Hadiqa Kiani TI(c) (born August 11, 1972) is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, actress, and philanthropist. She has won numerous national and international awards and has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and The Kennedy Center. She has sung several songs in Pashto in addition to Urdu and Punjabi.
Kiani received Pakistan's fourth-highest civilian award, the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, in 2006 for her contributions to music. She was appointed as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador in 2010, making her the first woman in Pakistan to serve as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Kiani was named one of "Pakistan's Most Powerful and Influential Women" in 2016 by the country's leading news organization, Jang Group of Newspapers, as part of their "Power" edition.
Early life and professional career
Kiani was the youngest of three siblings, with an older brother (Irfan Kiani) and a sister (Sasha). When she was three years old, her father died. Khawar Kiani, a poet, was the principal of a government girls' school. Seeing Kiani's musical talent, Khawar enrolled her in the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. Madam Nargis Naheed, her teacher, provided her with an early musical education.
Kiani represented Pakistan at international children festivals in Turkey, Jordan, Bulgaria, and Greece while attending Viqar-un-Nisa Noon Girls High School, winning various medals and performing for thousands around the world. Kiani also appeared on PTV's Rang Barangi Dunya, a weekly musical hosted by Sohail Rana.
Kiani moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore as an eighth grader, where she continued her classical training with Ustad Faiz Ahmed Khan and Wajid Ali Nashad. Kiani went on to earn her bachelor's degree in psychology from Kinnaird College for Women University and her master's degree in psychology from the historic Government College University in Pakistan (Lahore).
Kiani first appeared on television in the early 1990s, hosting the children's music show Angan Angan Taray. During the show's three and a half-year run, she sang over a thousand songs for children alongside renowned music composer Amjad Bobby and later with music composer Khalil Ahmed. Kiani was presented with the title of "A+ artist" on behalf of PTV due to the sheer number of songs she sang during this program, joining Noor Jehan, Naheed Akhtar, and Mehnaz. Kiani also worked as a VJ for NTM's Video Junction, a music charts show.
Kiani began singing songs for movies as a playback singer in the early 1990s, most notably for the hit Pakistani film Sargam, which starred and was composed by Adnan Sami Khan. She received several awards for her playback singing that year, including the prestigious Nigar Awards for Best Female Playback Singer.
Albums
1995: Raaz
Kiani won the "NTM Viewer's Choice Award" for Best Female Singer in Pakistan in 1995. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was named Pakistan's Best Male Singer at the same ceremony.
Kiani released her debut album Raaz (Secret) the following year, in 1996. The album produced a slew of radio-friendly hits and received favorable reviews. Some argue that the album's success was due to the fact that it was unusual for female singers (from educated/non-musical backgrounds) to release albums in Pakistan. She was also the first female singer to release a pop album after former pop singer Nazia Hassan retired from music. Kiani's ability to sing in other dialects was also showcased to the country in the popular Kashmiri folk song "Maane Di Mauj."
Kiani's growing popularity was highlighted even further in January 1997, when she became the first Asian singer to perform at the British National Lottery Live on BBC One (a program with an estimated viewership 16.6 million at that time). She then collaborated on two more shows with Bally Sagoo for the BBC and ITV before embarking on her first U.S. tour in 1997. Her North American tour included 15 states and a few Canadian cities. During the same year, Kiani appeared at numerous international events in the United Kingdom, Australia, and China. By the summer of 1997, Kiani was representing Pakistan as the only Pakistani singer to perform at "Celebration Hong Kong 97" at Happy Valley Race Course, alongside other International singers such as Lisa Stansfield, Wet Wet Wet, Michael Learns to Rock, All 4 One, and The Brand New Heavies. Kiani is Hong Kong's first mainstream Pakistani singer to perform.
By the end of the year, she had become Pepsi Cola International's first Asian female singer. She was the world's second international female artist to be signed, following Gloria Estefan.
Roshni was born in 1998.
