Resham

Resham
ریشم
Born (1968-10-02) October 2, 1968 (age 58)
Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
OccupationsFilm actor, television actor
Years active1992 – present
AwardsPride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 2021
Nigar Award in 1999

Resham ریشم (Born: Saima Shah صائمہ) is a Pakistani film and television actress and model.

She made her film debut with Jeeva in 1995, and was a leading actress of Lollywood during the 1990s. Her notable film credits include Jeeva (1995), Ghunghat (1996), Dupatta Jal Raha Hai (1998), Pal Do Pal (1999), and Swaarangi (2015). She won a National Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Sangam (1997), and the Nigar Award for Best Actress for the film Jannat Ki Talash (1999).

Early life

Resham got her early education in Lahore and studied till matriculation. She comes from a Punjabi family. Her mother died when she was seven and was raised by her elder sister.

Career

Cinematic breakthrough and success

Resham made her cinematic debut with Syed Noor's revenge-thriller Jeeva in 1995. She had previously played minor roles in television dramas. She then starred in several of Syed Noor's commercially successful films throughout the 1990s, including the melodrama Chor Machaye Shor, the drama Ghunghat (both 1996) and the romance Sangam (1997) – for which she received a National Award for Best Actress, She then starred in the Syed Noor's-directed female-centric Dupatta Jal Raha Hai (1998), and Samina Peerzada's directorial debut Inteha (1999), based on the subject of marital rape. She continued to portray leading and supporting roles in Pakistani films until the decline of Lollywood in the early 2000s.

Transition to television and sporadic work in films

With the decline in Lollywood, Resham began to take television projects regularly in the following decade; and played the pivotal role in Umera Ahmed's written Man-o-Salwa. She received a nomination of Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress - Satellite for her performance at the 7th Lux Style Awards.

In 2008, she depicted a village-based resilient housewife coping with poverty and the death of her husband in the drama Muthi Bhar Chaawal. The serial was based on Rajinder Singh Bedi's Urdu novella Ek Chadar Maili Si, and Resham termed her part as "the first role of its kind that she has portrayed in her career". The performance earned her a nomination of Best TV Actress - Satellite at the 8th Lux Style Awards.

In 2009, she paired with Humayun Saeed in the romance-drama Aashti, depciting a Karachi-based Bengali housemaid. The performance earned her another nomination of Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress - Satellite at the 8th Lux Style Awards. In 2011, she made a cameo appearance in her cinematic comeback in Reema Khan's romance-drama Love Mein Ghum. Resham then depicted the procurer of a brothel in Samira Fazal's written drama Sanjha.

In 2012, she portrayed Mehrunissa in Zafar Mairaj's written romance-drama Ashk, co-starring Sohail Sameer and Fawad Khan. In a review by The Express Tribune, the reviewer Hareem Ahmed opined that she sports "same pained expression in almost every scene" and faulted her for lacking on-screen chemistry with Sameer. In the same year, she played a lovestruck maiden from a lower locality in Fasih Bari Khan's written Mohabbat Jaye Bhar Mein. In 2013, she appeared in Bari Khan's Taar-e-Ankaboot, portraying an unsatisfied masochist housewife.

She returned to lead cinematic role with the social-drama Swaarangi in 2014, which highlighted the issue of drug addiction and the impact of it on the lives of addicts and their families. Resham portrayed Salam, a troubled housewife due to the addiction of her husband and related problems, in the film. Swaarangi was a commercial failure, and was banned in several cities throughout the country. In 2017, she participated in a fashion week organized by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC).

From 2017 to 2019, she played the pivotal role of Sajna Sapairan, a snake charmer in the supernatural drama series Naagin, which is Pakistan's first-ever television serial based on the concept of Ichchhadhaari Naagin. In an interview, she described her part in the series as a "negative character but quite glamorous.". In November 2018, Resham joined Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar's written and directed romance-drama Kaaf Kangana, but quit it in the same month due to professional reasons.

In 2019, she played the titular character of spiritual and influential matriarch in the family drama Noor Bibi. The same year, she starred as a headstrong lawyer opposite Agha Ali in the romance-drama Muthi Bhar Chahat.

In 2022, Resham returned to Punjabi cinema with Bilal Lashari action-drama The Legend of Maula Jatt, appearing in the special appearance of the mother Maula Jutt, the titular character of the film. Her next role was of a newspaper editor in the crime-thriller Gunjal, inspired by Iqbal Masih case.

