Ali Saleem

Ali Saleem
علی سلیم
Born1979 (age 44–45)
Islamabad, Pakistan
EducationCadet College Hasan Abdal, Froebel's International School
Occupations
Years active2000–2023
Known forComedy

Ali Saleem (Urdu: علی سلیم), best known by his alter-ego Begum Nawazish Ali, is a Pakistani television host, actor, scriptwriter, and impressionist. He became a contestant in Bigg Boss Season 4 in 2010. He broke into the mainstream audiences through his impersonations of the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and later playing the cross-dressing Begum Nawazish Ali on various television channels, including Aaj TV, Dawn News, and Geo TV.

His alter ego of Begum Nawazish Ali has now become his primary persona as he rarely appears as the male Ali Saleem. He is a bisexual man born to a retired colonel father in Pakistan Army[1] and his wife, a former government official.

Biologically born a male, Ali has at times called himself gay, Khusra,[2] bisexual,[3] and transgender.[4]

  1. ^ Walsh, Declan (17 May 2006). "Pakistan's late night, cross-dressing TV star". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. ^ Andriote, John-Manuel (4 April 2008). "Pakistan's drag star". The Washington Blade. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  3. ^ Rao, Ashok (11 December 2007). "Begum Nawazish Ali to Host on Indian TV". TopNews India. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  4. ^ Simon, Jane (30 July 2007). "Saira Khan's Pakistan Adventure". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 March 2023.