interview
Ever since 'Channo' hit the airwaves, Ali Zafar has established himself as a pop icon and has received acclaim every step of the way. Not only has this multi-talented 25-year-old made his mark as a singer, actor, and model, but he has also proven his worth as a director through the video of his track 'Aik Pal'. His debut album, 'Huqa Pani', was one of the best selling albums of Pakistan in 2004, and won him multiple awards. The album was released in India this year, where it continues to earn praise. We caught up with Ali Zafar to find out more about his musical ventures.
Us: Were you at all surprised by the massive success of you debut album?
Ali Zafar: Well, I made it to be a success and I believed in it and put in everything I had. God likes those who believe in themselves and Him, and thus blessed me with the fulfillment of a dream.
Us: How long did it take you to make the album?
AZ: Brainstorming for three years and then finally recorded it in over a month.
Us: How's your second album coming along? When will it be released?
AZ: I am working on the second album these days. I've composed more than forty songs and am working on ten for the next album. I hate and love being a perfectionist, so I'll take my time till I think it's the best I can do for now.
Us: You were in Norway a few weeks ago. How was the experience of performing there?
AZ: One of the best shows of my life. They told me it was the biggest turn up ever in Norway's history because it had about 8000 people there and I was the only one performing. It was so touching that they were there for me. Lovely crowd. Would love to go there again.
Us: How does it feel to get such an overwhelming response from the international audience?
AZ: Well, overwhelming responses always overwhelm you. It's an amazing feeling to realize that your music has traveled lands and seas.
Us: And success in India seems to have gained a high priority for our musicians...
AZ: You need to set new goals for yourself and new milestones so that they inspire you to work harder. As you go international the competition increases and makes you work even harder.
Us: So are you keeping the international market in mind while you're working on your sophomore album?
AZ: Yeah, you can say that.
Us: You did the cover of 'Every Breath You Take' for New Year's Eve (the MP3 of which is available on your website) - are you planning to venture into the English music arena?
AZ: Well, you never know. Let's see.
Us: Have you decided which video you'll release next?
AZ: Now, I think the next video I release will be from my next album. We might do one more with our Indian record company for further promotion in India.
Us: How was the experience of directing the 'Aik Pal' video? And how has the response to the video been so far?
AZ: Well, I loved it. I've always been fascinated with film making and had wanted to apply it sometime in the future. Good that it happened now. I love taking risks and trying new things out, providing an outlet to my artistic endeavors. People have taken it better than I thought they would. It was something very abstract but surprisingly a lot of people came up with brilliant perceptions and angles of it that I had wanted them to.
Us: Do you plan to direct more videos?
AZ: I do, actually. But I haven't planned anything as yet.
Us: And what about acting and modeling? Any projects lined up?
AZ: Well, I have been offered a couple of movies from here and abroad. But I really wanna do something for our rotten film industry. Might just take up one, but then that depends on a lot of things. Let's see how it goes.
Us: Do you read the stuff that's written about you in magazines and posted on forums and websites?
AZ: Yes, I do. It's a lot of fun until something is printed about you that you never did or never said.
Us: So how do you cope with people spreading rumors about you? And just how annoying are rumors?
AZ: Well, it was the toughest thing for me to handle initially. I would sit down depressed with my head in my knees trying to figure out as to why somebody would make up such a thing and how could they have the time to try and waste other people's lives, but then I learned that they actually waste their own lives by doing that. I couldn't let that affect my work and figured that it's a package which comes with being in the limelight. You should just concentrate on good work. Everything else will fade away but the work in which you induce your heart and soul.
Us: And what about the endless criticism that 'Channo' is a rip off of an old Indian song? What do you say in response to that?
AZ: I have been accused that most of the songs on my album are copies. In return to that all I've asked is to bring me the actual songs from which they have been copied, but no one's ever done that. Have you ever thought why? Regarding 'Channo', people relate it to Burman's 'Dhanno'. I will not deny that I am a huge R.D. Burman fan like almost all the musicians I know to date, and have been listening to his songs since childhood. Now if that inspired me (like every other musician who is inspired by someone) to create something of my own that sounded a bit like it, then I don't see a crime in that. The song 'Channo' has given pleasure to countless audiences all over the world and recognition to a Pakistani artist internationally, and thus to Pakistan. Those who can't accept that or don't want to, can't be helped. Just some informal information: I made twenty different people sit and listen to both the versions. Nobody agreed that it could be called a copy.
Us: Any comments for those who say that you don't sing live during your concerts?
AZ: We have the footage of almost all of my live shows. You're most welcome to come and see it also and check for yourself that I've always sung live on shows even in the worst of conditions with fever, cold and sore throat, just to make sure that people are not fooled and I don't ever feel guilty. For shows which are being recorded for T.V., nobody sings live because it's being recorded for the T.V. On the other hand I take it as a compliment when people think I'm not singing live because they probably think so because I sound damn good, or they're just tone deaf!
Us: What can we expect from Ali Zafar in the next few months?
AZ: The new album!
Us: Any message for your fans?
AZ: There has to be a way to meet each one of them! I wish I could. I love them all.
- By Sameen Amer
Us Magazine, The News - 11th November 2005
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