Nausheen Masud
Nausheen Masud was a pioneering Pakistani actress, director, television producer, and psychotherapist. A central figure in the emergence of private television in Pakistan, she was widely recognized for her visionary music video direction in the 1990s and her roles in seminal drama serials such as Jaal and Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat.
Early life and education
Masud was born and raised in Karachi. She pursued her higher education at St. Joseph's College for Women, a prestigious institution in Karachi, where she earned a degree in Industrial Design. This design background influenced her later work in television production and interior design.Career
The NTM Era and On-Screen Success
Masud's career began during the revolutionary era of Network Television Marketing, Pakistan's first private television channel. She started as an associate producer for a children's show before being discovered by Ghazanfar Ali, the head of Combine Productions.She became a household name as a VJ for Pepsi Top of the Pops and hosted three seasons of the high-profile fashion show Andaz Apna Apna. She shot to national fame in the soap opera Jaal and later appeared in acclaimed serials including Colony 1952, Ghar To Aakhir Apna Hai, and the 2010 comedy hit Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat, where she played the role of Saba. She had a role as a student in the 1998 international biographical film Jinnah, starring Christopher Lee.
Direction and Music Industry
As a director, Masud was instrumental in shaping the visual aesthetic of the "Golden Era" of Pakistani pop music. She directed iconic music videos for legendary artists, including Aamir Zaki and she directed the celebrated video for "Mera Pyar". She directed many videos for Shehzad Roy, Jawad Ahmad, Fringe Benefits, and the rock band Junoon.Executive leadership
Masud was known as an "Iron Lady" in the industry for her executive leadership across several major networks. She worked at Indus Television Network and she served as the founding head of programming and head of Indus Music, which later transitioned into MTV Pakistan under her leadership.She served as general manager at Hum TV and Head of Style 360, a niche fashion and lifestyle channel. She was channel head at Play TV and Health TV, and a senior producer at CNBC Pakistan, where she developed interactive prime-time formats like Awam ki Awaz. She held creative director roles for large-scale productions such as Pakistan Idol and Sur Ka Safar.