✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Mahira Khan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 6, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth21 December 1984

Age40 Years

BirthplaceKarachi, Pakistan

ProfessionActress, Former VJ

NationalityPakistani

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSalim Karim (m.2023); formerly Ali Askari (m.2007–div.2015)

FamilySon: Azlaan (from first marriage)

Mahira Khan Biography

Mahira Khan is a Pakistani actress and former VJ best known for her breakthrough television role in Humsafar and her film debut in Bol. Born and raised in

Early life and background

Mahira Hafeez Khan was born on 21 December 1984 in Karachi, Pakistan. Raised in a family with roots in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, she grew up in Karachi and attended Foundation Public School. She later went to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles but is described as a college dropout. Mahira is Pakistani by nationality and practices Islam.

Career

Mahira began her public career as a video jockey before transitioning into acting. Her early television work included hosting MTV's Most Wanted and the shows Weekends with Mahira on Aag TV. She rose to widespread recognition for portraying Khirad Ehsan in the television serial Humsafar, a role that brought her popularity both in Pakistan and with Indian audiences when the series aired on Zee Zindagi.

Her film debut came with Bol in 2011, and she later appeared opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the Bollywood film Raees (2017). Over the years she has been noted for a screen presence that combines classical influences with contemporary sensibilities; she has cited actresses such as Madhuri Dixit and Samina Peerzada among her favorites and named directors she admires, including Imtiaz Ali and Mani Ratnam.

Public profile

Physical details often quoted in profiles list her height at about 170 cm (5'7") and a weight near 55 kg (121 lbs), with brown eyes and black hair. Lists of personal preferences and habits associated with Mahira include a taste for gravy with rice, a fondness for the Netherlands as a travel destination, and an interest in reading and listening to older music. She has spoken or been reported to keep journals about her daily activities and feelings.

Mahira's early work history included several ordinary jobs before she became an entertainer, and she has said Madhuri Dixit's performance in Ram Lakhan inspired her to pursue acting. In 2012 she was named among the most beautiful women in Pakistan by some outlets.

Personal life

Mahira married actor Ali Askari in July 2007; the couple had a son named Azlaan and later divorced. She married businessman Salim Karim in October 2023. Reports indicate she met Salim at a 2017 launch event for a television application, and the couple are associated publicly as partners since then.

Controversies and public incidents

Her public life has included moments that drew criticism and required clarification. Following a Halloween post in 2015 that featured an image she later apologized for, and her personal life after the film Bol was the subject of public scrutiny. In 2025, amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian authorities reportedly blocked several Pakistani Instagram accounts, including Mahira's, for users in India.

Latest updates

Mahira remains active as a public figure, known for both her screen work and her presence in media coverage. She has continued to be associated with high-profile projects and public appearances, and her role choices and endorsements keep her in the spotlight.
◈

Recent Work

Bol

Film debut (2011)

2011
Humsafar

Television serial noted for her role as Khirad Ehsan

Raees

Appeared opposite Shah Rukh Khan

2017
MTV's Most Wanted

Early TV hosting/debut

2006
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Began career as a VJ and television host
  2. Breakthrough role as Khirad Ehsan in Humsafar
  3. Film debut in Bol (2011)
  4. Appeared opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees (2017)
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mahira Khan born?

21 December 1984

What is Mahira Khan known for?

Actress, Former VJ

What is Mahira Khan’s marital status?

Married

Who is Mahira Khan married to?

Salim Karim (m.2023); formerly Ali Askari (m.2007–div.2015)