Ali Kazmi
Born (1981-10-31) 31 October 1981 (age 42)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
EducationToronto Film School
Alma materThe Lyceum School
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Alizeh Khorasanee
​
(m. 2007)​
Parent(s)Rahat Kazmi
Sahira Kazmi
RelativesShyam (grandfather)

Ali Arsalan Kazmi (Urdu: علی کاظمی; born 31 October 1981), is a Pakistani-Canadian actor, director and producer.

He appears in English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi language films and television series.

Apart from acting he has also worked as a host, director, producer and model.[1]

Early life and career

Kazmi was born to the actor Rahat Kazmi and Sahira Kazmi (née Ansari), a well-known TV director, producer and actress[2] who's herself the daughter of the late Indian film actor Shyam,[3] on 31 October 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan. He began his career as a child actor in 1995 TV series Zikr Hai Kai Saal Ka on PTV Home and then continued playing supporting or minor roles in television which includes Manzil (2006).[4] After completing his studies from Karachi, he moved to Canada and began acting and modeling there by appearing in TV series, commercials and plays. He also worked at China Syndrome Productions as a director and producer. One of his initial major roles was as a villain in the film The Dependables (2014). He also played a negative role in Mehreen Jabbar's Jackson Heights which gave him more popularity in Pakistan.[5]

In 2015, he starred in two commercially successful films, Rohit Jugraj Chauhan's Sardaar Ji (2015) and Deepa Mehta's Beeba Boys (2015) with Sarah Allen, Randeep Hooda and Gulshan Grover.[6] Kazmi has also appeared in the short film Coffee at Laundromat (2015) for which he has won Best Actor in a Short Film award at the World Music & Independent Film Festival 2016.[7][8]

He also appeared in Liam Neeson's short-lived TV series Taken (2016). "I play Marzoki, a fast talking, sharp, quirky analyst", said Kazmi in an interview regarding Taken.[9][10] He appeared in Mehreen Jabbar's Dobara Phir Se (2016) and the animated film The Breadwinner (2017) produced by Angelina Jolie.[11]

Ali was also signed to appear in Ajay Devgan's Shivaay. But due to not getting permission to shoot in Canada where Kazmi is based, some changes were made in the script and his role was removed.[12][13] He is currently playing the role of Abid in Tu Ishq Hai.[14]

Kazmi's upcoming project is Umro Ayyar-A New Beginning is expected to be released in 2022 , directed by Azfar Jafri under the banner of VR Chili Production. Umro Ayyar is an action thriller movie based on the revival of Persian legend of 90's.

The other cast of Umro Ayyar is Usman Mukhtar, Sanam Saeed, Faran Tahir, Adnan Siddiqui & more.

Personal life

Kazmi married his high school sweetheart Alizeh Khorasanee, whom he knew since the age of 12. They married in Karachi and settled in Toronto. They have two sons.[15]

Kazmi speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Pashto, basic French and Arabic.[16]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 A Message from the East Iqbal Documentary
2010 The Strip Mall Rav
2011 You Got Served: Beat the World Dancer
2013 Cold Ali Short film
2014 The Dependables Raazaq
2014 Americanistan Mutaween #1 Short film
2014 Bang Bang Baby - - Assistant art director
2015 Sardaar Ji Bilal Chaudry
2015 Beeba Boys Guri
2015 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani Dr.Aamir Liaquat Cameo appearance
2016 Coffee at Laundromart Raj Short film
2016 Dobara Phir Se Vassay
2017 The Breadwinner Cousin, Fruit Seller, Market Voices Voice role
2018 Motorcycle Girl Zafar
2018 Altered Skin Nasir
2019 Laal Kabootar Noman Malik
2019 Baaji Rammy
2019 Superstar Shaan [17]
2019 Heer Maan Ja Haider Cameo appearance[18]
2020 Funny Boy Chelva
2022 Ishrat Made in China Shamshad / Chun Dual role[19]
2023 The Queen of My Dreams Zahid
TBA Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning TBA Pre-production[20]

