Shahnaz Rizwan Biography: Net Worth, Awards, Husband, Ethnicity, Movies, Parents, Height, Children

Shahnaz Rizwan is a British-Pakistani actress known for portraying Santosh “Toshi” Bhalla in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein.

She began her career as a child actor in Pakistani cinema, later focusing on academics and professional work in London before returning to acting in her later years.

She has also been involved in literature, teaching, and creative writing.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Shahnaz Rizwan
• Born: November 28, 1951
• Age: 74 years old
• Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
• Nationality: British, Pakistani
• Occupation: Actress, Author, Poet, Linguist
• Height: 1.63m
• Parents: Mr. Ahmed Ghazi and Mrs. Khadija Ghazi
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Rizwan Siddiqui
• Children: Mawaan Rizwan, Nabhaan Rizwan
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Shahnaz Rizwan was born on November 28, 1951, in Karachi, Pakistan.

She was raised in a creative household by her parents, Ahmed Ghazi and Khadija Ghazi.

She appeared in films as a child in Pakistan, gaining early recognition in the entertainment industry.

Despite her early exposure to acting, she focused on education, completing studies in science, education, sociology, and Urdu language and literature at Karachi University.

After relocating to London in 1994, she furthered her qualifications in TESOL at the University of East London and obtained a CELTA from the University of Cambridge.

She later worked as an ESOL lecturer in the United Kingdom while raising her family.

She is of Pakistani ethnic background and practices Islam.

Career

Shahnaz Rizwan began her career in the late 1950s as a prolific child actress in the Pakistani film industry, where she received critical acclaim for her roles in features such as Hazar Dastan.

However, she took a significant hiatus from professional acting to focus on her education and her career as a linguist and educator in London.

Her return to the global stage occurred in a truly modern fashion when she began appearing in her son Mawaan’s YouTube comedy videos in 2012, which quickly went viral and caught the attention of Indian television producers.

The growth of her career reached its most iconic phase in 2013 when she was cast as the spirited and lovable Mrs. Bhalla in the StarPlus blockbuster Yeh Hai Mohabbatein.

Her chemistry with the ensemble cast and her authentic portrayal of a Punjabi matriarch earned her widespread popularity across the South Asian diaspora.

She remained a cornerstone of the show for five years, during which she also published her lifetime poetry anthology, Shahnaz Ke Jugnu, in 2018, blending her literary accomplishments with her television success.

Her influence in the arts has continued to evolve as she transitioned back to London to establish her own production house, Shanna Productions, and focus on social activism through the Ghazi Educational Society.

She has been recognized with numerous honors for her voluntary work, including the Queen’s Platinum Champion Award in 2022.

Both of her sons have followed her into the spotlight — Mawaan as a successful comedian and writer, and Nabhaan as a critically acclaimed actor — solidifying the family’s legacy as a creative powerhouse in the British and international media landscape.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @shahnazrizwan

Personal Life

Shahnaz Rizwan was born on November 28, 1951, and is currently 74 years old.

She has been married to Rizwan Siddiqui for several decades in an arranged marriage that was supported by their families, and the couple has lived a stable life in London since the 1990s.

They have two sons, Mawaan Rizwan and Nabhaan Rizwan, both of whom are prominent figures in the UK entertainment industry.

She is known for her warm, maternal nature on and off screen and often credits her family’s support for her return to professional acting after her academic pursuits.

Filmography

• Hazar Dastan (1965)
• Shola Aur Shabnam (1967)
• Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (2013–2018)
• Saas Bahu Aur Betiyaan (2018)
• Juice (2023)

Net Worth

Shahnaz Rizwan has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.

Her primary income sources include her five-year tenure as a lead cast member on one of India’s most successful television dramas, as well as her previous professional career as an educator and lecturer in the United Kingdom.

She also generates revenue through book royalties from her published poetry and her work through her production company and various literary and artistic collaborations.