Kiani recorded the official theme song for the 1999 Cricket World Cup in 1998. The song, titled Intehai Shauq, was written by Kiani's mother, Khawar Kiani, and composed and produced by the legendary Nizar Lalani. The song was filmed by Jami and Imran Baber and was an instant success, capturing the country's attention with what was noted as incredibly motivational imagery and lyrics.
During the recording of the World Cup, Kiani released her second album, Roshni. Dupatta was the album's third single. The sci-fi film The Matrix inspired the video. The song is ranked 15th on the list of the Twenty Best Pop Songs Ever for Pakistan. The song's success was attributed to its quasi-bhangra rhythm with "fat, funky techno beats" and Kiani's "dreamy-meets-husky vocals," which resulted in "stunning" results. Following the success of "Dupatta," Kiani was widely regarded as the country's leading female vocalist.
Kiani capitalized on the success of "Dupatta" by releasing two other moderate hits, "Roshni" and "Woh Kaun Hai." "Boohey Barian," her sixth single from the album, became an even bigger hit for her than "Dupatta." To this day, "Boohey Barian" is widely regarded as Kiani's best single and one of the most influential Pakistani songs of all time.
Roshni sold over a million copies in Pakistan alone, earning it the status of "Platinum." The album is ranked No.15 in the country's list of "The 20 Best Local Pop Albums Ever." Kiani is one of only two female singers on the list.
Kiani's success led to her signing as a celebrity endorser for Lipton by Unilever in 2001. Unilever signs her again for Sunsilk Shampoo in 2002, following the results of Unilever's national survey to find the "Most Popular Woman of Pakistan." Throughout the early 2000s, she gave live concerts in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, the Far East, Australia, Norway, Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
2002: Rung
Kiani's third album, Rung, was released in September 2002.
In June 2003, nearly ten months after releasing "Yaad Sajan," she returned to promote the album with a new single "Ranjhan" and several stage performances and tours across the country. Throughout 2003 and 2004, she released additional singles from the album. "Jogi Bun Kay Aa," "Mahi," and "Dholan" were among them. Kiani portrays several women in "Jogi Bun Kay Aa," including a traditional Japanese, an Arab, and a tribal woman. In her video for "Mahi," directed by top director Asim Raza, she played a vampire. The video demonstrated that judging people of different faiths and castes is harmful, as is stereotyping. It was the most expensive video produced in 2003. Kiani was going through her first divorce at the time, but her album sales continued to rise throughout 2003 and 2004. Indus Music, Pakistan's first 24-hour music channel, awarded her the Best Female Pop Singer Award in 2004. For directing her critically acclaimed video Mahi, Asim Raza won an award for best video. Kiani was mentioned in "Pakistani Pop's 10 Most Influential Acts Ever" shortly after the release of Rung, where she was ranked ninth. She is also one of the list's only two female singers, the other being Nazia Hassan. A UK-based magazine named Kiani the 22nd greatest South Asian music maker out of fifty artists, mentioning how she raised the standard of music videos in the country.
Leading Indian Sufi singer "Harshdeep Kaur" covered Kiani's self-composed "Jogi Bun Kay Aa" on a leading Indian television show several years after the release of Rung. The song's lyrics were originally written by Kiani's mother, poet Khawar Kiani.
Rough Cut in 2007
Kiani's fourth studio album, Rough Cut, was released in 2007 as a collaboration with Aamir Zaki. Kiani became the first mainstream Pakistani artist to release an album entirely in English with the release of Rough Cut.
Prior to the album's release, Kiani and Zaki collaborated on an Urdu song titled "Iss Baar Milo," written by Zaki. Jami (director) directed the video, which starred Humayun Saeed opposite Kiani. The video production and acting performances in "Iss Baar Milo," particularly Kiani's portrayal of a "schizophrenic" patient in a Pakistani mental hospital, were well received. The video was a watershed moment in Pakistani music, earning Kiani and Jami the title of "Best Video" from MTV Pakistan.
