Maryam Zakaria

Before moving to Mumbai, Zakaria worked in Sweden as a model, dance teacher, and choreographer. She founded the Indisk Dans Studio, the first dance school in Sweden dedicated to the jhatkas and matkas of Bollywood cinema. That venture sharpened the performance skills that would later define her screen career. In 2009, she relocated to India and began appearing in television commercials, including notable spots for Set Wet, Layz, and a Coca-Cola advertisement with Imran Khan.

Her cinematic breakthrough came through dance. A YouTube video of her dancing caught the attention of Tamil director Sundar C, who cast her in an item number for the 2010 film Nagaram. The "Diyalo Diyala" number from 100% Love became her big break. She took on leading roles in Telugu films like Madatha Kaja (2011), opposite Allari Naresh, and later acted in Arjuna. Bollywood recognized her after her role as Farah in Agent Vinod, which featured the mujra "Dil Mera Muft Ka" with Kareena Kapoor. In 2013, she starred opposite Aftab Shivdasani in Grand Masti, a film that became one of the biggest hits in Bollywood's A-certificate category and entered the 100-crore club in India. She has remained active in the industry for over a decade and a half.