Shaista Lodhi () is a

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

television host, and actress.

Early life and education

Shaista Lodhi was born in

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

to Ali Gohar Lodhi and Roshan Taj Lodhi. She grew up in a family with three brothers (Amir Lodhi, Tahir Lodhi and

Sahir Lodhi "Sahir Lodhi" is a Pakistani actor, Tv host and a Radio jockey. He made his first TV appearance in Chai Time on Indus TV, which became a hit morning show. Some of his most popular shows are Shair Online, Kuch Tum Kahao Kuch Hum Kahain, Ranjhey ...

). In 2000, she completed her

MBBS A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (; MBBS, also abbreviated as BM BS, MB ChB, MB BCh, or MB BChir) is a medical degree granted by medical schools or universities in countries that adhere to the United Kingdom's higher education tradi ...

from

Jinnah Sindh Medical University Jinnah Sindh Medical University (), formerly known as ''Sindh Medical College'', is a Medical school, medical university in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It gained university status in June 2012. It currently has 11 constituent institutes and 35 Affi ...

Television career

Shaista started her career as a VJ in 2001. She was then asked to fill in as a host on a private TV channel. She was the host of the

morning show Breakfast television (Europe and Australia) or morning show (Canada and the United States) is a type of news broadcasting, news or infotainment television programme that broadcasts Live television, live in the morning (typically broadcast pro ...

''Good Morning Pakistan'', which aired on

ARY Digital ''ARY Digital HD'' () is a Pakistani television network available in Pakistan. ARY Digital was founded by a Dubai-based holding company Pakistani businessman, Abdul Razzak Yaqoob and Salman Iqbal (ARY). The network is focused towards on Pak ...

. At the end of September 2010, she joined

GEO Geo- is a prefix derived from the Greek word ''γη'' or ''γαια'', meaning "earth", usually in the sense of "ground or land”. GEO or Geo may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''GEO'' (magazine), a popular scientific magazi ...

and hosted the morning show ''

Utho Jago Pakistan ''Geo Entertainment'' or Har Pal Geo is a Pakistani entertainment television channel owned by Geo Television Network was established in May 2002. Its test transmission started on 14 August 2002 on the PAS 10 digital satellite whereas on 1 Octobe ...

'' on the same channel. The show was suspended on 15 May 2014 by the channel administration after alleged

blasphemy Blasphemy refers to an insult that shows contempt, disrespect or lack of Reverence (emotion), reverence concerning a deity, an object considered sacred, or something considered Sanctity of life, inviolable. Some religions, especially Abrahamic o ...

during the show and she left Pakistan because of fears for her safety. Shaista then moved to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

with her three children and returned to Pakistan in 2015. She made her comeback in morning shows by hosting ''Sitare Ki Subah'' on

Hum Sitaray Hum Sitaray is a Pakistani entertainment channel launched by Hum Network Limited on 14 December 2013. It is a major entertainment channel in Pakistan. History The channel launched on 14 December 2013 with original programming - this had beco ...

. She also hosted ''Mehmaan Nawaz'' on SEE TV and then returned to

Geo TV Jang Media Group (), also known as Geo Group, is a Pakistani media conglomerate and a subsidiary of Dubai-based company Independent Media Corporation. It has headquarters in Printing House, Karachi. It is the publisher of the Urdu language new ...

, hosting ''Geo Subah Pakistan'' from 30 January 2017. In 2020, Shaista Lodhi was a captain of the Peshawar Stallions team in '' Jeeto Pakistan'' League in

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

Special. In October 2021, she revealed that she would be hosting a morning show on

PTV Home PTV Home HD is a Pakistani free-to-air television channel owned by the Pakistan Television Corporation. It also broadcast as a Terrestrial television. History PTV Home started broadcasting on 26 November 1964 in West Pakistan and on 25 Decem ...

in the near future, replacing

Nadia Khan Nadia Khan (born 22 May 1962) is a Pakistani television actress, presenter and producer. She is best known for the '' Nadia Khan Show'', a morning TV programme, and for OutStyle, her YouTube channel. She is known for her role in the PTV seri ...

. She made her debut on the show, ''Morning at Home'', on 15 November 2021.

Personal life

She was previously known as Shaista Wahidi, In 1999, she married Waqar Wahidi, after which she came to be known as Shaista Wahidi. They got separated in 2012 and the marriage eventually ended in a divorce. She has three children from her first marriage. She married for a second time in June 2015. Her second husband, Adnan Lodhi, is the first Pakistani art

auctioneer An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition ...

in South Africa. Shaista's brother,

, also works in the TV industry.Zahidi, Farahnaz. (10 April 2013
Let’s give Shaista Wahidi a break – The Express Tribune Blog
Blogs.tribune.com.pk. Retrieved on 11 December 2015.

Filmography

Television series

Telefilm

Reality shows

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lodhi, Shaista Pakistani television hosts Pakistani women television presenters Living people People from Karachi Muhajir people 21st-century Pakistani actresses Jinnah Sindh Medical University alumni Pakistani YouTubers Pakistani television actresses 1976 births