Kiani released the album's first official single, "Living This Lie," in April 2007. Kiani was named "Hotstepper of the Week" for The News by Jang Group the same week. According to the article, "as long as Hadiqa is around, there is still hope for women in Pakistan's patriarchal music world."
"Living This Lie" was nominated for and won "Best English Song" at the 2007 Musik Awards. Kiani was nominated for Best Female Singer at the same awards ceremony.
Aasmaan was born in 2009.
Kiani changed record labels to Fire Records in June 2009 and released her fifth studio album, Aasmaan. She sang in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindko, Pashto, and Persian on the album.
"Sohnya" was the album's first single. The official video for "Sohnya" debuted the day before Kiani's album was released. Following its release, the song and video remained on the Aag top 10 charts for over a month, earning Kiani a Shield from Aag10 for Artist of the Month.
The album itself remained at the top of INSTEP Magazine's Vibes Charts for the entire year. Aasmaan was named the Best Album of 2009 by the end of 2009, based on sales volume, popularity, and internet downloads.
Aasmaan's singles have all reached number one. "Sohnya" topped the AAG10 Charts for over a month and was named The Nation's Best Pop Song of 2009. "Tuk Tuk" topped the Prime TV Charts. "Az Chashme Saqi" reached number one on the PlayTv Charts and was named the third best music video of 2009 by the end of 2009.
Kiani released "Janan" in February 2010, collaborating with relatively unknown Pashto singer Irfan Khan. The song has become Kiani's biggest hit to date, surpassing the popularity of "Boohey Barian," according to some. The song was the first Pakistani pop song to be mentioned in the Los Angeles Times, which stated that "Janan" was the song that the entire country was listening to. Kiani's Pashto translation received critical acclaim. Kiani is credited with reviving a trend in Pakistan of embracing Pashto culture, with girls starting to wear Pashto style dresses imitating Kiani's looks on the red carpet and more mainstream singers beginning to sing in the local language. The song's widespread popularity was attributed to the fact that it broke down barriers in Pakistani music, with Kiani, a Punjabi, singing a Pashto song and appealing to audiences worldwide, not just Pakistani Pashto audiences. Many international singers have covered Kiani's "Janan," most notably Chinese singer Hou Wei at the 2014 South Asia Expo. The Chinese cover was created as a tribute to Pakistani culture, elevating the Pashto community in Pakistan and, according to many, cementing the song's status as a national treasure.
2017: WAJD
Kiani collaborated with her brother in 2017 to release the visual album "Wajd," which featured five renditions of folk songs and earned Kiani her first "Album of the Year" award from the Lux Style Awards 2018.
Kiani's distinct wardrobe during the era of this album was noted by the press, leading her to win "Most Stylish Singer" at the Hum Style Awards 2018. Her style has led to her being the muse for high street brands such as Generation and Bonanza, as well as couturiers such as Ali Xeeshan.
2022: VASL
Kiani's album, VASL, was released in 2022. The album included songs from Kiani's debut studio album, Raaz. The album featured three singles, all of which received critical acclaim. The album gained international acclaim when global streaming giant Spotify recognized it as part of their Equal Platform, presenting Kiani with her own appearance on a Times Square billboard in New York City.
Musical contributions and background singing
Kiani began working as a playback singer in Pakistani films in 1995, most notably the Adnan Sami Khan film Sargam (1995). Sargam went on to win several awards for Kiani, including the prestigious Nigar Award for "Best Female Playback Singer." Kiani, on the other hand, has been mostly absent from Pakistani playback singing since Sargam. The one exception was in 2011, when she was one of the main playback singers for Shoaib Mansoor's film Bol. Kiani's songs were featured in the film four times, two of which were collaborations with Atif Aslam. The film's soundtrack received positive reviews and four Lux Style Award nominations for Kiani and Aslam.
