Gulzar
serif · Designed by Borna Izadpanah, Fiona Ross, Alice Savoie, Simon Cozens
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Gulzar is a Nastaliq-style serif typeface designed for Urdu script, characterized by its flowing, diagonal baseline and deeply calligraphic letterforms. The glyphs have a natural, handwritten quality rooted in classical South Asian manuscript tradition, with strokes that vary noticeably in weight and curves that feel organic rather than mechanical. It carries a formal, literary tone without feeling stiff, making it well-suited for text that needs to convey cultural authenticity and typographic elegance. Its complexity means it works best at larger sizes where the detail in each letterform can be appreciated.
Gulzar is a strong choice for publishers producing Urdu-language books, poetry collections, or literary magazines where typographic heritage matters. It also works well for cultural institutions, government bodies, or nonprofits operating in South Asian contexts that need a typeface reflecting regional identity in their print or digital communications. For web use, it fits editorial platforms or news sites targeting Urdu-speaking audiences, particularly in header treatments, pull quotes, or article titles where the calligraphic style can set a clear visual tone without being overwhelming in body text.
Best suited for: Urdu-language publishing, literary magazines, cultural institution branding, and editorial headers where calligraphic serif letterforms enhance regional identity and typographic prestige.
Design considerations: Gulzar's single regular variant and ornate Nastaliq styling require careful sizing decisions to preserve legibility of its intricate strokes and flowing baseline. The typeface's formal, handwritten character works most effectively in display and headline contexts rather than extended body text, where its complexity could reduce readability.
Pairing guidance: Pair Gulzar with Lora for balanced editorial layouts where Lora provides readable body text and footnotes, with Noto Nastaliq Urdu as a complementary Urdu serif option for multilingual contexts, and Playfair Display for contrasting display hierarchy in covers or section breaks that benefit from its high-contrast serif presence.
Pairs well with
Gulzar at a glance
Borna Izadpanah, Fiona Ross, Alice Savoie, Simon Cozens
SIL Open Font License 1.1
May 2022
September 2025
1 (1 weight)
Serif · Display
3
Google Fonts
Gulzar styles
| Weight | Name | Upright |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | Regular | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
Gulzar character map
Which languages does Gulzar support?
Gulzar includes 3 character sets:
- Arabic: Arabic, Persian and Urdu
- Latin: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and other Western European languages
- Latin Extended: Central and Eastern European languages such as Polish, Czech, Turkish, Romanian and Hungarian
It does not include Cyrillic or Greek characters, so it can't set Russian, Ukrainian or Greek text.
Can I use Gulzar commercially?
Yes, it's free for personal and commercial use. Gulzar is released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1. You can use it in logos, websites, apps, videos, printed products and merchandise without paying or asking permission. The one thing you can't do is sell the font file on its own.