Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar, The heartthrob singer and actor who took the entertainment industry of Pakistan with a blow!

From “Channo” to “Actor in law” and “Mere brother ki dulhan”, this man has done it all! He’s among those of the Pakistani artists who have been to Bollywood and back without compromising the industry in their home country. We also know him for singing some heart touching songs like “Jhoom” and “Daastan-e-Ishq”. Keep reading as Social Diary finds out more about the singer in this exclusive interview.

Who is Ali Zafar? Tell us about yourself (your background, education, lifestyle etc.)

An artist, an optimist, a romantic; I always like to see the positive side of things, the silver lining in everything.

My father retired as the Chairman of the Fine Arts Department of his college and my mother was the first scholar in library science so education has been of great importance in my family. I went to NCA and I started off by making portraits; I was 18 and I used to make quick sketches at the PC hotel; I used to go to college in the mornings and then after college I used to go straight to PC and be there till midnight.

How would you describe your music style?

Music is my way of expressing myself. Whatever songs I write and compose, signify whatever is close to me, my feelings and my thoughts at that particular time. The emotional and mental arena that I am in at that stage are defined by the music I create at that time so I wouldn’t say there is one particular style.

Who are the music inspirations for you, both national and international?

Mehdi Hassan, Bade Ghulam Ali Sahab, Kishore Kumar, Lata jee, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Page, Jeff Buckley, Sting.

You have been a part of the music industry for a good while now; do you think that the upcoming talent is as good as your generation of musicians?

The young musicians that are coming up are very talented and it is great that they have more platforms and better technology now as well to share their talent.

Music certainly looks like your passion but then you shifted to acting.. is there an actor in specific who you follow?

I wouldn’t say I shifted – I do both together. I am very fortunate to have been able to write, compose and sing on almost every project I’ve been a part of. Most recently, with Teefa in Trouble, I have done the music, acted and produced the film!

Actors I admire are Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachan.

You’re currently waiting on the release of “Teefa in trouble”. What should the audience expect from the movie?

I hope for audiences to be blown away with excitement, laughter thrill and pride.

Do you foresee yourself going for movies in Bollywood in the near future? Or are you here to stay?

Making a Pakistani film does not mean closing the doors for your art anywhere else in the world

You’ve merged Punjabi with English in your song “Chan Ve” from your upcoming movie. Is there any specific reason for it or you’re just experimenting with your music?

In many ways it was what we felt was required at that time of my character.

There are many controversies coming fourth right before your films release. Do you think the allegations placed will adversely affect your awaited film?

I believe with anything in my life, that the truth of all matters always comes to surface when HE decides the time for it is right.

How was your experience of starring next to Maya Ali, Mehmood Aslam and Asma Abbass in “Teefa in trouble”?

It was a great experience each one of them are amazing individuals. It was an honour for me to be working alongside Mahmood Aslam Sir who is a very senior artist and his return to the silver screen with Teefa in Trouble means a lot to me. Asma Abbas brought life to the set she is full of energy and laughter and she has a beautiful voice. She even has her own song in the film.

Maya Ali is very simply, a star.