NAPA Announces New Faculty for Its Theatre Arts Department (2026)

The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) has announced the faculty for its Theatre Arts Department, bringing together artists and educators with experience in acting, directing, physical theatre, writing, translation, film, television, and stage production. The new faculty includes NAPA graduates, internationally trained artists, and professionals who have worked across theatre and the wider entertainment industry.  

Bazelah Mustafa: Internationally Trained Theatre Artist 

Bazelah Mustafa has trained in physical theatre in both Europe and the UK. She holds a degree in Physical Theatre from the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, a Master’s in Theatre Practice from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and an undergraduate degree in Drama and Fine Arts from the University of Northampton. Her work has taken her across Pakistan, the UK, and France, where she has worked as an actor, director, writer, and educator. Her original productions include Soch, Loop, Nocturnal, V-Gen, and X. 

Meesam Naqvi: From Performer to Director

Meesam Naqvi is a NAPA graduate who trained under Zia Mohyeddin, Rahat Kazmi, and Talat Hussain. He has worked as an actor and director for more than 200 productions. He was also involved in the revival of Dastangoi in Pakistan. In 2020, he headed the re-establishment of the Arts Council Theatre Academy before moving into television direction. His television credits include Betiyan, Mayi Ri, and Hasrat. 

Nazr ul Hassan: A Versatile Voice in Pakistani Theatre 

Nazr ul Hassan was also mentored by Zia Mohyeddin. His theatre credits include Othello, Court Martial, and Jasoosi Duniya, while his screen work includes Sammi and Parwarish. He was part of the Dastangoi revival in Pakistan and recently performed in the one-man show System Down Hai. In 2018, he won Best Actor at the Mumbai International Film Festival for his performance in the short film Kachrachi. 

Kiran Siddiqui: From Stage Acting to Screenwriting 

Kiran Siddiqui trained under Zia Mohyeddin, Khalid Ahmed, Fawad Khan, and Sunil Shankar. She began her career as a stage actor before moving into translation, adaptation, and screenwriting. Her recent work includes the television serial Parwarish. 

Zarqa Naz: Bridging Theatre and Translation 

Zarqa Naz is a theatre director and translator who also serves as a visiting faculty at Iqra University. Her directing credits include Hide & Seek and Pagla Ghoda. She has also translated several plays from Hindi and English into Urdu. 

Ali Junejo: From Theatre to Cannes 

Ali Junejo has worked in both theatre and film. He is known internationally for his role in Joyland, which received the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. It was also named Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards. His theatre credits include The Man on a Black Horse, The Portrait of Rumi, Waiting for Godot, and 12 Angry Men. 

Kashif Hussain: Exploring Theatre Beyond Dialogue 

Kashif Hussain received his theatre training at NAPA before pursuing advanced training at the University of Texas at Austin. Since 2011, he has worked across theatre, film, and television. His screen credits include Churails and Akhara, while his theatre work includes Equus and King Lear. 

M. Samhan Ghazi: Passing Theatre to the Next Generation 

M. Samhan Ghazi has worked on more than 30 stage productions. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and has a background in Chartered Accountancy. He has also spent more than 15 years teaching Urdu and Theatre Arts, from O-Level through higher education.

Muhammad Hammad Khan: From Performance to Teaching 

Muhammad Hammad Khan graduated from NAPA in 2012 and now teaches at the University of Karachi. His work includes theatre and television, as well as short films and television commercials. 

Fahad Sheikh: Comedy, Drama, and Improvisation

Fahad Sheikh has been working in the performing arts since 2018. His work covers comedy, drama, and improvisation. He has also performed his autobiographical one-man play Quiet Shift. 

Ali Sher: Bringing Movement to the Stage 

Ali Sher holds an engineering degree from NED University and has also trained at NAPA. He specialised in movement under Bazelah Mustafa, combining his theatre training with a background in engineering. 

Tanveer Kamran: The Art Behind the Look

Tanveer Kamran has nearly 25 years of experience as a get-up and makeup artist in Pakistani television and theatre. His work focuses on the visual appearance of performers and is an important part of preparing actors for the stage and screen. 

Taken together, the new faculty offers the students an exposure to professionals with experience across the performing arts, from rehearsal rooms and stages to film sets and television productions. Their varied backgrounds bring together different approaches to performance, direction, writing, and production within the classroom.

Images: NAPA