Kiani was featured on the lead single from UK-based producer Khiza's album "Loyal To The Game," "Mehr Ma," in 2006. The song was an instant hit in Pakistan, and it was regarded as Kiani's triumphant return to pop music following her ballads in Rung. Kiani was seen in the video wearing various hairstyles and outfits. The song received positive feedback, with one source claiming that "Mehr Ma," which opens the album, is easily the best track on it. Kiani's top-notch vocals and the music, which remains hip-hopish yet very desi due to the use of sitar and tabla, make it an excellent number." Kiani also performed the song at the 2006 Lux Style Awards.
Kiani has provided vocals for a number of TV dramas over the years, including the critically acclaimed 2011 drama Zindagi Gulzar Hai's title track with Ali Zafar and the 2006 "Aas Pass" with Atif Aslam.
Kiani made an appearance on the fifth season of Rohail Hyatt's Coke Studio in May 2012, performing renditions of Bulleh Shah and Amir Khusro to positive reviews.
In 2016, Kiani lent her voice to the character of Meeran, portrayed by Urwa Hocane, on the Hum TV drama "Udaari." The title track of the drama was sung by Kiani, featuring Farhan Saeed and production by Sahir Ali Bagga. The title track topped the music charts, while the drama was critically acclaimed and an instant hit for viewers.
Kiani appeared in the title song of 3 Bahadur: Rise of the Warriors in 2018, which was produced and directed by Pakistan's first Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Bol | Herself | Special appearance in the song "Hona Tha Pyaar" with Atif Aslam |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sur Kshetra | Jury member | Guest |
| 2013–2014 | Pakistan Idol | Judge | |
| 2016 | Udaari | as a Judge of competition | Special appearance |
| 2019–20 | Aap Kay Sitaray | Host | Talk show |
| 2021 | Raqeeb Se | Sakina | Lead |
| 2021–22 | Dobaara | Mehrunnisa | Lead [73] |
| 2022 | Pinjra | Khadija | Lead[74] |
Notable appearances
Aside from studio recordings, Kiani was appointed by the Pakistani government as an official representative of the country in 2005.
Kiani performed in Nagoya for Japan's Prime Minister, Mr. Junichir Koizumi, on August 11, 2005. Kiani then performed at the Pakistani Consulate in Toronto on August 14, 2005. On August 13, 2005, she performed in Houston. Over 15000 people attended the show, which took place at Sam Houston Race Park. Sheila Jackson Lee, a member of the United States House of Representatives, was the show's main guest. On August 18, 2005, she performed at the Mets' Shea Stadium in New York. On August 28, 2005, she performed at the Pakistan Parade in New York, capping off the month of August.
Kiani performed in Malaysia on October 2, 2005, at the newly built Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur's downtown. The show's main guest was Pakistan's Honorary Prime Minister, Mr. Shukat Aziz. The exhibition was part of Malaysia's Expo 2005. The show drew prominent business and political figures from both countries. Kiani performed a Malay song in honour of the Malaysian people.
Kiani represented Pakistan at the 25th Anniversary of the OIC Research Centre for Islamic History, Art, and Culture (IRCICA) in Turkey. Islamic countries such as Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Turkey, Pakistan, and Yemen participated in the festivities. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality organised the event. On November 23, 2005, she performed at the AKM Opera House. There were musicians from all over the world in the audience. The audience was said to be taken aback when Kiani sang "Sanalama" (Turkish song of Living Legend "Sezen Aksu"). She told the audience that as Turkey stood by Pakistan in good and bad times, she wanted to express Pakistanis' love for Turks. She also told the audience that she visited Turkey as a child star in the 1980s and represented Pakistan in the International Children's Festival in Turkey, so she had fond childhood memories of the country. At the end of her performance, the audience gave her a standing ovation, and the Mayor of Istanbul thanked her and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. Following her performance, she received invitations to participate in upcoming art festivals in Iran, Syria, Qatar, and Lebanon. During her official visit to Istanbul, she visited various historical sites in Turkey and expressed Pakistan's love for Turkey. Her performance in Istanbul made the front pages of several Turkish newspapers.
