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Sarmad Khoosat | |
|---|---|
| سرمد کھوسٹ | |
 Khoosat in 2022 | |
| Born | (1979-05-07)7 May 1979 (age 46) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2001–Present |
| Parent(s) | Irfan Khoosat (father) Zahida Butt (mother) |
Sarmad Sultan Khoosat (Urdu:سرمد سلطان کھوسٹ, born 7 May 1979) is a Pakistani actor, director, producer, andscreenwriter. Mainly known for his work as a director and actor in both cinema and television, Khoosat has directed the super-hit TV dramasHumsafar andShehr-e-Zaat.[1]
The son ofIrfan Khoosat, he is considered one of the bestSouth Asian filmmakers with his 2019 filmZindagi Tamasha being selected as Pakistan's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the93rd Academy Awards. The film also premiered at the 24thBusan International Film Festival under the section 'A Window on Asian Cinema'. However, the film release in the Pakistani cinemas was delayed multiple times and Khoosat finally released it onYouTube on his official channel Khoosat Films on 4 August 2023.
He also portrayed the role ofSaadat Hasan Manto in his filmManto (2015).
He is the son of veteran TV and film actor, producer and comedianIrfan Khoosat and Zahida Butt a PTV newscaster,[2] while his sister Kanwal Khoosat is also a director,screenwriter andactress.[3]
Academically, he graduated fromGovernment College University (Lahore) and earned a master's degree in psychology and a gold medal. He also was a member of theDebating Kutta Society of GCU.[2]
He rose to prominence in 2001, when he wrote, directed and acted in thesitcomShashlik, which ran for over three years onPTV.
Sarmad then directed a series of tele-films for Geo TV,Tamasha Ghar, in 2003, the screenwriter Saji Gul basing the work on themes dealing withsubconscious desires and fears (inspired by theFreudian school ofpsychology).
He later directedPiya Naam Ka Diya in 2007, in which he acted opposite filmstarSaima Noor and Erum Akhtar. Sarmad then served as executive director for a soap serial namedMujhe Apna Naam-o-Nishan Milay, directed by his sister Kanwal Khoosat. Khoosat the directedKalmoohi that was an adaptation ofRabindranath Tagore'sChokher Bali, began airing onPTV in early 2010, also got good reviews.[4] In 2011, he gained significant prominence and acclaim with the TV dramaPani Jaisa Piyar[5] that aired onHum TV. It won him the best director award for it onLUX Style Awards. He directedJal Pari, which was aired onGeo TV. He went on to directHumsafar for Hum TV, which became an overnight success. His serialShehr-e-Zaat was especially popular with women.[6][7][8]
He conducted a workshop at theLahore University of Management Sciences's annual amateur film festival in June 2011.[9]
Khoosat directed episodes forFaseele Jaan Se Aagay andAshk. He also directed the remake of the original Pakistani film,Aina, as atelefilm. In 2015, he completed shootingMein Manto.[10]
In October 2018, he delivered a 24-hour-long live act,No Time To Sleep, enacting the last 24 hours of a death row prisoner's life, a performance which earned him critical appreciation.[11] As of October 2018, he wrote the script for Saqib Malik's upcoming productionAjnabee Sheher Main,[12] while he has two upcoming feature films as director, writing one as well.[13]
His 2019 feature filmZindagi Tamasha won the Kim Jin Seok award at the24th Busan International Film Festival as well as the Best Film and Best Actor at theAsian World Film Festival 2021. Despite its critical acclaim, the film release was halted in 2020 by the notorious party,TLP, which called for it to be censored. Despite cleared for release by the authorities, Khoosat continued to receive death threats calling for the film to be banned. It was selected as Pakistan's entry for theBest International Feature Film at the93rd Academy Awards, but was not nominated. The film was then eventually released onYouTube on 4 August 2023.[14]
Khoosat is influenced bySatyajit Ray andIngmar Bergman in direction.[15]
| Year | Title | Network | Actor | Director | Screenwriter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Shashlik | PTV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2002 | Do Aur Do Chaar | PTV Home | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2007 | Piya Naam Ka Diya | Geo TV | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2008 | Mujhe Apna Naam-o-Nishan Milay | No | Yes | No | |
| Qaatil | Aaj TV | No | Yes | No | |
| 2010 | Kalmoohi | PTV Home | No | Yes | No |
| 2011 | Shashlik Xtra Hot | Geo TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pani Jaisa Pyar | Hum TV | No | Yes | No | |
| Humsafar | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| 2012 | Ashk | Geo TV | No | Yes | No |
| Shehr-e-Zaat | Hum TV | No | Yes | No | |
| Mera Yaqeen | Ary Digital | No | Yes | No | |
| Daagh | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2013 | Dil Muhallay Ki Haveli | Geo Entertainment | Yes | No | No |
| 2016 | Mor Mahal | Geo TV | No | Yes | No |
| 2017 | Teri Raza | Ary Digital | Yes | No | No |
| Baaghi | Urdu 1 | Yes | No | No | |
| Mujhay Jeenay Do | Yes | No | No | ||
| Manto | Geo TV | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2018 | Noor ul Ain | Ary Digital | No | Yes | No |
| Lamhay | A-Plus TV | Yes | No | No | |
| Aakhri Station | Ary Digital | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2021 | Pardes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2023 | Gunah | Express Entertainment | Yes | No | No |
| Gumn | Green Entertainment | Yes | Yes | No |
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Ayesha | Fahad Ahmed | YouTube | [16] |
| 2020 | Churails | Husband | Released onZee5 | [17] |
| 2022 | Baarwan Khiladi | Coach Ikhtiyar Ali | Released onExpress TV | [18] |
| Year | Film | Director | Actor | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Aina | Yes | No | Yes | Remake ofAina, a 1977 classic |
| 2015 | Dhokay Baaz | No | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | Ek Thi Marium | Yes | No | No | Based on the life of female fighter pilotMarium Mukhtiar |
| 2025 | Badru Chacha Ka Makan | Yes | No | No | Eid-al-Fitr special |
| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Manto | Yes | No | Yes | Played the titular role ofManto |
| 2018 | Motorcycle Girl | No | No | Yes | |
| 2019 | Zindagi Tamasha | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2022 | Kamli | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Joyland | No | Yes | No |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Lux Style Awards | Best TV Director | Pani Jaisa Pyar | Won | [20] |
| 2013 | Humsafar | [21] | |||
| 2016 | Best Film Director | Manto | Nominated | [22] | |
| Best Film Actor | |||||
| 2022 | Best TV Actor (Critics' Choice) | Pardes | [23] | ||
| 2023 | Best Film Director | Kamli | Won | [24] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