Television

Year Title Role Network
1987 Dhoop Kinare[21] Dr.Ahmar's childhood PTV Home
1995 Zikr Hai Kai Saal Ka Suhail PTV Home
2006 Manzil Shabi ARY Digital
2009 The Border CBC Television
2011 Skins Abbud's uncle MTV
2011 Alphas Internist Syfy
2011 Combat Hospital Chaplain David Nedayal Global, ABC
2011 InSecurity Nigel CBC
2011 Covert Affairs Restorer USA Network
2012 King Sunil Sharma Showcase
2013 Degrassi: The Next Generation Doctor Much
2014 Jackson Heights Sikander Urdu 1
2015 Aik Aur Aik Gyarah Man at the garage Hum TV
2015 Sehra Main Safar Ayaz Hum TV
2016 Rogue Ali Zaid Audience Network
2016 Taken Marzoki NBC
2017 Baaghi Abid Urdu 1
2017 Moray Saiyaan Altamash ARY Digital
2017 Badnaam Afraz ARY Digital
2018 Tu Ishq Hai Affan Hum TV
2019 Jaal Arsal Hum TV

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Designated Survivor Rami Bashir Cameo appearance in Episode 17 of Season 2[22]

Producer

Under the banner of Big Bang Entertainment.

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Splinter Cell: Blacklist Hindi Soldier 1 (voice)
2014 Far Cry 4 Kaalinag, Bomb Maker, Monk, Rebel Soldiers (voice)
2016 Far Cry Primal (voice)

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Indian Wants the Bronx[9] Gupta Fringe theatre
2023 Behind the Moon Ayub Tarragon Theatre

Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Ali Kazmi Best Actor in a Short Film at World Music & Independent Film Festival[8][7] Won

References

  1. ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (21 June 2015). "First person: To newer 'heights'". Dawn. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. ^ The portrait of a lady
  3. ^ Actor Shyam (1920-1951) who died very young
  4. ^ Ahmed, Ishtiaq (3 November 2013). "An evening with actor Shyam's family". Daily Times. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  5. ^ Zehra, Syeda (19 June 2015). Rahman, Mir Javed; Hussain, Muhammad Rahat (eds.). "Ali Kazmi – A Powerhouse of Talent". Mag The Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Ali Kazmi only gets meaner in Deepa Mehta's Beeba Boys". Dawn. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b Shiraz Alwani, Sumaira (7 April 2016). "Pakistani Actor Ali Kazmi to Star In 'Taken Movie' TV Prequel". Brandsynario. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b "2016 Partial Nominee List". World Music & Independent Film Festival. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b Saeed, Mehek (7 May 2016). "Actor Ali Kazmi shooting with 'Game of Thrones' director". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Liam Neeson's Taken gets a TV prequel, and it stars Ali Kazmi". Dawn Images. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  11. ^ Sarym, Ahmed (15 April 2016). "All that Ali Kazmi is up to this year!". HIP. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. ^ Sarym, Ahmed (4 August 2016). "Ali Kazmi no longer a part of Ajay Devgan's Shivaay?". HIP. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  13. ^ Images Staff (7 August 2016). "Ali Kazmi will no longer be appearing in Ajay Devgan's directorial debut flick". Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Ali Kazmi and Saba Qamar pair up for drama serial Baaghi". The News. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  15. ^ Bukhari, Sanober (19 November 2015). "Up Close with Actor, Dad, Ali Kazmi". masalamommas. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  16. ^ RISING STAR: CANADIAN ARTISTE ALI KAZMI SOARS AND SHINES
  17. ^ Majeed, Ozair (1 April 2019). "HIP Exclusive: Ali Kazmi Kickstarts Shooting for Superstar!". HIP. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Makers of 'Heer Maan Ja' release its first trailer". Daily Times. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Ishrat Made in China's first teaser is finally here". Images by Dawn. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Umro Ayyar: Usman Mukhtar revives the Persian legend of magic, adventure". Geo News. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  21. ^ Rehman, Maliha (26 August 2019). "Ali Kazmi hasn't even scratched the surface of his stardom yet". Images. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  22. ^ Rehman, Maliha (26 August 2019). "Ali Kazmi hasn't even scratched the surface of his stardom yet". Images. Retrieved 26 October 2023.

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