Early work (2009–2012) Aly made her first on-screen appearance with a recurring role in
Geo Entertainment's sitcom
Nadaaniyaan (2011). It was an episodic appearance followed by leading roles in several soap operas including, the melodrama
Mehmoodabad Ki Malkain, the family
Ahmed Habib Ki Betiyan and the melodrama
Meray Qatil Meray Dildar, the later of which earned her a nomination of
Hum Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2012, she played the titular role in
Express Entertainment's
Chandni. The same year, she received praised for portraying a young outspoken college student in
Fasih Bari Khan's written
Mohabbat Jaye Bhar Mein She then appeared as naive poor Esha in
Meri Ladli opposite
Ahsan Khan, as carefree
cancer patient Zoya in
Fahim Burney's
Sitamgar opposite
Faisal Rehman, and as a girl nextdoor in
Syed Ahmed Kamran's
Mere Khuwabon Ka Diya opposite
Danish Taimoor. Her next role was in Fasih Bari Khan's
Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah as an opportunistic tenant for few episodes.
Breakthrough and recognition (2013–2016) In 2013, Aly received critical praise for her portrayal of an innocent teen child in
Haseeb Hassan's directed
Nanhi, In 2014, her roles in
Barkat Siddiqui's directed
Qudrat,
Faiza Iftikhar's written
Kahani Raima Aur Manahil Ki and
Waseem Abbas's directed
Ladoon Mein Pali were went unnoticed. However, the portrayal of a rape survivor in
Yasir Nawaz's directed
Chup Raho propelled her career. This was followed by less well-received portrayals in
A-Plus TV's
Mera Raqeeb and
Chupke Se Bahar Ajaye. Her first role in 2015 was of submissive girl dominated by her mother's ideologies in
Sabiha Sumar's directed
Khuda Dekh Raha Hai, earned her another nomination of Lux Style Award for Best TV Actress. Later that year, she made her second on-screen appearance with Agha Ali after
Khuda Dekh Raha Hai in Kashif Nisar's directed
Kis Se Kahoon, Her performance in the series is often ranked among one of her best and earned her
Hum Award for Best Actress,
Hum Award for Best Actress Popular and a nomination of Best Television Actress at the
17th Lux Style Awards. The same year, she made her Bollywood debut starring opposite
Sridevi in
Mom. The film emerged a box office success with Aly’s performance as a of victim of sexual assault unanimously receiving praise. Rahul Desai of
Filmfare found Aly to be "great in maintaining the coldness of her character". Aly made her playback singing debut in 2018 with the theme song of
O Rangreza, in which she played the character of Sassi, a vibrant and rebellious daughter of a poet. She received praise for her performance and another nomination of Best TV Actress at the 17th Lux Style Awards. Her next role was of a university student who gets stiff in her decision of love in
Sarmad Khoosat's directed
Noor ul Ain, and was paired opposite
Imran Abbas. Later that year, she appeared as
Chammi in
Khadija Mastoor's acclaimed novel
Aangan's
television adaptation with the same name which was directed by
Mohammed Ehteshamuddin. She received critical praise for her performance with
Dawn Images ranking it as one of the top 6 performances of television in 2019. After the series ended, a reviewer from
The News International stated, "Sajal Aly stole the limelight and overshadowed everyone and everything else surrounding the recently concluded play". She received dual nominations as
Best TV Actress - Viewers' choice and
Best TV Actress - Critics' choice at the
19th Lux Style Awards. In 2019, Aly was praised for her first role of the year of a struggling actress Momina Sultan in
Geo Entertainment's spiritual romance
Alif where she appeared opposite
Hamza Ali Abbasi. The series earned her a nomination of Best TV Actress at the
20th Lux Style Awards. The little praise came from her portrayal of a university graduate with nightmare problems in Farhat Ishtiaq's written romantic thriller
Yeh Dil Mera, which broadcast on
Hum TV. In 2021, she appeared in the first eight episodes of
Ishq E Laa opposite
Azaan Sami Khan as a fearless journalist. The same year, she returned to the silver screen as Zara in
Nabeel Qureshi's directed historical-drama
Khel Khel Mein opposite
Bilal Abbas Khan. She won Best Film Actress for her performance in the film at the
21st Lux Style Awards. Her first role in 2022 was of a female cadet from Pakistan Military Academy in
Nadeem Baig's directed
Sinf-e-Aahan alongside an ensemble female cast. The series earned her Best TV Actress - Critics' nomination at the
22nd Lux Style Awards. In 2023, she appeared as a hardworking real estate agent in
Syed Mohammad Ahmed's written
Kuch Ankahi in her second on-screen appearance with
Bilal Abbas Khan. The same year, she made her English-language film debut with the British romantic comedy ''
What's Love Got to Do with It? in a brief but pivotal role. It was produced by Jemima Khan and directed by Shekhar Kapur. Writing for Wionews'' Shomini Sen liked the movie and opined, "Aly delivers a restraint performance". The film earned $11.1 million. == Media image ==