BOLD brings you the list of the most awe-inspiring occasions when Sajal Aly proved her credentials with her versatile acting and matchless performance

It’s now been over a decade since Sajal Aly made her first appearance in a Pakistani drama. At the time, little did we know that this young, talented, and absolutely gorgeous girl would go on to take over our television screens in the years to come. From playing supporting roles in the initial years of her career to owning the screen as the lead in back-to-back dramas, Sajal has paved a truly unique path for herself.

Here is a list of of eighth times Sajal wowed audiences with her versatility and phenomenal acting skills.

Nanhi in Nanhi (2013)

Portraying a differently-abled character on-screen can be quite challenging. Yet, Sajal made it seem effortless with her impeccable performance as the titular character in Nanhi, a mentally-challenged, teenage girl who is kidnaped and nursed by Shammo Tai, played by Asma Abbas. With Haseeb Hassan at the helm, Nanhi was a one of a kind thriller serial, shedding light on many social issues and taboos, including the sexual assault of minors, child trafficking, and the importance of educating young. The drama was path-breaking in many ways because it dared to touch upon subjects which were avoided by most TV plays at the time.

Rameen in Chup Raho (2015)

This is one of Sajal’s most memorable performances. As Rameen, Sajal played a victim of sexual and emotional abuse. However, Rameen might have been reduced to a character who is deprived of any agency had it not been for Sajal’s performance which helped ground the drama. The actress made the audience resonate with her character of a young girl who is raped by her brother-in-law, Numair (Syed Jibran), and suffers emotional neglect from her own family as a result. The manner in which Sajal portrayed the psychological trauma and challenges that Rameen had to face set her performance apart from other such characters in similar dramas. Chup Raho was directed by Yasir Nawaz and starred Syed Jibran, Arjumand Rahim, and Feroze Khan.

Gul-e-Rana in Gul-e-Rana (2015)

Sajal played the titular character in Farooq Rind’s Gul-e-Rana, which is based on the novel by Samra Bukhari. From the very beginning, Sajal as Gul-e-Rana is shown as a strong-willed, independent girl who dearly loved her deceased father and now has the responsibility of looking after her mother, and her younger sister. Gul-e-Rana stays firm to her principles even after she is married to Adeel (Feroze Khan), her egotistic and narcissistic cousin. While the drama had its lows and highs, the fact that Sajal’s character became an embodiment of women’s empowerment and rights, and found a way out of an abusive marriage, is what made this serial memorable.

Dr. Zubia in Yakeen Ka Safar (2017)

Yakeen Ka Safar came out at a time when social issues and taboos were being openly discussed in Pakistani dramas. The character of Dr. Zubia was someone we could all relate with in one way or another. Where the young Zubia serves as a lesson for teenagers about the consequences of one’s actions, the more mature Dr. Zubia encouraged women to take a stand for themselves no matter how harsh the circumstances. The story of Yakeen Ka Safar was written by the maestro Farhat Ishtiaq, and it also starred Ahad Raza Mir in the lead.

Arya in Mom (2017)

While she was ruling the Pakistani drama industry, Sajal also made a mark for herself across the border with the blockbuster Bollywood movie Mom. Sajal starred alongside the late Sridevi as she essayed the role of her step-daughter, Arya, who is sexually assaulted at a party. The film also starred Adnan Siddiqui in a supporting role.

Chammi  in Aangan (2018)

Sajal’s characterisation of Chammi in the period drama Aangan was a breath of fresh air at a time when such characters weren’t being portrayed in most mainstream local TV shows. Her character was not just a young, naive girl who helplessly falls in love with Jameel (Ahad Raza Mir) but was also extremely opinionated and strong-willed. Be it through her acting or her physical transformation, Sajal absolutely nailed the pre-partition look and made audiences fall in love with her all over again.

Momina in Alif (2019)

Written by Umera Ahmed, Alif was a one-of-a-kind spiritualistic-romantic serial that was not only a treat to the eyes but also enlightened the mind and the soul. Sajal played the lead character of Momina, a struggling actress with a disturbing past. While she fights to financially support her family, she is also questioned at every step because her career as an actor is often seen as being ‘controversial’. The drama also starred Hamza Ali Abbasi as Momin, whose storyline runs parallel to Momina’s.

Rabia in Sinf-e-Aahan (2022)

Sajal mesmerised audiences with her versatility yet again by playing Rabia Safeer in the women-centric television series Sinf-e-Aahan. Rabia is one of the six girls in the serial who join the Pakistan Army and must overcome their own set of challenges in order to become a valuable asset for their beloved motherland.

Interestingly, the actress will reportedly be playing the role of a young Fatima Jinnah in the upcoming partition web series helmed by Danial K. Afzal. Titled Fatima Jinnah: Sister | Revolutionist | Statesman, the patriotic series will follow the journey of Madar-e-Millat during different stages of her life. Sajal will essay Fatima Jinnah during the pre-partition period. Danial has said:

“When I was reading about Fatima Jinnah, I was looking for an actor who would carry a similar body language to hers during the 1930s and 1940s around the Independence time. Sajal gave me that. You could see it the moment she walked onto the set.”

Moreover, Sajal is also set to star in a film written and produced by Jemima Goldsmith, Whats Love Got To Do With It, a British romantic-comedy film based in London and Lahore. The film is directed by renowned Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Now that Sajal will be seen in two promising upcoming projects, we can only imagine what else she has up her sleeves to entice audiences. Here’s wishing her the best for all her future endeavours!