Over the years, Pakistan has known only one queen of its cinema globally. It’s THE actress, THE IT girl, THE trademark of Pakistani industry, THE Mahira Khan.
She wasn’t just an actress; she was a brand in herself. The one that was too close to Pakistanis’ sentiments, every project of hers was adored by the public, no matter what. Then the script was flipped, and no one saw it coming.
Mahira Khan vs Hania Aamir: How Gen Z Replaced Mahira with Hania
There came a young, adorable actress who became people’s princess with her charm and bubbly personality, and that was anything but pretentious. It was relatable, it was raw and just like that, she became an unstoppable force. She was Hania Aamir, the young icon who led Pakistani cinema to new heights globally and was loved beyond borders (even during war!)
This makes us wonder: how did this shift even happen? Was it due to the difference in content on social media, changing audience taste, or did Gen Z simply redefine its criteria for choosing its next superstar?
Mahira Khan: The OG Superstar of Pakistan
Mahira Khan has always been more than just an actress in Pakistan; she is a cultural icon who challenged norms and gave the nation a superstar who resonated across generations.
Starting as a VJ, the actress became Pakistan’s most adored after her exemplary acting in Humsafar in 2011. A drama that was so iconic, it is still remembered today. Then came Shohaib Mansoor’s movie BOL, and Mahira Khan starred alongside Atif Aslam. The movie became something Pakistan had never seen before.
What followed were back-to-back successes with dramas like Sadqay Tumhare, Shehr-e-Zaat, and Bin Roye. And of course, her Bollywood debut in Raees opposite none other than Shah Rukh Khan (the global powerhouse) cemented her place as a global star, showcasing the heights Mahira Khan reached beyond borders.
The queen met the king, picture-perfect.
Her stardom is old school. At one point, it was lowkey unattainable; graceful, mysterious, and whatnot. The audience thought there could be no other Mahira Khan.
This was something common among superstars from the late 90s and early 20s who established such an aura of mystery, with rare/exclusive interviews and only grand projects to maintain a standard. So was the case of Mahira Khan, and honestly, it worked beyond well for her. Pakistan took pride in her; her fans from all over the world would die for her.
But did they relate to their superstar?
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The Superstar of Gen Z: Hania Aamir
After 2020, the dynamic has shifted completely. Enter, Hania Aamir! The actress was what we call in Urdu “Chota packet bara dhamaka” because her rise to stardom was explosive to say the least. She debuted in the film Janaan in 2016 and was immediately liked by the audience, who loved her innocent charm. But here was the twist in Hania’s story.
The actress never truly relied on just mere scripts, and that made her Pakistan’s first social media star turned A-lister. While Mahira Khan has a perfect image, Hania posted her true, unfiltered self for the world to see.
Whether it was a gym fail, skin issues, or any other minor ‘human’ moment, she feels the need to share it with the world, and that clicked with Gen-Z.
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And I will not say that Mahira hasn’t participated in social media trends, but it didn’t work as well as it did for Hania. Because Hania didn’t just participate, she created many trends too.
If this doesn’t show how much control Gen Z has over the current industry in Pakistan, I don’t know what will.
She allowed her fans to feel like they knew her, and because of this, Gen Z claimed her as their own. She became a Gen Z icon, and Hania’s marketing team understands it very well. But alas, something very interesting about the Pakistani audience is that, as much as Hania Aamir seems relevant right now, we always go back to the OG stars once in a while.
We never know when, where or how Mahira will be back on her throne or who will replace either of them in the near future. It’s always just one project or one blockbuster away.
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