Atiqa Odho is one of Pakistan’s most recognizable entertainment names — a television and film actress, talk show host, and the founder of her own cosmetics brand, with a career spanning more than three decades. Here’s a complete, updated profile covering her career, family life, and biodata.
Quick Facts
| Name | Atiqa Odho |
| Date of Birth | 12th February, 1968 |
| Birth Place | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Profession | Actress, Model, TV Host, and Entrepreneur |
| Education | Convent of Jesus & Mary (Karachi), Toni & Guy (UK), NYFA (USA) |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Height | 5 Feet 2 Inches |
| Weight | 73 Kg |
| Body Measurements | 36-29-38 Inches |
| Bra Size | 36 B |
| Body Type | Hourglass |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Who Is Atiqa Odho?
Born in Karachi into a Sindhi family — she is the granddaughter of the Sardar of Jacobabad — Atiqa Odho didn’t start out chasing the spotlight. In 1989, she began her career as a makeup artist and hairstylist, working with several Karachi-based advertising agencies. It was during one of these makeup sessions that she was noticed by veteran scriptwriter and television personality Anwar Maqsood, who cast her in the lead role of his TV series Sitara Aur Mehrunissa — the role that turned her into a household name almost overnight.
Television & Film Career
Odho went on to build one of the most substantial resumes in Pakistani television, appearing in dozens of dramas across nearly every major network:
- Sitara Aur Mehrunissa — her breakout role
- Dasht, Nijaat, Harjaee — early career staples
- Khan (Geo TV), Lakin (A Plus), Ishq Samandar (TV One), Siskiyaan (ARY Digital), Nasl (Indus Vision), Tum Hi To Ho (PTV)
- Humsafar (Hum TV) — one of the most-watched Pakistani dramas of the 2010s
- Hania (ARY Digital) — one of her more recent television roles, alongside Junaid Khan and Zoya Nasir
She made her film debut in 1995 with Jo Darr Gya Woh Marr Gya, going on to appear in films including Mujhe Chand Chahiye (for which her performance as a divorcée earned significant acclaim), Mummy, Lahore Se Aagey, Dobara Phir Se, and Na Band Na Baraati (2018), one of her most recent film credits.
As a host, she’s fronted several talk and lifestyle shows, including A Conversation With Atiqa Odho (Geo TV), Let’s Makeup (Hum TV), In The Spotlight With Atiqa Odho (Indus Vision), Aap Ki Baat Atiqa Kay Saath (ARY Digital), and Karishma (PTV).
Awards & Recognition
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Odho has picked up multiple honors, including:
- Nigar Award for Best Actress
- PTV Award for Best Actress
- Lux Style Award nominations for Best TV Actress
Business: Odho Cosmetics
Beyond acting, Atiqa Odho is the founder and CEO of Odho Cosmetics, a beauty brand she launched in the early 2000s aimed specifically at South Asian skin tones and beauty needs — making her one of the earlier examples of a Pakistani celebrity successfully building a standalone consumer brand around her own name.
Philanthropy
Odho has long been associated with breast cancer awareness campaigns in Pakistan, acting as an ambassador for the cause, and has supported organizations including the Fatmeed Foundation and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
The 2011 Airport Case
In June 2011, Odho was briefly detained by the Airport Security Force at Benazir Bhutto International Airport over allegations that she was carrying liquor bottles in her luggage. The case dragged through the courts for nearly nine years before she was ultimately acquitted by a Rawalpindi civil court in August 2020.
Personal Life
Atiqa Odho has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Javed Akhund in 1989, which ended in divorce in 1999; they have a daughter, Zarmeen Akhund. In July 2012, she married Samar Ali Khan, a businessman and founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, and the couple remain married.
Note: A number of older celebrity bio sites list scriptwriter Anwar Maqsood — the man who discovered and cast her — as her first husband, and attribute children including musician Bilal Maqsood to that marriage. This appears to be a long-running mix-up between “the person who discovered her” and “a husband.” Bilal Maqsood is publicly documented as the son of Anwar Maqsood and his wife, novelist Imrana Maqsood — not Atiqa Odho’s son.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Atiqa Odho? Atiqa Odho is a Pakistani television and film actress, TV host, and the founder of Odho Cosmetics, born on February 12, 1968, in Karachi.
What is Atiqa Odho’s most famous role? She’s best known for her breakout role in Sitara Aur Mehrunissa and for her later role in the hit drama Humsafar.
Is Atiqa Odho married? Yes. She has been married to businessman Samar Ali Khan since July 2012. She was previously married to Javed Akhund from 1989 to 1999.
Was Atiqa Odho married to Anwar Maqsood? No. Anwar Maqsood is the scriptwriter and television personality who discovered her and cast her in her first TV role — he was never her husband. This is a common mix-up on older celebrity bio pages.
Does Atiqa Odho have her own business? Yes, she founded Odho Cosmetics, a beauty brand aimed at South Asian consumers.
What happened with Atiqa Odho’s 2011 airport case? She was briefly detained in June 2011 over alleged liquor possession at Benazir Bhutto International Airport. After a nine-year legal process, she was acquitted by a Rawalpindi civil court in August 2020.
This profile compiles publicly available career and biographical information about Atiqa Odho, cross-checked against multiple sources to correct commonly repeated errors.