Zeba Bakhtiar, a well-known Pakistani actress who has been delighting audiences for more than 30 years. She rose to fame in Bollywood through her role in the movie Henna and later directed the popular Urdu film Babu. Her personal life has also been in the news, as she has been married to several famous people, starting with Salman Galliani in 1982, then Javed Jaffrey, Adnan Sami Khan, who gave her a son, and finally Sohail Khan Leghari in 2008. Known for her wide range of talent, she has really made a big impact on South Asian cinema, blending her acting skills with heartwarming love stories that fans still talk about. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at her age, family, popular movies, net worth, and much more!
Zeba Bakhtiar: Biography
Zeba Bakhtiar, whose real name is Shaheen, was born on 5 November 1971 in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. She holds Pakistani nationality while practising Islam. She has worked in both Indian and Pakistani cinema. With her versatile role as an actress, producer, and director, Zeba Bakhtiar has been quite famous for many reasons.
| Real Name | Shaheen |
| Known As | Zeba Bakhtiar |
| Date of Birth | 5 November 1971 (Friday) |
| Birthplace | Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Hometown | Quetta |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Profession | Actress, Producer, Director |
Zeba Bakhtiar Age (As of 2025)
Born in 1971, Zeba Bakhtiar is 54 years old. As per her birth details, her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She is a very passionate, sharp-minded, and fiercely intelligent woman.
| Age (2025) | 54 years |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
Zeba Bakhtiar Height, Weight and Physique
Zeba Bakhtiar’s height is 5 feet 7 inches, which is 171 cm. The exact details about her weight are not disclosed in public. She has maintained herself really beautifully and looks super gorgeous with her amazing features. Her personality is complemented by light brown eyes and dark ash blonde hair.
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches |
|---|---|
| Height (cm) | 171 cm |
| Weight | N/A |
| Eyes | Light Brown |
| Hair | Dark Ash Blonde |
Educational Qualifications
Zeba Bakhtiar was born in Quetta. She received her early education at St. Joseph’s Convent School, then, after completing school, she moved to Karachi, where she attended theKarachi Grammar School, one of the best schools in the country. After graduating from School, she attended Kinnaird College for Women University in Lahore, then she moved back to Quetta and went to the University of Balochistan.
| Schooling | St. Joseph’s Convent School, Quetta |
| Completed Schooling | Karachi Grammar School |
| College | Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan |
| University | University of Balochistan, Quetta |
Zeba Bakhtiar Family Background
Zeba Bakhtiar has a distinguished heritage; her father, Yahya Bakhtiar, was an esteemed lawyer & served as Pakistan’s Attorney General under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s administration. This exposure taught her the values of discipline and public service from a young age. Her mother, Eva Bakhtiar, immigrated to Pakistan from Hungary along with her siblings, Saleem & Karim Bakhtiar, and Saira Bakhtiar, they built a supportive, culturally diverse community in Quetta. Growing up with such an idyllic family provided Zeba with a solid foundation, which enabled her to develop the confidence to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
| Father | Yahya Bakhtiar |
| Mother | Eva Bakhtiar |
| Brother | Saleem Bakhtiar, Karim Bakhtiar |
| Sister | Saira Bakhtiar |
Zeba Bakhtiar Spouse
Zeba Bakhtiar has been married four times, receiving significant media attention for each marriage.
1st Spouse: Her first marriage to Salman Galliani, known as Salman Valliani, was in Quetta (some sources indicate 1982 and others 1985). It lasted one year, ending in divorce. There are stories suggesting that Zeba had a daughter from this marriage, but Zeba’s sister adopted the child.
2nd Spouse: Her second marriage was to Jaaved Jaaferi, an Indian actor, in 1989, and they had an Islamic marriage (nikah) that Zeba initially denied ever existed until Jaaved provided proof of their marriage via a copy of their marriage license. They separated within less than a year of marriage in 1990.
Third Spouse: In 1993, Zeba married Adnan Sami (singer), and they had a child named Azaan Sami Khan together they co-starred in the film Sargam. After four years of marriage and a drawn-out divorce battle, Zeba won the custody of Azaan.
Fourth Spouse: Sohail Khan Leghari was Zeba’s final husband (the year of the marriage varies; some reports say 2008 and others say 2009). This marriage lasted around a year; no further details have been released by Zeba regarding her time with him.
| First Husband | Salman Galliani (1982, div.) |
| Second Husband | Javed Jaffrey (1989, div. 1990) |
| Third Husband | Adnan Sami Khan (1993, div. 1997) |
| Fourth Husband | Sohail Khan Leghari (2008) |
Professional Career
In 1988, Zeba Bakhtiar began her career as an actress on PTV (Pakistan Television) when she played the role of Anarkali in the famous PTV serial Anarkali, who had a romantic and sad character. The way that Zeba portrayed the character of Anarkali attracted lots of attention and accolades for her ability to express deep feelings in her acting.
