Celebrated Pakistani singer Humaira Channa has opened up about the personal challenges she faced early in her career, revealing that her extended family-particularly an uncle-cut ties with her father when she chose to pursue singing professionally.
In a recent appearance on popular show ‘Mazaak Raat, Humaira shared candid insights into her life, career and the social stigma she battled as a young artist entering the entertainment industry.
Born into an artistic household, Humaira’s father was a film producer who worked on Sindhi, Punjabi and Urdu films, while her mother also had a deep appreciation for the arts.
Despite their support, Humaira faced significant resistance from the wider family. Some relatives accused her father of “making his daughter sing for money,” and the backlash even led to broken family ties.
Humaira began her singing career at a young age with Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television (PTV). She credited legendary music composer Nisar Bazmi for giving her her first big break-singing all the songs in the film Hum Ek Hain. The project, however, wasn’t without its controversies. The film’s lead actress, a singer-turned-performer, reportedly clashed with Bazmi, demanding she be allowed to sing the songs herself. Bazmi stood firm in his decision to keep Humaira as the playback singer. Additional tensions arose with the film’s male lead, making the production notorious for its behind-the-scenes drama.
Despite the challenges, Humaira’s work on Hum Ek Hain earned her critical acclaim and several awards, launching her into the spotlight. Her career continued to flourish, and she later had the honor of performing with the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
On the personal front, Humaira revealed that she remained focused solely on her career before marriage. “I never fell in love before marriage,” she said. “After marriage, I considered my husband my majazi khuda (worldly beloved).” She added that she believes true love should begin after marriage, dismissing one-sided love as a waste of time and energy. In a full-circle moment, Humaira shared that the same family members who once distanced themselves later returned with pride, eager to associate with her after she rose to fame. Humaira Channa’s story is one of resilience, dedication and a voice that triumphed over judgment-transforming family rejection into national admiration.