah Rukh Khan’s character, in Rahul Dholakia’s crime drama Raees. The film was a commercial success in India. Because of restrictions on Pakistani artists working in India after 2016, she could not promote the film there. The same year she starred in Shoaib Mansoor’s Verna, a hard-hitting drama about sexual violence.
Maula Jatt and Beyond (2019–2026)
Mahira played the lead in the romantic film Superstar (2019) and returned to television with Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay (2021). In 2022 she starred in Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt, opposite Fawad Khan; it became the highest-grossing Pakistani film ever. She appeared in the drama Razia (2023), and in 2025 starred in the films Love Guru and Neelofar. In September 2026 her drama Mitti De Baway premiered and quickly set viewership records.
Mahira Khan Dramas and Movies List (Selected)
| Year | Title | Type / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Bol | Film debut |
| 2011 | Humsafar | Drama; Khirad |
| 2012 | Shehr-e-Zaat | Drama |
| 2014 | Sadqay Tumhare | Drama |
| 2015 | Bin Roye | Film |
| 2016 | Bin Roye | Drama |
| 2016 | Ho Mann Jahaan | Film |
| 2017 | Raees | Bollywood, with Shah Rukh Khan |
| 2017 | Verna | Film |
| 2019 | Superstar | Film |
| 2021 | Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay | Drama |
| 2022 | The Legend of Maula Jatt | Highest-grossing Pakistani film |
| 2023 | Razia | Drama |
| 2025 | Love Guru | Film, with Humayun Saeed |
| 2025 | Neelofar | Film, with Fawad Khan |
| 2026 | Mitti De Baway | Drama, with Wahaj Ali |
Awards and Honours
- Seven Lux Style Awards.
- Several Hum Awards.
- Named UNHCR National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan (2019).
- UK Parliament Lifetime Achievement Award (November 2024).
Mahira Khan Personal Life
Mahira married Ali Askari in 2007, and their son, Azlaan, was born a few years later. The couple divorced in 2015. She has often spoken about raising her son while building her career.
In October 2023 she married businessman Salim Karim in a private ceremony in Bhurban, in the hills near Murree. Their wedding video, showing an emotional Salim as she walked down the aisle with her son, went viral across Pakistan and India.
Mahira is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and has worked on awareness about Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Mahira Khan’s Mitti De Baway
Mitti De Baway is Mahira’s first major television drama since Razia (2023), and it reunites two of Pakistan’s most popular stars: Mahira and Wahaj Ali. Written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain, the serial follows Billo, a woman who rises to become the powerful Bari Sarkar. It airs on Green Entertainment on Wednesdays and Thursdays and is also uploaded to YouTube, where its first six episodes crossed 200 million views, a reported record for a Pakistani drama.
Mahira Khan and Shah Rukh Khan
Mahira’s only Bollywood film so far, Raees (2017), paired her with Shah Rukh Khan. She has often spoken warmly about working with him, and the film’s song “Zaalima” made her popular with Indian audiences.
Why Mahira Khan Stands Out
Mahira is one of the few Pakistani actresses with a true pan-South Asian fan base. Humsafar made her famous on both sides of the border, she starred with Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood, and she was part of Pakistan’s highest-grossing film. More than 15 years into her acting career, her 2026 drama Mitti De Baway shows she is still at the top of Pakistani entertainment.
Lesser-Known Facts About Mahira Khan
- She began her career as an MTV Pakistan VJ.
- She moved to California at 17 to study.
- Her father was born in Delhi.
- Her son, Azlaan, walked her down the aisle at her 2023 wedding.
- The Legend of Maula Jatt, in which she starred, is Pakistan’s highest-grossing film.
Related Biographies
- Shah Rukh Khan Biography – co-star in Raees
- Priyanka Chopra Biography
- Richa Chadha Biography
- Amy Jackson Biography
- More stars: Bollywood biographies
Mahira Khan FAQs
How old is Mahira Khan?
Mahira Khan was born on 21 December 1984, so she is 41 years old as of 2026.
Who is Mahira Khan’s husband?
Mahira Khan is married to businessman Salim Karim. They married in Bhurban, Pakistan, in October 2023.
Does Mahira Khan have a son?
Yes. Mahira has a son, Azlaan, from her first marriage to Ali Askari.
What is Mahira Khan’s new drama?
Her latest drama is Mitti De Baway (2026) with Wahaj Ali, airing on Green Entertainment. She plays Billo, who becomes Bari Sarkar.
Which Bollywood movie did Mahira Khan act in?
Mahira Khan acted in Raees (2017), opposite Shah Rukh Khan.
What was Mahira Khan’s first drama?
Her breakthrough drama was Humsafar (2011) with Fawad Khan. Her film debut was Bol (2011).
Where did Mahira Khan study?
She studied at Foundation Public School in Karachi, then at Santa Monica College and the University of Southern California in the US.
How many Lux Style Awards has Mahira Khan won?
Mahira Khan has won seven Lux Style Awards.
Is Mahira Khan a UN ambassador?
Yes. She was named UNHCR National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan in 2019.
Who plays Bari Sarkar in Mitti De Baway?
Mahira Khan plays Billo, who becomes Bari Sarkar, in Mitti De Baway (2026). Wahaj Ali plays Baala.
Which channel airs Mitti De Baway?
Mitti De Baway airs on Green Entertainment on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm Pakistan time, and episodes are also posted on YouTube.