On February 21, 2006, Kiani performed in China for the Chinese Premier. The following month, on March 4, 2006, she performed for President George W. Bush. Bush said of her performance, "Ms. Hadiqa Kiani is extremely talented and should sing here (the United States) more." She then performed for Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah on May 29, 2006.
Kiani closed the year by performing for Prince Charles of the United Kingdom and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on 30 October 2006 at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at the request of former US First Lady Laura Bush, and again in China for the Chinese president on 23 November 2006.
Kiani performed for 28 Heads of State at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa on May 19, 2007, at the Dead Sea in Jordan. Her performance took place on the second day of the three-day event, while American singer Lionel Richie took the stage on the first. Kiani's setlist for the night included Nancy Ajram's Arabic song "Ah W Nos," which Kiani covered and then sang again the following year in Pakistan.
Kiani was one of the headliners for the London Day Parade in Trafalgar Square, London, in August 2007, which was broadcast on Geo TV to commemorate Pakistan's 60th anniversary of independence. Kiani was the only singer who performed entirely live that day. She also performed the popular patriotic song "Jeevay Pakistan" with Ali Zafar at the end of the show.
Kiani has continued to perform for various companies in Pakistan, including Pepsi and Samsung. Most notably, Kiani received positive feedback in 2016 at the first Inter Provincial Games in Pakistan, which were initiated by President Mamnoon Hussain as a sporting event to support Pakistan's male and female athletes.
Kiani was invited to perform at the historic Lahore Fort to welcome Turkish President Erdoan's arrival in Pakistan at the end of 2016, along with folk legend Arif Lohar. Kiani's performance has been described as "enthralling" and "melodic."
Kiani took the stage at Expo 2020 Dubai's DEC Arena in 2022 to represent Pakistan in front of a sold-out crowd. Kiani's performance was cited as a musical highlight of the Expo by Gulf Business. At the world event, Kiani was given a tour of the Pakistan Pavilion and was quoted as saying, "It's about time that we show the world who we are and where we are going. We are people full of love and we have our rich cultural background, and people need to see that."
Philanthropy and charitable causes
Kiani was one of many artists featured in the widely popular track "Yeh Hum Naheen" in March 2007. Various Pakistani artists collaborated on this song to send a message that the stereotype of Pakistanis is incorrect and that they oppose terrorism. The song's music video also conveys an anti-terrorism sentiment and supports the anti-terrorism campaign, Yeh hum naheen, in which Kiani is heavily involved. Ali Zafar, Shafqat Amanat Ali, and the Strings duo are among the other artists featured in the song. The song was picked up by international networks such as Fox News and the BBC, and it received a large number of downloads.
Kiani and her siblings worked with local Pakistanis and the Pakistan Army in August 2010 to provide clothing, water, food, and shelter to flood victims in Pakistan following the devastating 2010 Pakistan floods. Kiani also appeared in the Geo TV telethon "Pukaar" with pop star Ali Zafar to solicit donations. Kiani personally distributed goods to flood victims in Multan Relief Camp, Basti Kalraywala, Muzaffarabad, and other flood-affected areas in collaboration with the Pakistan Army.
Kiani was appointed United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador on November 8, 2010, after being recognised for her individual philanthropic efforts. Kiani was appointed and continued to build housing facilities for flood victims in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, until she completed over 250 houses. Nowshera was one of the most severely flooded areas in the country.
Kiani was chosen as one of Pond's Miracle Mentors in the beginning of 2015, as part of an initiative to highlight and support strong women in patriarchal Pakistani society, alongside nine other renowned and influential women. Later that month, Kiani spoke again about women in leadership at the Women Leadership Summit 2015, alongside the then-wife of former cricketer Imran Khan, Reham Khan, and a number of other successful women, including Muniba Mazari and Nadia Jamil. The summit brought together international and local voices to bring attention to the issue of workplace gender discrimination.
Kiani volunteers with the Edhi Foundation on a regular basis and has worked with a variety of charitable organisations, including Muslim Hands, SOS Villages, and UNICEF. She has also campaigned and served as an ambassador for Shaukat Khanum, Oxfam International, and the United Nations since 2010.
