Biography
Television drama producer/director.
Iqbal Ansari, was born in small town Sahiwal (Montgomery), Pakistan on Nov 1st, 1950 after his family migrated from Saharanpur, India during partition. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Arts from Punjab University. He further trained at Pakistan Television Training institute, Chaklala when he joined Pakistan Television (PTV) in 1973 as associate producer. He produced his first television series " Aadhay Chehray" from PTV Islamabad station. He was sent by PTV for further training to Television Training Institute, Berlin in the eighties. He got married to prominent actress Bushra Ansari in Islamabad in 1978.
From 2002 to 2014, he worked in Management at a private television network as Head of Dramatic production to develop drama industry in Pakistan.
Indus Tv Network After an early retirement from PTV, Iqbal Ansari started his work in the private sector as Head of Programs for Indus Television Network, which was at the forefront of private television in 2002. While he was there, he organised the programming and developed new content for the entertainment sector of the channel, including drama serial Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat, and having a Manto Week of plays. It was one of the first times that a television drama festival was created on Pakistani television. The Manto week showing 7 plays based on stories by controversial Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Producers like Sarmad Khoosat, Ayub Khawar contributed to the festival. He also directed his last project, the serial Raj Hansni, written by Bushra Ansari. Ansari also created game shows, talk shows and various types of content as Head of Programs.
ARY Digital Network moving to ARY Digital Network, He took over as Head of Programming and continued his focus on content development. During this period, Pakistan's television industry was going through a media boom. With the granting of licenses to private entities, the production sector was not prepared for the sudden needs of this gigantic powerful medium. Iqbal Ansari's experience in Pakistan Television helped him in training many young directors and producers during his work in managing private channels. He developed shows like Shaista and You, the soap Koi Toh Ho, and Nadia Khan morning show.
He decided to move away from channel management and focus on developing special drama projects. He took over as Consultant/ Director, Special Projects at GEO Television working for GEO's entertainment channel, GEO Entertainment. During his time there, he produced some of the highest rated serials and soaps like Meri Adhoori Mohabbat, Nanhi, Dil Hai Chhota Sa, Bol Meri Macchlee, Tum ho kay Chup, etc. His project Bol Meri Machhlee, directed by Haseeb Hasan, was awarded Best Serial at the Lux Style Awards 2010 and his production Nanhi, also directed by Haseeb Hasan, has been nominated for Best Serial of the Year, Best Writer of the year, and Best Actress at the Lux Style Awards 2014.
He joined Express Tv Network in 2013 as Consultant, programming for their channel Express Entertainment. His role was to develop special programs like Eid day transmission, approve content and ensure quality of in-house programs and shows purchased from production houses by the channel. He oversaw and developed production for drama serials Rangbaaz, and Gar Maan Rehjae.
