Pakistan’s Kinza Hashmi to star opposite Shakib

Bangla Press Desk: Over the course of his 27-year career, Shakib Khan has starred alongside more than 70 actresses from both home and abroad. Now, Pakistani model and actress Kinza Hashmi is set to join that list.
It is understood that her casting as the lead opposite Shakib in his new film, *Mohabbat*, has been finalized. However, neither the director nor the production team has made an official announcement yet, sparking significant curiosity surrounding the new lead actress.
The film was officially announced in the first week of last October.
Since then, there has been much speculation regarding who would star opposite Shakib. Initially, the names of several popular Pakistani actresses—including Hania Aamir, Sajal Aly, Yumna Zaidi, and Dur-e-Fishan Saleem—were floated. According to sources, however, it is none of them; Kinza Hashmi has been confirmed as Shakib’s new leading lady.
The formal contractual agreement with her has already been completed.

Although the casting has been finalized, the production house, Versatile Media, is not yet ready to reveal her identity. It is understood that they plan to introduce Shakib’s new co-star through a grand, high-profile event. This is why the first poster for *Mohabbat* maintains an air of mystery—it shows only the hand of a woman, dressed in a white *shalwar-kameez* and a red *orna* (scarf), alongside Shakib.
Her face, however, remains hidden.
Kinza Hashmi is a well-known face in Pakistani television dramas. She began her acting career in 2014 and gradually gained recognition by appearing regularly in television serials. She first garnered significant attention for her portrayal of Rushna in the drama *Ishq Tamasha*. Since then, she has appeared in various other dramas, including *Gul-o-Gulzar*, *Mohlat*, *Dil Awaiz*, *Hook*, and *Mere Ban Jao*. She was also featured in the telefilm *Ruposh*.
In addition to her television work, she has also worked in films. Her filmography includes titles such as ‘Kattar Karachi’ and ‘Shiros’. In addition to acting, she is also well-known for her work in modeling. For this actress, who has established a strong presence in the Pakistani entertainment industry, joining a Bangladeshi film would mark a new chapter in her career.
Having a foreign actress star opposite Shakib Khan is not a new occurrence. Previously, he has shared the screen with actresses from Kolkata, including Srabanti, Paoli Dam, Subhashree, Swastika, Sayantika, Idhika Paul, Darshana Banik, and Mimi Chakraborty. He has also worked alongside performers from various other countries, including Bollywood’s Sonal Chauhan.
The previous two films by the duo of Shakib Khan and director Himel Ashraf also featured foreign lead actresses. In ‘Priyotoma’, Idhika Paul from Kolkata starred opposite Shakib; following the film's release, she gained significant recognition among Bangladeshi audiences. Meanwhile, in the duo’s second film, ‘Rajkumar’, Shakib’s co-star was the American model and actress Courtney Coffey. By casting Pakistan’s Kinza Hashmi in ‘Mohabbat’, the filmmakers are continuing this trend.
It is understood that filming for ‘Mohabbat’ is expected to begin in the first week of January next year. According to the current plan, the film is scheduled for release during Eid-ul-Adha in 2027.
BP/TD