PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistani actress Noshaba Bibi, widely known for her memorable Pashto characters on PTV, has revealed that she was married at the age of 12 and became a mother at 14.
The veteran artist, whose real name is Jahan Sultana, has remained a respected face of Pakistan Television for decades and is especially remembered for her performances in classic dramas where she often portrayed traditional Pashtun roles.
Noshaba Bibi has also worked for Pashto Radio, and her association with both PTV and Pashto broadcasting spans several decades.
Originally from Swat, she has always appeared on television with her head covered, earning admiration from fans for her modesty, graceful personality and polite manner of speaking. She continues to enjoy strong popularity, particularly across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a recent interview with a digital media platform, the actress spoke openly about her early marriage and personal life.
“I never got time to focus on a job or career. I got married at 12, and I also started working on television around the same time,” she said.
Recalling the day of her wedding, she shared that she was still playing with dolls when she was told there was a wedding at home. “Someone gave me a lipstick and I forgot everything because lipstick was my weakness,” she said with a smile.
The actress said she happily joined her friends at the wedding ceremony, adding that children at that age do not even understand what marriage actually means.
However, she revealed that once the guests left, she asked her sister-in-law to send her back home. She also disclosed that her husband was 23 years older than her and that he was her cousin (maternal aunt’s son). She said her aunt strongly insisted on the marriage.
Noshaba Bibi further revealed that she became a mother at 14 and has three sons and one daughter. While describing her father as strict, she said her husband fully supported her acting career.