{{Short description|Canadian actor of Pakistani descent}} {{distinguish|Ali Kazimi}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Ali Kazmi | image = Ali Kazmi by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Kazmi at the 2024 [[WonderCon]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|10|31}} | birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], Pakistan | education = [[Toronto Film School]] | occupation = Actor, director, producer | years_active = 1995–present | alma_mater = [[The Lyceum School]] | spouse = {{marriage|Alizeh Khorasanee|2007}} | parents = [[Rahat Kazmi]]<br/>[[Sahira Kazmi]] | relatives = [[Shyam (actor)|Shyam]] (grandfather) }} '''Ali Arsalan Kazmi''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|علی کاظمی}}}}; born 31 October 1981) is a [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistani-Canadian]] actor, director and producer.
He appears in [[English (language)|English]], [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]] and [[Punjabi language]] films and television series.
Apart from acting he has also worked as a host, director, producer and model.<ref name="Dawn interview">{{cite news|last1=Ahmad|first1=Fouzia Nasir|title=First person: To newer 'heights'|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1184950|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|access-date=17 July 2016|date=21 June 2015}}</ref>
== Early life and career == Kazmi was born to the actor [[Rahat Kazmi]] and [[Sahira Kazmi]] (née Ansari), a well-known TV director, producer and actress<ref>[https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1141859 The portrait of a lady]</ref> who's herself the daughter of the late Indian film actor [[Shyam (actor)|Shyam]],<ref>[http://apnaorg.com/articles/ishtiaq-20/ Actor Shyam (1920-1951) who died very young]</ref> on 31 October 1981 in [[Karachi]], Pakistan. He began his career as a [[child actor]] in 1995 TV series ''Zikr Hai Kai Saal Ka'' on [[PTV Home]] and then continued playing supporting or minor roles in television which includes ''[[Manzil (Pakistani TV series)|Manzil]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ahmed|first1=Ishtiaq|title=An evening with actor Shyam's family|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/107072|work=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]]|accessdate=18 July 2016|date=3 November 2013}}</ref> By the age of 14, he was a model, dancer and professional actor.<ref name=":0" />
After completing his studies from [[Karachi]], he moved to [[Toronto]], Canada in 2008 and began acting and modeling there by appearing in TV series, commercials and plays. He also worked at China Syndrome Productions as a director and producer. One of his initial major roles was as a villain in the film ''[[The Dependables]]'' (2014). He also played a negative role in [[Mehreen Jabbar]]'s ''[[Jackson Heights (TV series)|Jackson Heights]]'' which gave him more popularity in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Zehra|first1=Syeda|editor-last1=Rahman|editor-first1=Mir Javed|editor-last2=Hussain|editor-first2=Muhammad Rahat|title=Ali Kazmi – A Powerhouse of Talent|url=http://www.magtheweekly.com/13-19june2015/interview.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626033951/http://www.magtheweekly.com/13-19june2015/interview.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2015|magazine=Mag The Weekly|accessdate=17 July 2016|date=19 June 2015}}</ref>
In 2015, he starred in two commercially successful films, [[Rohit Jugraj Chauhan]]'s ''[[Sardaar Ji]]'' (2015) and [[Deepa Mehta]]'s ''[[Beeba Boys]]'' (2015) with [[Sarah Allen]], [[Randeep Hooda]] and [[Gulshan Grover]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ali Kazmi only gets meaner in Deepa Mehta's Beeba Boys|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1193799|work=Dawn|access-date=17 July 2016|date=11 July 2015}}</ref> Kazmi has also appeared in the [[short film]] ''Coffee at Laundromat'' (2015) for which he has won ''Best Actor in a Short Film'' award at the [[World Music & Independent Film Festival]] 2016.<ref name="win">{{cite web|last1=Shiraz Alwani|first1=Sumaira|title=Pakistani Actor Ali Kazmi to Star In 'Taken Movie' TV Prequel|url=http://www.brandsynario.com/pakistani-actor-ali-kazmi-to-star-in-taken-movie-tv-prequel/|website=Brandsynario|accessdate=19 July 2016|date=7 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="nomination">{{cite web|title=2016 Partial Nominee List|url=http://www.wmiff.net/2016-submissions.html|publisher=World Music & Independent Film Festival|accessdate=17 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711130046/http://www.wmiff.net/2016-submissions.html|archive-date=11 July 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