Kiani was scheduled to speak on the role of women in Pakistani society at TEDXKinnaird in November 2015.
Kiani took a stand against the issue again in 2017 after taking a stand with the award-winning project Udaari in 2016, which highlighted the social issue of sexual abuse against children in the Pakistani community. Kiani gained notoriety after criticising actor Yasir Hussain for making a joke about child molestation at the 5th annual Hum TV Awards. Kiani stated on social media that Hussain's comments were "disgusting," while also criticising the entertainment industry for its support of the actor.
Kiani partnered with Nestlé in July 2017 to launch socially responsible early childhood development initiatives in Pakistan.
Kiani launched her Vaseela-e-Raah project in August 2022 to aid victims of the 2022 Pakistan floods in Balochistan and South Punjab. Kiani oversaw her humanitarian efforts during the flood relief campaign, providing food, tents, and medical supplies such as anti-snake venom in flood-affected areas. The campaign's social media updated the list of items needed for flood relief efforts, including waterproof tents, charpai (beds), and mosquito nets, as the floods displaced half a million people in Pakistan. According to Gulf News, Kiani sent dozens of trucks loaded with supplies to the affected areas, which Hadiqa and her team in Lahore collected and packaged.
Kiani continued to visit the affected areas in the Balochistan and Punjab provinces, providing comfort and relief to the victims of the climate disaster. "I am doing this as a Pakistani citizen, not as a politician, for votes, or for any other reason." This is my civic duty, and it is your civic duty as well. "Do your part," she emphasised.
Kiani had completed the construction of 100 homes, one maternity centre, one primary school, and one grocery store in Tamboo Tehsil, Naseerabad district, Balochistan, by March 1, 2023.
Idol of Pakistan
Pakistan Idol is a Pakistani reality singing competition that is part of Simon Fuller's Idols franchise and is owned by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia. It is the 50th adaptation of the well-known reality competition format, which first appeared in the British series Pop Idol in 2001. Geo TV created it for the Pakistani entertainment market, and it featured Junoon frontman Ali Azmat, comedian Bushra Ansari, and Kiani as judges. The first season of the show was highly contentious.
Career in Acting
Kiani revealed in January 2021 that she will make her acting debut in Hum TV's drama Raqeeb Se alongside Nauman Ijaz, Sania Saeed, and Iqra Aziz. Bee Gul wrote the script for the drama, which was directed by Kashif Nisar, and Kiani sang and produced the OST, which was written by her mother, Khawar Kiani. Kiani played the lead heroine in the drama, Sakina, a battered mother, and received critical and fan acclaim for her performance. The drama earned Kiani her first acting awards and was named one of "The Best Dramas of 2021." In 2022, Kiani was named Best Actress by Critics Choice at the 21st Lux Style Awards for her performance as Sakina in Raqeeb Se.
Kiani's second drama, which starred Kiani and Bilal Abbas Khan, premiered in October 2021. Sarwat Nazir wrote the script, Danish Nawaz directed it, and Momina Duraid Productions produced it for Hum TV. According to DAWN Images, the drama was a "attempt at redefining the 'leading lady' in Pakistani dramas." The storyline of the drama, as well as Kiani's performance as Mehru, received critical and fan acclaim. Dobara consistently topped the ratings charts, reaching an all-time high of 8.8 TRP in February 2021.
Kiani signed her third script for ARY Digital, "Pinjra," in December 2021. It was the final script written by Asma Nabeel, who died of breast cancer in early 2021. Shazia Wajahat and Wajahat Rauf will produce the drama, which is set to premiere in 2022.
Recognition and Legacies
Kiani was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in March 2006, one of the country's highest civil awards, in recognition of her services in the field of music and for shining an encouraging light on the country for over a decade. The award was announced on August 14, 2005, but the ceremony was held on March 23, 2006. Kiani was named one of "Pakistan's Most Powerful and Influential Women" of all time by The News International, which is part of the Jang Group, in 2015.
