Adnan Malik (Urdu: عدنان ملک) is a Pakistani film and television actor, director, and producer under his own company's banner, AMP. He is also WWF Pakistan's goodwill ambassador and an Asia Society, Asia 21 Fellow and Young Leader of the World. Malik has also served on the board for the Citizen's Archive of Pakistan.

Adnan Malik
Born (1984-06-09) 9 June 1984 (age 40)
Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Alma materVassar College, United States, & International School of Islamabad
Occupation(s)Actor, model, VJ, documentary filmmaker, Video producer, music video producer, commercial director, music video director and visual storyteller
Years active2002–present
ParentPerveen Malik (mother)
RelativesSaqib Malik (brother)
Websiteamp.com.pk

As an actor, he made his television debut with the hit series Sadqay Tumhare for Hum TV. Portraying the writer of the drama, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, in an autobiographical piece, Malik earned three nominations at 3rd Hum Awards, winning two including Best Television Sensation Male and Best Onscreen Couple opposite Mahira Khan. He received his first Best TV Actor nomination at 15th Lux Style Awards.[1] He followed up the series by playing a wanderlust photographer, Sikander in romantic drama series Dil Banjaara for Hum Network, alongside Sanam Saeed and Mira Sethi.

In 2018, he made his film debut with Cake, which was directed by Asim Abbasi. He played the character called Romeo in the film.[2]

As a director, his documentary Bijli earned him the Best Short Film award at Kara Film Festival in 2003.[3] He directed The Forgotten Song or Bhuli Hui Hoon Daastan, the first feature-length documentary on Pakistani cinema, that played at festivals around the world, is an integral part of film syllabi across the country and was also instrumental in allowing Indian films to be re-screened in Pakistan after a 42-year ban. He also directed the promotional music video for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani and has directed television commercials for brands like Coca-Cola, Nescafé, Cornetto, Fanta, and Oye Hoye! among others.

Early life and education

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His ancestral roots lie in the Shamsabad village, near Attock.

His father is a cardiologist and his mother Parveen Malik is an early childhood educator and part-time TV actress.

His brother Saqib Malik is a director.[4]

Career

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Documentaries

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After studying film-making in US, he started working on directing documentaries, such as Why We Fight which cited as one of a "best American Documentary" at Sundance Film Festival 2005. Adnan came back to Pakistan in 2005 but before coming made a short subject documentary Bijli which won Best Short Film at Kara Film Festival, Delhi Digital Film Festival and was finalist at United States Student Academy Awards 2003.[3] His second documentary, Bhuli Hui Hoon Dastaan (The Forgotten Song), was commissioned by Geo TV and played at festivals around the world. After Mushtaq Gazdar's book on Pakistani Cinema, this documentary was the only other major research piece on the subject.[5]

TV commercials and music videos

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Malik has modelled with clothing brands and was a VJ at MTV.[6] He serves as an associate video producer and behind the scene producer at Coke Studio for four years. Malik then directed and produced TV commercials for Pepsi, Djuice, Telenor, Wall's, Cornetto, Nescafe, LUX etc. He also directed a music video for Levi's Mera Bichra Yaar in collaboration with Strings and Zoe Viccaji which earned him a Best Music Video Director at 11th Lux Style Awards. In 2012 he directed/produced a video My Punjabi Love For You for Bumbu Sauce,[7] featuring Aamina Sheikh and Rizwan Ali Jaffri.[8] In addition he has also directed Lux Style Awards ceremonies for four years. In 2016, he directed critically acclaimed short-film Love is in the Air for Cornetto under advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan, Adnan said, "I never expected such a response but I did believe it would have an empowering impact on some people. Multiply this by ten and you get a feature film, that's the goal...one day!."[9]

Acting

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Malik marked his professional-acting debut in 2007 with Zibahkhana: Hell's Ground and followed that with an appearance in Slackistan in 2008. Later he appeared in 2014 Hum TV's drama serial Sadqay Tumhare written by Khalil-ur-Rehman based on his own life-story and directed by Mohammed Ehteshamuddin,[10] portraying Khalil opposite to Mahira Khan, as her love interest.[11] He describes his experience in the serial as "personal growth".[12] and he received three Hum Award nominations winning two including Hum Award for Best Television Sensation Male, Hum Award for Best Onscreen Couple and was nominated for Hum Award for Best Actor Popular. Malik received his first Best TV Actor nomination at 15th Lux Style Awards.[13] Before the serial he played a supporting role in controversial film Slackistan. In 2016, he was cast in a role of Sikandar an aspiring photographer in romantic drama series Dil Banjaara,[14] opposite Sanam Saeed and Mira Sethi.[15] In an interview with Dawn News, Malik describes, "I play the role of Sikander, who's an aspiring photographer, a part of him that resonates with me because that's what peaked my interest in the arts, when my father bought me my first camera. He's a very rugged, outdoorsy kinda guy, very different from Khalil. There's just this lightness to him. So the show revolves around this guy who's a bit of a wanderer and his equation with two ladies, a non-traditional love triangle of sorts."[16]