In 2026, Resham portrayed a poverty-stricken housemaid whose teenage daughter gets illegitimate pregnancy in the episode "Paheli" of the anthology-series Circle.

Personal life

In June 2017, Resham announced that she would be getting married in 2018. Her husband was said to be a businessman in Europe and that she would also move there after her marriage. She denied these reports in 2019.

In April 2018, soon after Meesha Shafi's allegations of sexual harassment against Ali Zafar, Resham supported Zafar, stating: "Ali knows the difference between friendship and harassment. He cannot do such a thing."

Philanthropy

During the 2010 Pakistan floods, Resham sent a truck carrying flood relief goods including items such as mineral water, pulses, and milk to the affected areas through the Express Helpline Trust. Her first truck was sent to Rahim Yar Khan and the second to Kot Addu.

In 2011, she visited Lahore's Bari Studio and distributed money among struggling actors, technicians, and dancers.

Awards and recognition

Awards

Year Ceremony Category Project Result Ref(s).
1997 National Awards Best Film Actress Sangam Won
1999 Nigar Awards Best Film Actress Jannat ki Talash Won
2004 Lux Style Awards Best Film Actress Laaj Nominated
2008 Best TV Actress (Satellite) Man-O-Salwa Nominated
2009 Best TV Actress (Satellite) Muthi Bhar Chaawal Nominated
2010 Best TV Actress (Satellite) Aashti Nominated
2013 Best TV Actress (Terrestrial) Ik Yad Hai Nominated
2016 Hum Awards Best Soap Actress Ishq Ibadat Won

Honours

Year Title Presenter Notes
2021 Pride of Performance Government of Pakistan

Selected filmography

YearMovieRoleRef.
1995Jeeva Dilaara
1995 Aawargi
1996Chor Machaye ShorFaree
1996GhunghatRoxy
1996 Love 95
1996 Kuriyon Ko Dale Daana
1997SangamResham
1997 Aanchal
1997 Yes Boss
1997Muhabbat Hai Kya Cheez
1997 Sharafat
1998 Dupatta Jal Raha Hai Kiran
1998 Very Good Dunya Very Bed Log
1999IntehaSheena
1999Jannat Ki TalashSalma
1999 Pal Do Pal Khushboo
2000ReshmaaReshmi
2002Toofan
2006Pehla Pehla PyaarNida
2006Tarap
2015SwaarangiSalma
2023 Sanak Saleena
2023 Gunjal Sarwat Rehman

Television

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
1992 Din Nawal
1994 Dukh Sukh
1995 Kahani Ghar Zarri Episode "Amar Bail"
1995 Uraan Plane Passenger
2006 Banjar Shahania
2007 Man-O-Salwa Zainab/ Parizaad
2008 Muthi Bhar Chaawal Rano
2009 Tere Liye Mehar Bano
Aashti Aashti
2010 Chatt Slana
2011 Payal
2011–2012 Ik Yaad Hai Asiya
Sanjha Mumtaz
2012 Ashk Mehrunissa "Mehru"
Kaghaz Ki Nao
Laaj Gada
Mohabbat Jaye Bhar Mein Shagufta
2013 Taar-e-Ankaboot Tabinda
2014 Dhol Bajnay Laga Parizaad
2015 Ishq Ibadat Sobia/ Sobi
2016 Mere Humdum Hoor Bano
2017 Masoom Fabiha Episode 1–6
2017–2019 Naagin Sajna
2018 Dukh Sukh Karam Episode "Maafi"
2018–2019 Chakkar Zeba
Noor Bibi Noor Bibi
2019 Muthi Bhar Chahat Tehzeeb
2021 Terha Aangan Rashk-e-Qamar Episode 1–6
2026 Circle Shamshad Episode "Paheli"