In 1991, Zeba Bakhtiar received a huge break into Bollywood when she co-starred in the film Henna, directed by Raj Kapoor. This film was based on a screenplay by well-known writer and playwright Haseena Moin, who recommended Zeba Bakhtiar to Raj Kapoor. Zeba Bakhtiar’s performance earned her a Filmfare nomination, and it was during this time that Zeba gained a lot of publicity throughout India and the world. Moreover, she worked with Bollywood superstar Rishi Kapoor in Henna, which became a blockbuster hit.
After her success in Bollywood, Zeba Bakhtiar returned to Pakistan’s film industry (Lollywood), where she starred in many hit films, like Sargam (1995), for which she won the Nigar Award for Best Actress for her performance in that film.
In 2001, Zeba Bakhtiar established her own production company and directed her own film, Babu. In addition to acting, she has continued to maintain her presence in the industry with supporting but meaningful roles, such as Bin Roye (2015) and O21 (2014), allowing her to remain relevant in both Bollywood and Lollywood.
Zeba Bakhtiar Movies
| Year | Movie Title | Type | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Henna | Hindi | Henna | Bollywood debut; Filmfare nomination |
| 1993 | Nargis | Hindi | Nargis | Unreleased until 2019 |
| 1994 | Mohabbat Ki Aarzoo | Hindi | Poonam Singh | |
| 1994 | Stuntman | Hindi | — | |
| 1995 | Sargam | Urdu | — | Nigar Award for Best Actress |
| 1995 | Jai Vikraanta | Hindi | — | |
| 1996 | Chief Sahib | Urdu | — | Hit film |
| 1996 | Qaid | Urdu | — | Also known as Kaid |
| 1996 | Muqadama | Hindi | — | |
| 2001 | Musalman | Urdu | — | |
| 2001 | Babu | Urdu | — | Produced and directed by her |
| 2015 | Bin Roye | Urdu | Saba’s mother | |
Awards and Recognition
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Work | Result |
| 1992 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Henna | Nominated |
| 1992 | Filmfare Awards | Best Female Debut | Henna | Nominated |
| 1995 | Nigar Awards | Best Actress | Sargam | Won |
| 2004 | Lux Style Awards | Chairperson’s Lifetime Achievement | Contributions to Pakistani entertainment | Won |
| 2006 | Lux Style Awards | Best TV Director (Terrestrial) | Masoori | Nominated |
| 2015 | Lux Style Awards | Best Film | O21 | Nominated |
Zeba Bakhtiar Life Controversy
Zeba Bakhtiar has a life full of controversy, especially when it comes to her marriages, which got a lot of attention from the media in both Pakistan and India.
One of the biggest topics was her secret marriage to Indian actor Jaaved Jaaferi in 1989. At first, Zeba said the marriage didn’t happen, but Jaaved showed the marriage certificate to the public. Their marriage ended after just a year because of differences in culture and the distance between them.
The most talked-about issue was her marriage to singer Adnan Sami, which lasted from 1993 to 1997. They had a son named Azaan, but their divorce was complicated. There was a long and difficult 18-month custody battle in courts in Pakistan, the UAE, and Canada. Zeba faced a lot of challenges during that time, but she was able to get custody of her son even though it was very emotional for her.
There were also rumours that she had a short marriage to Sohail Khan Leghari in 2008 or 2009. However, Zeba never confirmed this, and it only made people more curious about her personal life.
Zeba Bakhtiar Net Worth (2025)
Zeba Bakhtiar’s estimated net worth for 2025 is between $5 million USD and $7 million USD based on her experience as an actress/director/producer in both Bollywood and Lollywood, as well as being an executive producer on various television shows and projects that she has done over her lifetime. Zeba has been very successful in the entertainment industry and has established herself as a prominent figure in Pakistan and India.
FAQ’s
Ans: Zeba Bakhtiar, a well-known Pakistani actress who has been delighting audiences for more than 30 years. She rose to fame in Bollywood through her role in the movie Henna and later directed the popular Urdu film Babu.
Ans: She has been married 4 times, and her current marital status is divorced.
Ans: Her first husband was Salman Galliani, whom she married in Quetta in 1982.
Ans: Azaan Sami Khan is the son of Zeba Bakhtiar with her third husband, Adnan Sami.
