Rabia Iqbal Khan () known by her stage name Kubra Khan (; born 16 June 1993), is a Pakistani actress who works in Urdu television and films. She made her debut in 2014 with the film Na Maloom Afraad. Khan is described among the nation's highest-paid actresses by the media. oo
Khan has appeared in successful films such as Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, Parwaaz Hai Junoon (both 2018), and London Nahi Jaunga (2022). She made her television debut with Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016) followed by several dramas including Alif Allah Aur Insaan (2017), Alif (2019), Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay and Sinf-e-Aahan (both in 2021), Jannat Se Aagay (2023) and Noor Jahan (2024).
Early life
Born near Multan, Punjab on 16 June 1993, her family moved to the United Kingdom when she was 6 months old, and initially was a model, having been spotted by Ahmed Ali Butt's future wife Fatima Khan and later by Butt's brother, before becoming an actress.
Career Khan's acting debut as well as cinematic debut was marked in 2013 by action-comedy Na Maloom Afraad, where she portrayed Hina, a bank-worker and love interest of the film's main lead, Mohsin Abbas Haider. A reviewer from the Gulf Times found her presence as "almost angel-like" but criticised her unfit and preachy monologue. In 2015, Khan appeared in the Bollywood movie Welcome 2 Karachi.
She made her television debut in Sang-e-Mar Mar, which aired on Hum TV in 2016. Sadaf Haider of the DAWN Images termed her as one of the breakout star of the serial, noting her "beautifully controlled performance as Shireen". She next appeared in the spiritual-romance Khuda Aur Muhabbat season 2 as a materialistic girl who later develops spiritualism. Khan then essayed the justice seeking marital rape victim in the drama Andaaz-e-Sitam. She concluded the year with a similar role of a rape victim in social drama Muqabil, for which she received Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress nomination at the 17th Lux Style Awards.
She had her first appearance in 2017 in spiritual drama Alif Allah Aur Insaan as an arrogant and pride daughter of a feudal family. She expressed dissatisfaction with her performance. She then played a girl next door in romantic-comedy Shadi Mubarak Ho. Her next portrayal was a brief appearance as a ballsy London-based punjabi window in social drama Daldal.
In 2018, she appeared in the Pakistani films Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 and Parwaaz Hai Junoon, both of which released on 22 August Eid-al-Adha. While reviewing her performance in Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, Mohammad Kamran Jawaid of Dawn opined that her "cutesy aura befitting her role".
She returned to television in 2019 with spiritual-romance Alif, portraying Husn-e-Jahan, a renowned Pakistani cinema actress who abandoned her career to marry a calligrapher's son. Describing the project as "most memorable" for her, Khan reflected that she gave "heart and soul to Alif."
In 2022, she portrayed Mashal Tahir, an emotionally fragile and insecure university student in psychological-drama Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay based on the eponymous novel by Umera Ahmad. Maria Kari of the DAWN Images found that as Mashal, Khan "packs a punch". Khan then depicted a journalist with her childhood trauma in mystery-drama Sang-e-Mah, pairing opposite Atif Aslam. Her on-screen chemistry with Aslam was praised critically, despite her performance being overlooked. The same year, she returned to cinema screens, starring alongside Humayun Saeed in romantic-comedy London Nahi Jaunga as an educated rural Punjabi girl. Rafay Mahmood of The Express Tribune found her as a "a real surprise package" who "ruled the screen and camera, equally". The performance earned her a nomination of Best Film Actress at the 22nd Lux Style Awards
In 2023, Khan starred as Jannat Ali Khan in ontology drama Jannat Se Aagay as a TV show host whose personal life gets affected due to her stardom, earning decent reviews; Gaitee Ara Siddiqi of The News International stated that she has done "a commendable job" suggesting improvement in dialogue delivery. In 2024, she appeared in television series Noor Jahan as Noor Bano Shah.
She will next seen as Homai Vyarawalla in Aur Digital's drama Fatima Jinnah.
Controversy In 2023, reports emerged alleging that the Pakistan Army, under the direction of former COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa and former DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed, employed actresses to entrap and blackmail politicians in the country. These claims were made by retired Major Adil Raja, who suggested that actresses were used to produce compromising videos and were housed in safe houses connected to the ISI. One of the actresses named in the allegations was Kubra Khan who denied these claims, describing them as unfounded.
In response to the allegations, Khan also threatened legal action against Adil Raja for defamation. Raja subsequently issued an apology to Khan, clarifying that his intention was not to target women but to highlight broader systemic issues.
Personal life In January 2025, Khan and her longtime friend Gohar Rasheed announced their upcoming wedding.