On August 15, 2015, Daily Times Kiani was named as the 15th name on a list of 30 celebrated Pakistanis who have brought great pride to their country. Other names on the list titled "Pride of Pakistan" included Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Malala Yousafzai, and national hero Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Kiani headlined the Music Mela in April 2015, introducing her new Qawwali sound at the three-day festival organised by the United States. Islamabad's embassy. Kiani, Pakistan's "Pop Queen," debuted as a Qawwali artist to positive reviews. At the end of the Mela, she announced that she would be working on her sixth studio album, Wajd.
Kiani was named one of the Top Global Asian Celebrities by Eastern Eye, a UK publication, in December 2021. Kiani joins Riz Ahmed, Mindy Kaling, and Atif Aslam on the list.
Kiani was honoured with a digital hoarding in Times Square in New York City in May 2022 by the global music streaming platform Spotify for her contribution to the global music industry and in support of her seventh album, VASL. Earlier this year, Spotify stated, "A trailblazer, an icon, and a champion for women's independence, Hadiqa Kiani is undoubtedly one of the most prolific names in Pakistani music history. Her career has evolved remarkably over the past three decades; always staying true to herself, she has given pre-eminent music to the industry in her soulful voice."
Kiani remains a role model for young women in Pakistan, with artists Shae Gill and Momina Mustehsan citing her as an inspiration for their musical ambitions.
Private life
Kiani was the sole carer for her paralysed mother, Khawar Kiani, who died on October 14, 2022, after being paralysed since 2006. Following Khawar's death, it was reported that the entertainment industry and the country mourned her loss because she was the writer of the "biggest songs in Pakistani music history," including Kiani's "Boohey Barian" and the Kiani & Atif Aslam collaboration "Aas Pass" for Hum TV.
After the 2005 earthquake, Kiani adopted her son, Naad-e-Ali, from the Edhi Foundation. She later married Syed Fareed Sarwary, an Afghan businessman based in the United Kingdom. She divorced Sarwary in 2008.
| Year | Category | Notes | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigar Awards | ||||
| 1995 | Best Playback Singer | Sargam | Won | |
| Waheed Murad Award | ||||
| 1995 | Best New Talent | – | Won | |
| Best Singer (Female) T.V. | – | Won | ||
| NTM Awards | ||||
| 1995 | Best Female Singer by Viewers' Choice | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan awarded "Best Male Singer" at same show. | Won | |
| Pakistan Music Industry Awards | ||||
| 1996 | Best Female Singer | – | Won | |
| Best Selling Album | "Raaz" | Won | ||
| PTV Awards | ||||
| 2000 | Best Female Singer | – | Won | |
| 2010 | – | Honoured for contributions to PTV and to Pakistani music | Honoured | |
| Indus Music Awards | ||||
| 2004 | Best Female Singer | – | Won | |
| 2005 | Best Female Singer | – | Won | |
| Women's Excellence Awards | ||||
| 2005 | Excellence in Pop & Light Music | – | Won | |
| Government of Pakistan | ||||
| 2006 | Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Distinction) | – | Awarded | |
| The Musik Awards | ||||
| 2008 | Best English Song | "Living This Lie" feat. Amir Zaki | Won | |
| Most Wanted Female | – | Won | ||
| Aag TV | ||||
| 2009 | Artist of the Month | – | Won | |
| Pakistan Style Awards | ||||
| 2010 | Stylish Singer Female[161] | – | Won | |
| MTV Pakistan Awards | ||||
| 2009 | Best Video | "Iss Baar Milo" (Awarded to Director, Jami) | Won | |
| 2012 | Best Music Act | – | Nominated | |
| Best Song of the Year | "Dil Janiya" from Shoaib Mansoor's "Bol" | Nominated | ||
| TV ONE | ||||
| 2009 | Best Female Singer | – | Won | |
| Brit Asia Music Awards[162] | ||||
| 2010 | Best Female Act | – | Nominated | |
| Best International Act | – | Nominated | ||
| Indus Style Awards[163] | ||||
| 2010 | Most Innovative Singer | – | Won | |