He also appeared in [[Liam Neeson]]'s short-lived TV series ''[[Taken (2017 TV series)|Taken]]'' (2016). "I play Marzoki, a fast talking, sharp, quirky analyst", said Kazmi in an interview regarding ''Taken''.<ref name="Express Tribune">{{cite news|last1=Saeed|first1=Mehek|title=Actor Ali Kazmi shooting with 'Game of Thrones' director|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1098929/a|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|accessdate=17 July 2016|date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Liam Neeson's Taken gets a TV prequel, and it stars Ali Kazmi|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1175114|work=Dawn Images|access-date=17 July 2016|date=6 April 2016}}</ref> He appeared in Mehreen Jabbar's ''[[Dobara Phir Se]]'' (2016) and the animated film ''[[The Breadwinner (2017 film)|The Breadwinner]]'' (2017) produced by [[Angelina Jolie]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sarym|first1=Ahmed|title=All that Ali Kazmi is up to this year!|url=http://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1149517|work=HIP|accessdate=18 July 2016|date=15 April 2016|archive-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208003434/https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1149517|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Ali was also signed to appear in [[Ajay Devgan]]'s ''[[Shivaay]]''. But due to not getting permission to shoot in [[Canada]] where Kazmi is based, some changes were made in the script and his role was removed.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sarym|first1=Ahmed|title=Ali Kazmi no longer a part of Ajay Devgan's Shivaay?|url=http://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1150397|website=HIP|accessdate=8 August 2016|date=4 August 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810044439/http://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1150397|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1175983|title=Ali Kazmi will no longer be appearing in Ajay Devgan's directorial debut flick|author=Images Staff|date=2016-08-07|access-date=2016-08-07}}</ref> He then played the role of Abid in ''Tu Ishq Hai''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ali Kazmi and Saba Qamar pair up for drama serial Baaghi|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/196701-|website=The News|accessdate=11 September 2017}}</ref>
Kazmi's project [[Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning|''Umro Ayyar-A New Beginning'']] was expected to be released in 2022, but ultimately released in 2024, directed by [[Azfar Jafri]] under the banner of VR Chili Production. Umro Ayyar is an action thriller movie based on the revival of Persian legend of 90's. The other cast of Umro Ayyar is [[Usman Mukhtar]], [[Sanam Saeed]], [[Faran Tahir]], [[Adnan Siddiqui]] & more.
== Personal life == Kazmi married his high school sweetheart Alizeh Khorasanee, whom he knew since the age of 12. They married in [[Karachi]] and settled in [[Toronto]]. They have two sons.<ref name="masalamommas">{{cite web|last1=Bukhari|first1=Sanober|title=Up Close with Actor, Dad, Ali Kazmi|url=http://masalamommas.com/2015/11/19/up-close-with-actor-dad-ali-kazmi/|work=masalamommas|accessdate=17 July 2016|date=19 November 2015|archive-date=23 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723054403/http://masalamommas.com/2015/11/19/up-close-with-actor-dad-ali-kazmi/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Kazmi speaks [[English language|English]], [[Urdu]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Pashto]], basic [[French language|French]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-12-24 |title=Rising Star: Canadian Artiste Ali Kazmi Soars and Shines |url=https://sszeemedia.com/2015/12/24/rising-star-canadian-artiste-ali-kazmi-soars-and-shines/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251220200855/https://sszeemedia.com/2015/12/24/rising-star-canadian-artiste-ali-kazmi-soars-and-shines/ |archive-date=2025-12-20 |access-date= |website=SSZEE MEDIA |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year!! Title!! Role!! Notes |- | 2009 || ''A Message from the East'' || Iqbal || Documentary |- | 2010 || ''The Strip Mall '' || Rav || |- | 2011 || ''[[You Got Served: Beat the World]]'' || Dancer || |- | 2013 || ''Cold'' || Ali || Short film |- | rowspan="3" | 2014 || ''[[The Dependables]]'' || Raazaq || |- | ''Americanistan'' || Mutaween #1 || Short film |- | ''[[Bang Bang Baby]]'' || - - || Assistant art director |- | rowspan="3" | 2015 || ''[[Sardaar Ji]]'' || Bilal Chaudry || |- | ''[[Beeba Boys]]'' || Guri || |- | ''[[Jawani Phir Nahi Ani]]'' || Dr.Aamir Liaquat || Cameo appearance |- | rowspan="2" | 2016 || ''Coffee at Laundromart'' || Raj || Short film |- | ''[[Dobara Phir Se]]'' || Vassay || |- | 2017 ||''[[The Breadwinner (2017 film)|The Breadwinner]]'' || Cousin, Fruit Seller, Market Voices || Voice role |- | rowspan="2" | 2018 ||''[[Motorcycle Girl]]'' || Zafar || |- |''Altered Skin'' |Nasir | |- | rowspan="4" | 2019 ||''[[Laal Kabootar]]'' || Noman Malik || |- | ''[[Baaji (2019 film)|Baaji]]'' || Rammy || |- | ''[[Superstar (2019 film)|Superstar]]'' || Shaan || <ref>{{Cite web|last=Majeed|first=Ozair|date=2019-04-01|title=HIP Exclusive: Ali Kazmi Kickstarts Shooting for Superstar!|url=https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1157304|access-date=2020-06-06|website=HIP|language=en}}</ref> |- | ''[[Heer Maan Ja]]'' || Haider || Cameo appearance<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-13|title=Makers of 'Heer Maan Ja' release its first trailer|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/429643/makers-of-heer-maan-ja-release-its-first-trailer/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Daily Times|language=en-US}}</ref> |- | 2020 || ''[[Funny Boy (2020 film)|Funny Boy]]'' || Chelva || |- |2022 || ''[[Ishrat Made in China]]'' || Shamshad / Chun || Dual role<ref>{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1189059|title=Ishrat Made in China's first teaser is finally here|date=18 December 2021|access-date=17 January 2022|work=Images by [[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]}}</ref> |- | 2023 || ''[[The Queen of My Dreams]]'' || Zahid || |- |2024 ||''[[Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning]]'' || Maaz ||<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/382619|title=Umro Ayyar: Usman Mukhtar revives the Persian legend of magic, adventure|date=17 November 2021|access-date=17 January 2022|work=[[Geo News]]}}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year!! Title!! Role!! Network |- | 1987|| ''[[Dhoop Kinare]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ali Kazmi hasn't even scratched the surface of his stardom yet|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183554|last=Rehman|first=Maliha|date=2019-08-26|website=Images|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}}</ref>|| Dr.Ahmar's childhood||rowspan=2|[[PTV Home]] |- | 1995|| ''Zikr Hai Kai Saal Ka'' || Suhail |- | 2006|| ''[[Manzil (Pakistani TV series)|Manzil]]'' || Shabi || [[ARY Digital]] |- | 2009|| ''[[The Border (TV series)|The Border]]'' || || CBC |- | rowspan=5|2011 || ''[[Skins (North American TV series)|Skins]]'' || Abbud's uncle || MTV |- || ''[[Alphas]]'' || Internist || Syfy |- || ''[[Combat Hospital]]'' || Chaplain David Nedayal || Global & ABC |- || ''[[InSecurity]]'' || Nigel || BC |- || ''[[Covert Affairs]]'' || Restorer || USA Network |- | 2012|| ''[[King (2011 TV series)|King]]'' || Sunil Sharma || Showcase |- | 2013|| ''[[Degrassi: The Next Generation]]'' || Doctor || [[Much (TV channel)|Much]] |- | 2014|| ''[[Jackson Heights (TV series)|Jackson Heights]]'' || Sikander || [[Urdu 1]] |- | rowspan=2|2015|| ''Aik Aur Aik Gyarah'' || Man at the garage || rowspan=2|[[Hum TV]] |- || ''[[Sehra Main Safar]]'' || Ayaz |- | rowspan=2|2016|| [[Rogue (TV series)|''Rogue'']] || Ali Zaid || [[Audience Network]] |- || ''[[Taken (2017 TV series)|Taken]]'' || Marzoki || NBC |- | rowspan=3|2017|| ''[[Baaghi (TV series)|Baaghi]]'' || Abid || Urdu 1 |- || ''Moray Saiyaan'' || Altamash || rowspan=2|ARY Digital |- || ''[[Badnaam (2017 TV Series)|Badnaam]]'' || Afraz |- | 2018||''Tu Ishq Hai''|| Affan ||rowspan=2|Hum TV |- | 2019||''[[Jaal (TV series)|Jaal]]''|| Arsal |- | 2023-2025 |''[[Murdoch Mysteries]]'' |Younger Man & Clyde Dewala |[[CBC Television|CBC]] |- |2024 |''[[Potluck Ladies]]'' |Aamir |[[Hollywood Suite]], [[Yes TV]] |}