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Alan Goble. "Filmography of Resham". Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  2. ↑ Khan, Manal Faheem. ""Actors nowadays have an attitude problem" — Resham". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Resham, Noor mesmerize audience in ongoing fashion week". Dunya TV News website. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Lollywood Girls – Whiling Away Time". MAG THE WEEKLY (magazine). Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Resham signs Kamran Shahid's untitled film". The News International (newspaper).
  6. ↑ The Herald. Vol. 29. Pakistan Herald Publications. 1998. p. 80.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Maliha Rehman (6 September 2020). "The Icon Interview: The Ground Beneath Her Feet". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "I am not getting married; some elements are propagating against me: Resham". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 28 December 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Resham denies report of 'being injured in accident'". Daily Times. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Shirazi, Maria. "In conversation with Resham". The News International (newspaper).
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ifra Abbas (19 April 2020). "Resham 's Classic Tv Dramas to Binge-watch!!". niche.com.pk. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021.
  12. 1 2 "ڈرامہ سیریل "مٹھی بھر چاول "میں میرا کردار زندگی کا بہترین کردارہے دیکھنے والے پسند کرینگے 'ریشم". Urdu Point (in Urdu). 26 September 2007.
  13. ↑ Kaleem Ahsan (21 October 2007). "Sangeeta takes on the small screen". Dawn Images. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007.
  14. 1 2 "Press Release:LUX Style Awards announce Entertainment Nominations". Pakium.pk. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Saadia Qamar (14 March 2009). "New attractions at local TV channel". The Nation. Karachi. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025.
  16. ↑ Hareem Ahmed (1 August 2012). ""Ashk": A star studded disappointment". The Express Turbine. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Resham to make a comeback in Swaarangi, out in cinemas on August 28". Dawn (newspaper). 20 August 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  18. ↑ ""There is now a class system in the industry"". The Friday Times. Interviewed by Ally Adnan. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2025.
  19. ↑ "Resham's Swaarangi banned by Pakistan's central censor board". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 28 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "Resham to be the new 'NAAGIN'?". Daily Pakistan Global (newspaper). Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Resham joins the cast of Kaaf Kangana". The News International (newspaper).
  22. ↑ "Resham no longer part of Kaaf Kangana". The News International (newspaper).
  23. ↑ "Pakistan film industry working hard to stand on its feet once again: Resham". Dunya News. 14 February 2008.
  24. ↑ "In Muthi Bhar Chahat, Aagha Ali and Resham share an unconventional love story". Images (Dawn Group of Newspapers). 10 April 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  25. ↑ "Resham, Babar Ali included in Maula Jatt 2". Dunya News. 13 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025.
  26. ↑ Irafan Ul Haq (23 August 2023). "Resham is making her movie return with Shoaib Sultan's newest project, Gunjal, alongside Ahmed Ali Akbar". Images Dawn. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  27. 1 2 "A Riddle".
  28. ↑ "Film star Resham likely to tie the knot next year". Dunya TV News website. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  29. ↑ "Resham rejects wedding rumours". Daily Times (newspaper). 30 December 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  30. ↑ "Actress Resham: 'If Ali Zafar harasses a woman, don't you think she'd complain to his wife?'". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  31. ↑ "Resham sends flood relief". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 1 September 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "Resham: A generous start". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 3 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "LUX Style Awards for the year 2004". Rewaj | Women Lifestyle. 14 October 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  34. ↑ "9th LUX Style Awards". Fashion Central. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  35. ↑ "12th Annual LUX Style Awards nominations". The Nation. 15 May 2013.
  36. ↑ Saira Agha (24 April 2016). "4th Servis Hum Awards 2016 : A night to remember honouring our film and TV stars". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024.
  37. ↑ "Resham responds to criticism on winning Pride of Performance". The Express Tribune. 26 March 2021.
  38. ↑ Omair Alavi (29 January 2006). "Cupid's arrow misfires". DAWN Images. Archived from the original on 2 February 2006.
  39. ↑ "Clash with Manto? Resham-starrer Swaarangi's release delayed till Sept 11". Dawn (newspaper). Pakistan. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  40. ↑ Ahmed, Syed Hassaan (3 January 2023). "Four Pakistani Movies to Watch in 2023". Lens. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  41. ↑ "ریشم کا سوشل میڈیا پر عابد علی کو شاندار انداز میں خراج تحسین". Daily Pakistan (in Urdu). 8 September 2019. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019.
  42. ↑ "میگا ڈرامہ سیریل"لاج"آج ٹی وی ون سے آن ائیر ہوگی". Daily Pakistan (in Urdu). 13 September 2012.
  43. ↑ Saadia Qamar (7 September 2015). "Banning Swaarangi is not the solution: Resham". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024.
  44. ↑ Usman Ghafoor (9 October 2017). "Shekhar Kapoor's 'Masoom' to get Pakistani remake". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023.