Production house

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Malik owns a boutique media production house called Adnan Malik Production (AMP), where he directs and produces TV commercials, documentaries, music videos and photography.[17]

Non-film work

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Fashion design

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While in New York City he owned a tee-shirt company named Urban Turban, his products being popular enough to attract the attention of famed fashion designer and stylist Patricia Field.[18]

Filmography

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Documentaries

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  • Bijli
  • Bhuli Hui Hoon Dastaan
  • Social Circus
  • Telephone Payar

Music videos and short films

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  • Mera Bichra Yaar
  • Phir Milli Tanhai
  • My Punjabi Love for You
  • Phir Se Game Utha Dain
  • Love is in the Air

Film

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Year Title Role Notes

2007

Zibahkhana: Hell's Ground Yuppy Victim

2010

Slackistan Guest appearance Also assistant camera and associate producer

2011

Love Mein Ghum Guest appearance

2018

Cake Romeo Proper film debut, as a main role

Television

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Year Title Role
2014–15 Sadqay Tumhare Khalil
2016 Dil Banjaara Sikander
2016 Bin Roye Aamir

Webseries

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 Churails KK Released on ZEE5

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominated work Award Result
2003 Bijli Kara Film Festival Award for Best Short Film Won
Delhi Digital Festival Best Short Film Won
2005 N/A Lux Style Award for Best Model of the Year (male)[19] Nominated
2006
2012 Mera Bichra Yaar Lux Style Award for Best Music Video Director Nominated
2014 My Punjabi Love for You Nominated
2015 Sadqay Tumhare Hum Award for Best Actor Popular Nominated
Hum Award for Best Television Sensation Male Won
Hum Award for Best Onscreen Couple Won
Phir Mili Tanhai Hum Award for Best Music Video Nominated
2016 Sadqay Tumhare Lux Style Award for Best TV Actor Nominated
2019 Cake Lux Style Award for Best Film Actor Nominated[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nominees for the LUX Style Awards 2016 have been announced and for many designers, directors, musicians and stars, it's going to be a very joyous Eid". correspondent. Dawn News. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  2. ^ "A 'Cake' with a different flavour – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b "3rd Kara Film Festival". Kara Films. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  4. ^ "It runs In the family: Saqib Malik and Adnan Malik". The Express Tribune. 1 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Bhuli Hui Hoon Daastan – A Film by Adnan Malik". T2F. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Adnan Malik in Interview with Gossip". Gossip. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Bumbu Sauce – My Punjabi Love for you (Launch Event Photos)". Kool Maza. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Ally Adnan talks to model, director and now actor Adnan Malik, one of Pakistan's hottest young stars". The Friday Time. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Adnan Malik on his latest short film for Cornetto and love". The Friday Time. 8 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  10. ^ "A New Play By HUM television". Rashid Nazir Ali. Review Itcgc. 25 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Adnan Malik with Mahira Khan In 'Sadqay Tumhare'". Cleb Hour. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  12. ^ "'Sadqay Tumhare' was about personal growth: Adnan Malik". Dawn News. 18 October 2015. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Lux Style Awards 2016 nominations revealed at star-studded event". correspondent. The Express Tribune. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Adnan Malik to make comeback on TV with Gypsy". Correspondent. The Express Tribune. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  15. ^ Sarym, Ahmed (27 May 2016). "Adnan Malik, Mawra Hocane & Mira Sethi gear up for 'Gypsy'". HIP. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Adnan Malik returns to TV as an aspiring photographer in 'Gypsy'". Irfan-ul-Haq. Dawn News. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  17. ^ "9 Facts about Adnan Malik-AMP Productions". Showbiz. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  18. ^ "Hottie of the week: Adnan Malik". The Express Tribune. 31 July 2012. Malik once owned a tee-shirt company called 'Urban Turban' in New York. He used to sell them from his stoop front in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The tees became so popular that they made it to Patricia Fields (Stylist for "Sex & the City").
  19. ^ "https://www.rewaj.pk/lux-style-awards-for-the-year-2004/"
  20. ^ Images Staff (30 March 2019). "Lux Style Award 2019 nominations are out!". DAWN. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
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