=== Web series === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2017 |[[Designated Survivor (season 2)|''Designated Survivor'']] |Rami Bashir |Cameo appearance in Episode 17 of Season 2<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rehman |first=Maliha |date=2019-08-26 |title=Ali Kazmi hasn't even scratched the surface of his stardom yet |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183554 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Images |language=en}}</ref> |}
===Producer=== Under the banner of Big Bang Entertainment. {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * 2013: ''[[Meri Beti]]'' - [[ARY Digital]] * 2014: ''Koi Nahi Apna'' - Ary Digital * 2014: ''[[Dusri Bivi]]'' - ARY Digital * 2014: ''Bahu Begum'' - ARY Digital * 2014: ''Soutan'' - ARY Digital * 2015: ''[[Rang Laaga]]'' - ARY Digital * 2015: ''Mere Jeevan Saathi'' - ARY Digital * 2015: ''Begunaah'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''Be Aib'' - [[Urdu 1]] * 2016: ''[[Yeh Ishq]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Waada (TV series)|Waada]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Muqabil]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Beqasoor (TV Series)|Be Qasoor]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Andaaz-e-Sitam]]'' - Urdu 1 * 2016: ''Haya Ke Rang'' - ARY Zindagi * 2016: ''Naimat'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''Tum Yaad Aaye'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Aap Ke Liye]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''Saheliyan'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''Mere Baba ki Ounchi Haveli'' - ARY Zindagi * 2016: ''Teri Chah Mein'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Mera Yaar Miladay]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''[[Socha Na Tha (TV series)|Socha Na Tha]]'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''Dil Haari'' - ARY Digital * 2016: ''Shehzada Saleem'' - ARY Digital * 2017: ''Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai'' - ARY Digital * 2017: ''[[Zaakham]]'' - ARY Digital * 2017: ''[[Bilqees Urf Bitto]]'' - Urdu 1 * 2017: ''Bachay Baraye Farokht'' - Urdu 1 * 2017: ''Teri Raza'' - ARY Digital * 2017: ''[[Aisi Hai Tanhai]]'' - ARY Digital * 2018: ''[[Meri Guriya]]'' - ARY Digital * 2018: ''Nibah'' - ARY Digital * 2018: ''Babban Khala Ki Betiyan'' - ARY Digital * 2018: ''Badbakhti'' - [[ARY Zindagi]] * 2018: ''[[Balaa]]'' - ARY Digital * 2018: ''[[Khudparast]]'' - ARY Digital * 2018: ''[[Visaal]]'' - ARY Digital * 2019: ''[[Cheekh]]'' - ARY Digital * 2019: ''[[Bandish (2019 TV series)|Bandish]]'' - ARY Digital {{div col end}}
===Video games=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year!! Title!! Role!! Notes |- | 2013 || ''[[Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist|Splinter Cell: Blacklist]]'' || Hindi Soldier 1 || (voice) |- | 2014 || ''[[Far Cry 4]]'' || Kaalinag, Bomb Maker, Monk, Rebel Soldiers || (voice) |- | 2016 || ''[[Far Cry Primal]]'' || || (voice) |}
===Theatre=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year!! Title!! Role!! Notes |- | 2009|| ''The Indian Wants the Bronx''<ref name="Express Tribune" /> || Gupta || [[Fringe theatre]] |- | 2023|| ''Behind the Moon'' || Ayub || [[Tarragon Theatre]] |}
== Awards == {{awards table}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 2016 | rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| Ali Kazmi | Best Actor in a Short Film at [[World Music & Independent Film Festival]]<ref name="nomination" /><ref name="win" /> |{{won}} {{end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name}} *{{Rotten Tomatoes person|ali_kazmi}} *{{instagram}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kazmi, Ali}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Canadian male actors of Pakistani descent]] [[Category:Canadian music video directors]] [[Category:Canadian television directors]] [[Category:Canadian male models]] [[Category:Canadian television producers]] [[Category:Canadian male television actors]] [[Category:Canadian male film actors]] [[Category:Canadian male voice actors]] [[Category:Pakistani emigrants to Canada]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]] [[Category:Male actors from Karachi]] [[Category:Pakistani people of Indian descent]]