| Most Stylish Female Pop Singer | – | Won | ||
| Lux Style Awards | ||||
| 2002 | Best Live Act | N/A[164] | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Song of the Year | "Hona Tha Pyar" feat. Atif Aslam | Nominated | |
| Best Original Soundtrack | "Bol" Soundtrack | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Best Original Soundtrack[165] | Udaari (Hum TV) | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Album of the Year | "WAJD"[166][167] | Won | |
| 2022 | Best Emerging Talent - Critics Choice | Raqeeb Se[168][169] | Won | |
| 2022 | Best TV Actress - Critics' Choice | Raqeeb Se[168][170] | Won | |
| Big Apple Music Awards[171] | ||||
| 2014 | Best Female Singer of Pakistan[172] | – | Won | |
| 2015 | Best Female Singer of Pakistan | – | Won | |
| Most Popular Female Singer (International)[173] | First Pakistani singer to ever be nominated in this category. | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Best Female Singer of Pakistan[174] | Won | ||
| Pakistan Media Awards | ||||
| 2010 | Best Female Singer | – | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Best Drama Original Soundtrack | "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" | Nominated | |
| HUM Awards | ||||
| 2013 | Best Solo Artist[175] | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Best Original Soundtrack | "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" | Won[176] | |
| 2017 | Best Original Soundtrack[177] | Sajna ve Sajna – Udaari | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Best New Sensation (Female)[178] | Raqeeb Se | Won[178] | |
| International Dynamic Women's Day Award | ||||
| 2015 | The Dynamic Award | – | Won | |
| Daily Times Pakistan[179] | ||||
| 2015 | Pride of Pakistan | – | Awarded | |
| Hum Style Awards | ||||
| 2018 | Most Stylish Performer – Female[180] | – | Won | |
| IDEAS Pakistan | ||||
| 2018 | Icon Singer of the Year[181] | – | Won | |
| International Shaan-e-Pakistan Music Awards (SEPMA) | ||||
| 2020 | Best TVC[182] | – | Won | |
| Hello! Pakistan Annual Awards | ||||
| 2021 | Acting Debut Award (Female) [183] | Awarded for role as Sakina in Raqeeb Se | Won | |
| Eastern Eye | ||||
| 2021 | Top Global 50 Asian Celebrities [146] | Placed number 30. | Awarded | |
| 2022 | Top Global 50 Asian Celebrities [146] | Placed number 40. [184] | Awarded | |
| Fuchsia Awards | ||||
| 2021 | Best Debut (Female) [185] | Awarded for her performance in Hum TV's Raqeeb Se as Sakina. | Won|- | |
| Government College University | ||||
| 2022 | Lifetime Achievement Award [186] | Recognized for contributions to music and philanthropy. | Awarded | |
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hadiqa Kiani |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Philanthropist |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 165 cm in meters- 1.65 m in feet inches- 5’ 5” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms- 55 kg in pounds- 121 lbs |
| Figure Measurements (approx.) | 34-28-34 |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 11 August 1974 |
| Age (as in 2022) | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Leo |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Hometown | Rawalpindi |
| School | Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Islamabad |
| College/University | Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore Government College University, Lahore |
| Educational Qualification | Post Graduate in Psychology |
| Debut | Playback Singing: For the Film 'Sargam' (1995) Album: Raaz (1996) |
| Family | Father- Name Not Known Mother- Khawar Kiani (Poet) Brother- Irfan Kiani Sister- Sasha Kiani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Boys, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | Not Known |
| Husband/Spouse | Hammad (m. 1997-2003) Syed Fareed Sarwary, Businessman (m. 2005-2008) |
| Children | Son- Naad-i-Ali (Adopted) Daughter- None |
,-Biography,-Wiki,-Age,-Boyfriend-&-More-134.jpg "Surabhi-Samriddhi Mehra (Chinky Minky), Biography, Wiki, Age, Boyfriend & More")
