Biography
Syed Mohammad Usman Shah Peerzada was born in Lahore, into a family deeply embedded in Pakistan’s performing‑arts heritage. His father, Rafi Peerzada, was a pioneering playwright and actor whose legacy shaped Pakistan’s theatre culture; his siblings—including Salmaan and Faizaan Peerzada—continue that cultural lineage.
Usman began his acting journey in 1974, during his time at Government College University, Lahore, where he appeared in dramatic theatre productions. By 1976, he landed the lead in *Beyond the Last Mountain*, Pakistan’s first English‑language feature—an audacious debut that demonstrated his range.
In the mid-1980s, Usman has transitioned to film and took on writing, producing and directing of notable film projects, such as Nazdeekiyan (1986) and Gori Dyan Jhanjran (1989). Both films were widely praised – Nazdeekiyan received multiple national awards from Best Film – establishing Usman as a deeply influential figure behind the camera, as well as in front of it.
On television, he is forever etched in the minds of his audience as the character Prince Salim in the series Nangay Paoon. Most recently, he has appeared for the last seven decades – Teesra Kinara and Dil-e-Jaanam – followed by a slew of unforgettable titles such as Khuda Aur Muhabbat, Ruswai (2019), Chaudhry and Sons (2022), Heer Da Hero (2023), Ghaata (2024) and Kaffara (2024).
Usman also wrote and directed the PTV drama Sofia (1992), featuring his wife Samina Peerzada and achieving unprecedented sponsorship support. Later, he penned Rangeel Pur (2010), which starred his niece Yamina Peerzada—a testament to his collaborative, family‑driven storytelling approach.
On the personal front, he married actress‑director Samina Peerzada in 1975, after a quiet elopement when he was 21 and she was 17. They have been married for more than 48 years and have two daughters, which he has always regarded as his most significant work of art and always admits he hopes they are educated and independent, and don’t depend on someone else’s inheritance or a son.
An honored recipient of the PTV National Icon Award in 2023, Usman Peerzada has had a career of not even 50 years that has revolved around commitment, artistic independence, mentoring other artists, and engaging with the creative narratives of Pakistan, on stage in theatre, in television on screen, and in film.
