
There is no substitute for excellence, not even success.  The above proverb holds true to model-actress-director-producer,  Mahnoor Baloch. A precious link exists between acting generations. This  link is which enables the human spirit to soar when comparing artists  over the years. One such artist is Mahnoor Baloch. Below is a moving  tribute to her courage-and the extraordinary power of love,  understanding and devotion.

 As a young girl, Mahnoor showed keen interest in human  behavior. Perhaps, Mahnoor wore the smile of an innocent, little girl as  she said that she wanted to become a psychiatrist. But Mahnoor was  destined to be an artist. That smile, those eyes, they are really  something, which boldly but complacently blend to make her the center of  all eyes and lenses. It is the stuff of which the dreams are made of.
Mahnoor claimed her own fame  before turning twenty in the modeling world. Later, she appeared in  Pakistani television commercials as well. Mahnoor's first stab at acting  was in Pakistani televisions mega hit drama serial, 'Marvi', directed  by Sultana Siddiqui, commonly known as 'Aapi.' Writer, Noor-ul-Huda  Shah, cast included Mahnoor, Ghazal Siddiqui, Badar Khalil, and Hussain  Qazi. The story revolves around a village girl, 'Marvi'. Mahnoor played  the friend of 'Marvi.' It was a touching story deftly related to the  public. 
 Quickly thereafter, Mahnoor's identity as a performer  began to emerge. Mahnoor and her teammates worked together as conceptual  artists for the television. 
 Though drama serial 'Marvi' marked the debut of  Mahnoor as a television artist. She attained stardom with her role in  the drama serial 'Doosra Aasmaan', which was telecast from Pakistani  television in 1993-94. In 'Doosra Aasmaan', Mahnoor was dubbed as Abid  Ali's daughter who, in turn, lived and made a fortune in Dubai. Cast  included Mahnoor, Abid Ali, Asad, and Sami Sani. 
 In her real life, Mahnoor liked Hamid  Siddiqui, happened to be the son of her father's friend. Their families  knew each other for years. In fact, both Mahnoor and Hamid grew up  together. They remained steadfast friends through thick and thin. 
 Long story short, Mahnoor married Hamid  with their parent's consent and blessings. Mahnoor was in her sixteenth  year at the time of marriage, while Hamid was seventeen years of age at  the time. By the grace of God, both Mahnoor and Hamid have had a  blissful married life for the past twenty years. In a recent interview  Mahnoor said that 'we are the golden couple. Everything good has been  showered on us. 
 Perhaps, they must have understood and implemented the  saying below in their practical life: 'I do not want to change you; you  know what is best for you, much better than I. I do not want you to  change me, I want you to accept me and respect me the way I am. In this  way, we can build a strong relationship, based on reality, rather than a  dream.' 

Reverting to her show business career, Mahnoor became the  most enchanting artist of the 1990s and she continues to make her  presence felt forcefully to date. Additionally, her genius in succeeding  is largely one of character-patience, self-discipline, rationality and  inner resolve.
 Mahnoor's acting is fraught with reality. The humane  element is always present in her celluloid persona. That  believability-and humanity-was powerfully manifested in the 1997 super  hit television drama serial, 'Ye zindigi.' Director, Sultana Siddiqui,  cast included Mahnoor, Noman Aijaz, and Humayun Saeed. 
 It is an enthralling tale of deception and dejection.  From this, and a rarely perfected talent of wit, Mahnoor brings her  interesting character 'Soha', not only to life, but also into the hearts  of millions of dedicated viewers. Background song in Mehnaz's lilting  voice 'Zindigi kay sub lamhay yaad gaar hotay hain' became uproariously  popular. Most importantly, the last episode of 'Ye zindigi' is intent on  draining our tear ducts. 