Filmography Films
YearTitleRoleDirectorNotesRef(s)2014Na Maloom Afraad Hina Nabeel QureshiDebutThe Conversations Perfect girl Haider ZafarBritish short film 2015Welcome 2 Karachi ISI agent AsmaAshish R Mohan Hindi film 2018Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 CelinaNadeem Baig Parwaaz Hai Junoon Fiza Nadir KirmaniHaseeb Hassan2019SuperstarHerselfMohammed EhteshamuddinSpecial appearance in the song "Dhadak Bhadak"2022London Nahi JaungaArzoo Mansoor TiwanaNadeem Baig2024Abhi Zara Asad Mumtaz Malik
Television YearTitleRoleNetworkDirectorNotesRef(s)2016Sang-e-Mar Mar Shireen Hum TVSaife Hassan Television Muqabil Parisa ARY DigitalAli Hassan Khuda Aur Muhabbat 2 Sarah Isaac Geo EntertainmentBabar Javed 2017Andaaz-e-SitamAayat Urdu 1Ali Hassan Shaadi Mubarak Ho Zoya ARY DigitalWajahat Rauf Alif Allah Aur Insaan Nazneen Malik Hum TVAehsun Talish DaldalPreet KaurSiraj-ul-HaqueExtended Cameo2019AlifHusn e JahanGeo EntertainmentHaseeb HassanChoti Choti BatainSanaHum TVAngeline MalikAnthology Series - Episode: Kuch To Log Kahengay2021Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay Mashal TahirFarooq RindNegative LeadSinf-e-Aahan Mahjabeen MastanARY DigitalNadeem Baig2022Sang-e-Mah SheherzaadHum TVSaife Hassan2023Jannat Se Aagay Jannat Ali KhanGeo EntertainmentHaseeb Hassan 2024Noor Jahan Noor Bano ShahARY DigitalMusaddiq Malek 2025Meri Tanhai Maryam Ali Murad (aka Mary) Hum TVMeer Sikandar 2026Doctor BahuDr. SaniaARY DigitalMehreen JabbarHomai VyarawallaAur DigitalDanyal K AfzalUnreleased
Telefilms YearTitleRoleNetworkDirectorNotesRef(s)2019LaalSamiraGeo EntertainmentHaseeb HassanReleased on the occasion of Pakistan DayRaja Ki ChandniChandniHum TVKamran Akbar Khan2021Bholay Bhalay SaiyanKashmalaAngeline MalikAbsolutely KnotHaniaARY DigitalMusaddiq Malek2022Afrah TafreehKhushiHum TVAwais Sulaman2026Ali Hassan
Other appearances YearTitleRoleNetworkNotesRef(s)2026Jeeto Pakistan League - Season 7Herself - Captain of team Islamabad DragonsARY DigitalRunner-up teamMehfil-e-RamzanHerselfGreen EntertainmentHasna Mana HaiHerselfGeo EntertainmentEid Special Show
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef(s)20175th Hum AwardsBest New Sensation - FemaleSang-e-Mar MarBest On-screen Couple - Jury (with Mikaal Zulfiqar)Best On-screen Couple - Popular (with Mikaal Zulfiqar)1st International Pakistan Prestige AwardsBest Actress (Television)ARY Viewer's Choice AwardsBest Newcomer FemaleMuqabil201817th Lux Style AwardsBest Television Actress2nd Pakistan Excellence AwardBest Supporting Actor FemaleKhuda Aur Muhabbat 26th Hum AwardsBest Actor Female - JuryAlif Allah Aur InsaanBest Actor Female - PopularBest On-screen Couple - Jury (with Shehzad Sheikh)Best On-screen Couple - Popular (with Shehzad Sheikh)2nd International Pakistan Prestige Awards20193rd International Pakistan Prestige AwardsBest Actor Female Film JuryJawani Phir Nahi Ani 220214th International Pakistan Prestige AwardsBest Actor Supporting Role TV SerialAlif2022Asim Jofa Fashion AwardsStar of the Best Campaign of the Year8th Hum AwardsBest Performance in a Negative RoleHum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay21st Lux Style AwardsBest TV Actress 202322nd Lux Style AwardsBest Film ActressLondon Nahi Jaunga5th International Pakistan Prestige AwardsBest Actor (Female) TV SerialSang-e-MahBest On-Screen Couple TV Serial (with Atif Aslam)20249th Hum AwardsBest ActressBest On-screen Couple (with Atif Aslam)20252nd Kya Drama Hai Icon AwardsBest Supporting Actress (Popular Choice)Noor Jahan24th Lux Style AwardsFilm Actor of the Year - FemaleAbhi
External links
thekubism at Instagram
References