Shehryar Zaidi is a veteran Pakistani television actor best known for playing complex father figures across decades of PTV and private-channel dramas — and for a real-life love story with legendary playback singer Nayyara Noor that began at a record shop and lasted a lifetime. Here’s a complete, updated profile covering his career, family, and biodata.
Quick Facts
| Name | Shehryar Zaidi |
| Birth Place | Lahore, Pakistan |
| Residence | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Profession | Actor and Singer |
| Education | National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Wife | Nayyara Noor (m. — d. August 2022) |
| Sons | Syed Naad-e-Ali Zaidi and Jaffer Zaidi |
| Sister | Arjumand Shaheen and Yasmeen Waasti |
| Brother | Syed Shahnawaz Zaidi |
| Notable Award | Pride of Performance Award, Government of Pakistan (2022) |
Note: Shehryar Zaidi’s exact date of birth, age, and physical measurements are not publicly confirmed by verified sources, so we haven’t guessed at them.
Who Is Shehryar Zaidi?
Shehryar Zaidi comes from a family with roots in Uttar Pradesh, India, who migrated to Pakistan after Partition in 1947. He studied at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, and much like his future wife, entered the entertainment world through music rather than acting.
The Love Story Behind the Career
Long before he became known as one of Pakistani television’s most respected character actors, Shehryar Zaidi was a singer performing on PTV in the 1970s, appearing on the program Sach Gup. It was during this period that he met Nayyara Noor — the two crossed paths through inter-college singing competitions, with Noor typically taking first prize and Zaidi placing second. Their connection deepened over a shared love of music, reportedly solidified during a chance meeting at a gramophone record shop while both were searching for records by the legendary Begum Akhtar. That relationship grew into marriage, and the couple would go on to record and release music together throughout the 1980s, including the 1988 EMI Pakistan album Yaadon Ke Saaye, on which Zaidi served as music composer.
Nayyara Noor went on to become one of the most celebrated voices in Pakistani music history, earning the Pride of Performance Award in 2006 and multiple Nigar Awards, and lending her voice to acclaimed film soundtracks including Gharana (1973). She passed away in Karachi in August 2022 after a battle with cancer, in a loss that was mourned nationally, with tributes from Pakistan’s president and prime minister at the time.
From Singer to Screen Actor
Shehryar Zaidi didn’t move into acting until the 2000s, when the arrival of private satellite channels opened up far more opportunities for television actors in Pakistan. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of the industry’s most reliable veteran actors, frequently cast as a father or authority figure navigating difficult family relationships on screen. His notable television credits include:
- Pukaar and Pyaray Afzal (ARY Digital)
- Naik Parveen and Bedardi Saiyaan (Geo TV)
- Be Aib (Urdu 1)
- Mann Mayal and Choti Si Zindagi (Hum TV)
- Chaandni Raatain (PTV)
- Sehra Main Safar, in which he played Farooq, brother of Lubna Aslam and father of Zarnish Khan
- Kis Ki Ayegi Baraat, Bikhray Hain Hum, Dil-e-Veeran, Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat, and Kabhi Socha Na Tha
He also brought comic timing to the sitcom Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat and its sequels on Geo TV, and has appeared in films including Lala Begum and Phuppi Ka Ladka Ya Khala Ka Ladka.
In recognition of his decades-long contribution to Pakistani television, Shehryar Zaidi was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan in 2022.
A Family Built on Music and Media
Shehryar Zaidi’s entire family has deep roots in Pakistani media. His sisters, Yasmeen Waasti and Arjumand Shaheen, were well-known newsreaders through the 1970s and 1980s, with Arjumand Shaheen continuing as a Radio Pakistan and PTV newscaster and writer. His brother, Syed Shahnawaz Zaidi, served as Principal of the College of Fine Arts at Punjab University and occasionally acted in PTV dramas himself.
That creative legacy carried into the next generation. Shehryar and Nayyara’s two sons both built careers in music: Jaffer Zaidi is the lead vocalist of the band Kaavish, known for performances across several seasons of Coke Studio Pakistan, while Syed Naad-e-Ali Zaidi has worked as a voice-over artist and singer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shehryar Zaidi? Shehryar Zaidi is a veteran Pakistani television actor and former singer, known for playing father and authority-figure roles across decades of Pakistani dramas.
Who was Shehryar Zaidi’s wife? His wife was Nayyara Noor, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated playback singers. She passed away in August 2022 after a battle with cancer.
What are Shehryar Zaidi’s most famous roles? He is known for dramas including Pyaray Afzal, Mann Mayal, Sehra Main Safar, Choti Si Zindagi, and the sitcom Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat.
Did Shehryar Zaidi win any awards? Yes, he received the Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan in 2022 in recognition of his contributions as a television actor.
Are Shehryar Zaidi’s sons also in entertainment? Yes. His son Jaffer Zaidi is the lead vocalist of the band Kaavish, and his son Naad-e-Ali Zaidi has worked as a singer and voice-over artist.
This profile compiles publicly available career and biographical information about Shehryar Zaidi from multiple sources.