Yumna Zaidi is a Pakistanitelevision actress. She is recognized for her roles in the serials Khushi Ek Roag, Meri Dulari, Dil Muhallay Ki Haveli, Rishtay Kuch Adhooray Se, Mausam, Guzaarish and Zara Yaad Kar. She has established a career in the Urdu television industry and has received seven Hum Award nominations.
She did not aspire to pursue a career in acting, however, on the insistence of her friend Affan Waheed, she dabbled with acting by playing a supporting role in the ARY Digital's 2012 domestic dramaThakan, and followed it with a leading role in the melodrama Khushi Ek Roag. She then appeared in Urdu 1's Teri Raah Main Rul Gai opposite Samiya Mumtaz and Sami Khan where she played the character of Maryam. Zaidi received praise for portraying emotionally intense characters in the dramas, Geo TV's Meri Dulari and Hum TV's Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi, the later of which garnered her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at Hum Awards. Her acclaimed role of a troubled wife in the tragic romance Rishtay Kuch Adhooray Se, established her as a leading actress of Pakistan and earned her the Hum Award for Best Actress and Best Actress Popular nominations. Zaidi subsequently did a special appearance in 2013 series Sannata and played supporting role in Kashif Nisar's directorial Kis Se Kahoon alongside Sajal Ali and Agha Ali. She gained wider recognition for portraying a range of characters in the dramas Mausam, Madawa, Guzaarish, and Jugnoo, Kaanch Ki Guriya, Paras and Aap ki Kaneez, some of which garnered her several Best Actress nominations. In 2016 she appeared in Momina Duraid's Zara Yaad Kar where she played the lead character of Uzma Ikhtiar opposite Zahid Ahmed and Sana Javed. She then appeared in Hum TV's Yeh Raha Dil in 2017 opposite Ahmed Ali. Zaidi played the character of Hayat whose mother has died and father deserted her at a young age. Her on-screen chemistry with Ali was praised by viewers and earned her nomination of Best on-screen couple at Hum Awards. Later she signed Kashif Nisar's directorial Pinjra. In the same year she appeared as Sila, a victim of sexual harassment in Bee Gul's directed Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila opposite Noman Ijaz and Saman Ansari. A critic from The News International praised her saying, "With fewer dialogues and a tough subject at hand, Yumna pulled off her role effortlessly, making it believable from beginning till the end". As of 2018–2019, she appeared in Pukaar as Samra, widow of the feudal lord and appeared in 7th Sky Entertainment's Project Dil Kiya Karey, directed by Mehreen Jabbar. She played a role of Hajra in social drama Inkaar opposite Imran Ashraf and Sami Khan and made special appearance in Angeline Malik's anthology seriesChoti Choti Batain. She further appeared in an extended cameo in Ishq Zahe Naseeb and as Raina in telefilm Shaadi Impossible.
Other work
Zaidi is widely active in media and appeared in talkshows often. In 2016 after the banned on crime drama series Udaari, she raised her voice saying "It is based on a social cause and we should create awareness in our society through such drama serials". She walked the ramp for designer Aisha Farid's collection Crystalline on Hum TV's Bridal Couture Week. She also appeared in celebrity comedy talkshow Mazaaq Raat in 2017.