Mahnoor's unique ability is that she has one of  the most astonishing faces on the small screen. Expressions drift over  it like mist. How, in the entertainment industry abounding in gifted  performers, does Mahnoor stand in a category unto herself? Well, she is a  talent machine. That is what she was born to be. Moreover, the real  Mahnoor and the reel Mahnoor are very much alike, replete with life,  energy and acting. 
 In the highly successful drama serial, 'Chandni  Raatain', Mahnoor's acting is almost gushing in its admiration. While  her vivid persona upholds the sentimentality depicted in the play. In  'Chandni Raatain' as the story goes; Javed Sheikh had no children from  his first wife. Thus, he marries 'Maha', played by Mahnoor, who becomes  his second wife. The play is simultaneously praiseworthy and  heartbreaking. To talk of Mahnoor is to put applause on paper. Her  reputation for quality work stands so high, that almost every fan  admires her wisdom and judgment as a performer. It strengthens her faith  in her own resourcefulness. In an extraordinarily busy life, Mahnoor  has it all, or nearly so. On the personal side, Mahnoor has poured all  her talents into her role as mother to a fourteen-year-old gorgeous  daughter. Today, as her teenage girl prepares to leave the nest, her mom  has begun to redefine herself. As always, Mahnoor's motivation was  clear and resolute in her directional debut 'Lamhay' in January 2000.  Producer-director, Mahnoor, writer, Salman Wajih Hasan, cast included  Mahnoor, Noman Aijaz, Shahzad Roy, and Nighat Chaudhry. In 'Lamhay',  Mahnoor played the role of Shahzad Roy's mother. The poor girl, 'Fizza',  from Bangladesh, smartly dubbed by Mahnoor, did the trick. 'Lamhay' is a  play of individual sensibilities. Dwelling on her plus points,  Mahnoor's independence of mind and her ability to focus on her work also  serve her well in her show business career. Confidence in one's own  judgment, she realized early on, is what matters most. Mahnoor's  presentation always carries with it a peculiar vividness that is  exclusively her own. Included in the list of illustrious plays is  'Pathjhar ki chaaon' in the year 2000, directed by Mahnoor. It is an  intricate story about a mother and her daughter. Mahnoor played the role  of the eldest daughter. Regarding her charismatic figure, the  discerning viewers fall passionately in love with her at first sight.  From her earlier days in working life, Mahnoor has learnt a lot, and  forgotten nothing. Most of all, Mahnoor has been glorified like no other  artist in modern times. The intoxication of glory, Oh! How uplifted she  would be! Mahnoor's intense and interesting performance in the romantic  comedy drama 'Kabhi kabhi pyar mein' in August 2001 brought more  laurels to her. Director, Afreen Baig, writer, Shahid Kazmi, cast  included Mahnoor, Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui. The way 'Kabhi kabhi  pyar mein' was romanticized is a feat in modern Pakistani television  direction. This also proves the fact that Pakistani television crew are  hard at work on sophisticated craft. Confident, amiable and cute,  Mahnoor is an artist who echoes a quality most seem to have  forgotten-being real. This woman of individualism continues to exert a  peculiar fascination through her acting and her direction. Day after  day, Mahnoor receives critical appreciation about her accomplishment.  She keeps glued to the pursuit. Sagacious as she is, Mahnoor's  performance was outstanding in the television play 'Sila.' Directed by  Misbah Khalid, cast included Mahnoor, Faraz Maqsood, Adnan Siddiqui and  Amina Haq. The story revolves around a college student, 'Sila', played  by Mahnoor. Mahnoor's performance in the lead role vaulted her to fame.  Mahnoor is not just another artist. She holds a singular place in our  heart, and this presence never leaves. Perhaps, more than any other  artist of her time, Mahnoor listens to the heartbeat of her admirers.  Like every sensible person, Mahnoor also endorses the view that a mind  is a terrible thing to waste. It is time to recognize that we have been  wasting far too many good ones. Remarkable people like Mahnoor inspired  some of our favorite television plays. 'Unhoni' is one of them. Cast  included, Mahnoor, Shakeel and Humayun Saeed. In the drama serial  'Unhoni' Mahnoor works for Shakeel's organization. She leaves the job  when she learns that Shakeel intends to marry her. Preferring quality to  quantity, that is, a little less, a little better, Mahnoor only opts  for selected television plays. Further, nurtured by hard work, Mahnoor  spurs the younger generation to better their world. As for her  performance, Mahnoor's dialogues has her trademark wit and rhythm, her  outlook infallible, she possesses, to guess right, instinct experience,  and recollection; she sees true, compares swiftly and understands  intuitively. Mahnoor increasingly found opportunities to show her  dramatic abilities, notably in the stage show 'Hai koi hum jaisa.'  Hosted by Fakhar-e-Alam, Mahnoor and Atiqa Odho. The show honors the  Pakistani cricket team and singers like Jawad Ahmed and Ali Azmat.  Mahnoor's family lives in the U.S.A. While her husband's family resides  in Canada. Hence, Mahnoor, too, has settled down in Canada. Lately,  Mahnoor enrolled in the film school of Toronto and completed a 15-month  course in filmmaking. Paradise has been relocated to Toronto! Soon, she  went back to Pakistan and during an activity-packed trip, Mahnoor  produced a fabulous drama serial, 'Shiddat', in which she used some of  the techniques she picked up from her Toronto's film school as well.  Most definitely, we regard Mahnoor not only as the foremost entertainer  but as one of the pillars of Pakistani television, a delightful  companion to the life of the twenty-first century Pakistan and an  endlessly fascinating personality in her own right. As for her future  aspirations, Mahnoor is more than up to the challenge. Love and wisdom  knows no boundaries. With the passage of time, Mahnoor has earned love  and respect from her loyal fans. She has developed enduring friendship  with her family and her friends as well. In those bonds are the strands  of love, of kindness, of physical and spiritual healing. They are the  strands of life itself. In a way so subtle, so gentle, so loving,  Mahnoor has given us the most precious gift that could be bestowed to  her adorers. It is the gift of a free and loving heart.