Shan

Armaghan Shahid (Urdu: ارمُغان شاہِد ‎; born 27 April 1971), better known by his stage names Shaan Shahid (Urdu: شان شاہِد ‎) and Shaan, is a Pakistani actor, producer, model, writer and a film director. Shaan has established himself as one of the most popular leading actors of Pakistan. Shaan started his acting career in 1990 by making debut in Javed Fazli's film Bulandi opposite to Reema Khan. He has won many awards in Pakistan including one Pride of Performance, fifteen Nigar Awards, five Lux Style Awards, one Pakistan Media Award, ARY Film Award. He is considered as the highest-paid film star in Pakistan.

He started out his early education at the prestigious Aitchison College. His first acting venture came out at a boy scout bonfire. He won the best actor award in a play called Alif Noon, playing a comedy character, but never took acting seriously as a career. After Aitchison, he left for New York, United States and joined Newtown High School. Dreaming of being a lawyer, he always thought he had the talent to become one. He stayed in New York for seven years, then returned to Pakistan for vacation where he took up the family business, Riaz Shahid Films. At the age of 19, he did his first film, Bulandi, which was released in 1990.

Shaan made his debut with Bulandi in 1990 opposite another debutante Reema Khan. He has since appeared in hundreds of Urdu and Punjabi language films.

Keen on making a difference to filmmaking in Pakistan US, Shaan launched himself as a director. He directed his ambitious project Guns and Roses - Ik Junoon, which was released in 1999. The film was produced by the art entrepreneur Tanvir Fatima Rehman. He co-starred with Faisal Rehman, Meera and Resham. The music was scored by M. Arshad, the cinematography was done by Azhar Burki, and it was written by Pervaiz Kaleem. In 2000 he directed Mujhe Chand Chahiye starring himself, Noor, Reema Khan, Moammar Rana, Javed Sheikh and Atiqa Odho.

He then directed Moosa Khan (2001), which starred him, Saima, Abid Ali, Jan Rambo and Noor. The film received genuinely positive reviews from critics.

He signed a three-film deal with actress Juggan Kazim in 2008. One film, titled Chup was under pre-production for several years until it was scrapped; the others are still in pre-production. He is working with screenwriter Mashal Peerzada and Pakistani television director and screenwriter Sarmad Sultan Khoosat for his film projects. In 2009, Shaan appeared on ARY Digital's show Happenings which showed him directing a film scene with actress Resham in a Haveli house. In the interview he confirmed he has been making a film, however, not much is known about it. In 2012, he announced that he is set to direct one film that stayed under production for several years, Mission Allahu Akbar opposite Juggan Kazim in Thailand. In 2013, Shaan said his films were on hold as he is involved in his ambitious acting projects.

Shaan, with his extensive education and grooming and the ability to project class and elegance through his stature and expressions, has been a hot attraction for many brands and campaigns; several of them have had the pleasure of hosting him. On 17 February 2009, Unilever Pakistan launched their latest offering, the LUX Limited Edition soap, at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore, Pakistan. Shaan endorsed another mega brand, Pepsi, where he and the singing sensation Ali Zafar helped strengthen the brand in Pakistan. Pakistan's telecom giant Mobilink hosted Shaan as a spokesperson for 'Mobilink Indigo', with the launch of the new face of Mobilink's premium post-paid brand 'Indigo' in 2004. It was projected as the brand for the elite executive and families. His character was a man whose demanding lifestyle has him juggling between work and family and Indigo helps him breeze through this life successfully.

In 2013, the highest-grossing film Waar direction of Bilal Lashari stars him, Aisha Khan, Shamoon Abbasi, Uzma Khan, Ali Azmat, and Meesha Shafi. He won the Best actor award of viewer's choice at 1st ARY Film Awards. After success of Waar he appeared in Jami's O21 alongside Aamina Sheikh, Iman Ali, Shamoon Abbasi and Ayub Khoso. In 2015 Yalghaar starring Shaan and Adnan Siddiqui, the direction and production of Hassan Waqas Rana is set to be the most expensive film in the history of Pakistani cinema with an estimated budget of Rs 50 crore.