Veena Malik
Veena Malik is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Veena Malik began their career in 2012 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 14 years. With 30 credits to their name, Veena Malik remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. An emerging voice in Tamil cinema, Veena Malik is already attracting significant attention for their distinctive work.
- Born
- Age
- 42
Biography
Veena Malik, born Zahida Malik in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is a Pakistani actress, model, and television personality who made a significant crossover into Hindi cinema in the early 2010s. She gained wide visibility in Bollywood with roles in Gali Gali Chor Hai (2012) alongside Akshay Kumar, an item song in Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (2012), and lead roles in Zindagi 50-50 (2013) and Super Model (2013). Before her Bollywood stint, she had already built a profile in Pakistan's entertainment industry and gained India-wide recognition through her appearance on the reality show Bigg Boss Season 4 in 2010. She holds a graduate degree in Sociology, Psychology, and Persian from F.G. College Rawalpindi, and married businessman Asad Bashir Khan Khattak in 2013.
Career Milestones
Pakistani film debut
Appeared on Indian reality show Bigg Boss Season 4, gaining massive mainstream Indian media attention
Bollywood breakthrough with item appearances in major Hindi films
View film →Lead role in Bollywood film as Madhuri
View film →Set Guinness World Record (most hand kisses in a minute, 108 times)
Iconic Roles
Zindagi 50-50
Veena Malik's most celebrated Bollywood role as a sex worker in this real-life inspired social drama. The character earned her critical recognition for a grounded, realistic portrayal rather than a sensationalized one.
Defining Moments
Item song 'Channo' performance — a high-energy dance number that became one of the more talked-about item appearances of 2012
One of her most recognized item-song cameos in Bollywood, frequently referenced in discussions of her Indian film career
View film →Special appearance / item number in the Riteish Deshmukh–Genelia romantic comedy
Part of her initial Bollywood push; generated media attention as one of her first Hindi film appearances
View film →Playing Madhuri, a sex worker navigating survival and dignity in urban India — a lead dramatic role she prepared for by meeting real sex workers
Her most substantial Bollywood performance and the role most cited as showcasing her acting range beyond item appearances; widely discussed for its realism and boldness
View film →Veena Malik by the Numbers
If you watched every Veena Malik film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 9 hours. Most-paired with Adi Irani — 2 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Collaboration Network
Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Veena Malik has worked most frequently with Adi Irani (2 films).
Did You Know?
Veena Malik was born on February 26, 1984, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
She began her career as a model and later transitioned into acting.
She has appeared in both Pakistani (Lollywood) and Indian (Bollywood) films.
She made her film debut in the 2000 Pakistani film 'Tere Pyar Mein' directed by Sajjad Gul.
She has also worked as a television host in Pakistan.
Signature Dialogues
Market ka doodh market mein hi pee lena chahiye ... garma garm
Madhuri·Zindagi 50-50
Shaadi nahi hui toh kya hua, suhagraat toh roz manati hoon ... pati nahi mila toh kya hua, crorepati toh roz milte hai
Madhuri·Zindagi 50-50
Zindagi zaroorto ke hisaab se guzaarni chahiye; na ki khwaisho ke hisaab se; kyun ki zaroortein saala fakir ki bhi poori ho jaati; magar khwaishein badshaho ki bhi adhoori reh jaati hai
Madhuri·Zindagi 50-50
Photos
See all →
News & Stories
Veena Malik's Spicy Stills
15/5/2015
Legacy & Influence
Veena Malik's engagement with Indian cinema was a brief but notable chapter, primarily defined by her crossover from the Pakistani entertainment industry. Her presence in early 2010s Bollywood films, though limited to supporting roles and item numbers, generated significant media attention and public discourse, reflecting the complex cultural and political dynamics between India and Pakistan. Her most prominent appearance was in the 2012 satirical comedy 'Gali Gali Chor Hai', where her special appearance in the song 'Channo' became a talking point. This was followed by roles in 'Zindagi 50-50' and 'Super Model' in 2013. Her career trajectory in India was more impactful for the conversations it sparked off-screen than for a substantial filmographic contribution. She became a focal point in debates about cross-border artist exchanges, censorship, and national identity, often finding herself amidst controversy. Her stint highlighted both the potential for cultural fusion and the intense scrutiny faced by Pakistani artists working in India. Consequently, her legacy in the Indian context is less about a body of cinematic work and more about her role as a prominent figure who inadvertently tested the boundaries and sensitivities of Indo-Pakistani cultural relations during a specific period.