Mahira Khan declared sexiest Pakistani woman

By Murtaza Ali Shah

LONDON: Actress Mahira Khan has been named as the hottest Pakistani on the planet in a UK based showbiz newspaper’s popular annual poll of the 50 Sexiest Asian Women.

The star of one of the year’s biggest hits Bin Roye was ranked at number 10 in the 2015 list, which up 24 places from last year.

This rounds off a dream year for the actress, who scored a big international success with Lollywood film Bin Roye and then shot big budget Bollywood film Raees opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Entertainment journalist Asjad Nazir, who founded the list and puts it together annually, believes Mahira has taken her first giant steps towards international superstardom this year.

“Right now there is no Pakistani actress on a bigger roll than Mahira Khan. Not only is she bridging the gap between television and cinema, Mahira is also strengthening international ties for her country Pakistan. With huge projects on the way in 2016, expect her to reach great heights and become a strong role model for girls in her country,” Asjad Nazir told The News in an interview.

Priyanka Chopra once again beat off tough global competition to retain her title as the sexiest Asian woman in the world this year.

This is the third time in the past four years that Priyanka has topped the long-running list of 50 sexiest Asian women on the planet.

Popular television actress Sanaya Irani rose one place from last year to come second and fellow small screen star Drashti Dhami took third spot. A-list Bollywood actresses Deepika Padukone (4) and Katrina Kaif (5) completed the top 5. Others in the top 10 are Nia Sharma (6), Kareena Kapoor Khan (7), Gauahar Khan (8), Sonam Kapoor (9) and the highest placed Pakistani, Mahira Khan, (10).