After his energetic performance with actor Humaima Malik at the Lux Style Awards Tuesday night, The Express Tribune caught up with actor-singer Ali Zafar for a quick chat backstage.
He was sitting with his wife Ayesha Fazli while he watched clips from his LSA performance of “Madhubala”; he shook his head disapprovingly as he spotted some mistakes in the routine, acknowledging that the performance would have to be re-done for recording purposes after the guests had left.
The star said that his upcoming Bollywood flick, Chashme Buddoor, which was all set to be released during Eid, has now been delayed. “There are a couple of good films coming up during that time and this one is a very special one. We don’t want it to lose its special place, so its release has been re-scheduled for December this year,” he said. Directed by David Dhawan, who also directed Bollywood flick Partner, Chashme Buddoor is a remake film of a 1981 film of the same name and also stars veteran Indian actors Juhi Chawla and Anupam Kher.
Bollywood is not easy, he said.“Does anything come easy in this world?” he asked. “It’s (Bollywood is) a lot of hard work.”
Zafar’s journey has indeed been long. From his days of painting portraits as an artist at the Pearl Continental hotel in Lahore, he has undergone a complete metamorphosis. “It’s all been very rewarding. I worked hard, gave a lot of time to music and I am grateful that people really appreciated my work.,” Zafar said with pride. “Although more of my work is now concerned with Bollywood, I never let go of a chance to perform here in Pakistan!”
“I do stuff here, like the LSA performances, because my true identity comes from Pakistan.”
When we asked the actor what his plans in the near future are, he surprised us by saying “In three to five years, it’s definitely going to be Hollywood.” We wish him the best of luck!
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2012.
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@mano: You have no idea how people in Pakistan feel about Amitabh ji, Anupam Kher, etc or Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor or any other talented artists. The only reason they don't come to Pakistan because our industry is very small and Lollywood can't afford to have them at least for now. If there is any production in future where such artists could be brought to act, you will see how we appreciate that movie.
@BruteForce: Nusrat Fatah Ali khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Abida Parveen, Rahat Fatah Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Pakistani pop artists, and the list goes on and on. Your country gave respect to all of these artists and the ppl in ur country are crazy about them. So just don't talk nonsense plz.
@TightChuddhi: Would you plz enlighten us, where did he complain about Bollywood/India??
@Vikas: Firstly, there are a lot of Indians who like Ali, and if he wants to work in Hollywood, what's wrong in that? And btw, Bollywood is a film industry where actors from different countries come to find work. If they are talented only then they get a chance. Grow up man.
@Ali:
he actually hams, is overrated and frankly speaking not good enough. Even if he gets to act in a hollywood flick, the role would be that of a desi sidekick.
He is doing well for himself in India- should continue the same. Hollywood mae jaayega to he will be " neither of the house nor of the riverbank" i.e naa ghar ka ghaat ka"
@someone:
yes, (LOL)ywood rocks.
All the best Ali you are surely doing so amazing work. We hope that you will do the same ahead.
@Vikas It's like asking you why do you guys come to Tribune? We don’t need you guys on a Pakistani site. I mean seriously, have you heard about GLOBALIZATION? If not then have a chat with google.com
@Jahangir Jhan:
"There is always a TAT for every Tit."
lol.. Dude, do you even understand what you have just said?
" If you will hate us, You will not find us behind you in that race."
So, you think Pakistan can actually compete with India in art! Yes, I agree in fact, so many Indians are lining up to act in "Lollywood"!
Another point is, I don't hate anyone. To hate someone you, at least according to me, the other person has to have something that you want. I am very sorry, but Pakistan does not have anything which India might want.
Pakistani actors thrive in india because people here are least bothered about the actors religion,nationality etc.,they have a open mind. but if a indian were to act in a pakistani film.I dont think it will be possible.pakistani have to know his religion and if he is a khaffir he just cant act...............you people can think only between the boundary of your religion.....
@Jahangir Jhan: The way indian soaps playing in every household and the way the bollywood films are screened in almost all multiplexes and single screen does not show that you don't care a dime! In fact it only shows how addicted you are to bollywood and Indian entertainment!
gone are the days of bollywood...their films quality has falled miserably...and no one in the arab countries or africa watch them any longer. Even in India people prefer watching television now..
@littlegiant who writes "So everyone is talentless including Ash, SRK and etc"
You missed the point big time. Everyone is talentless, true. Especially - Ash, SRK.
Hollywood, first establish yourself in Bollywood! Good to be ambitious but be realistic.
@kafeel:
If that were true, Indian producers would be flocking Lahore and not the other way round.
I pity the folks who have bad things to say about Pak artists, because that's blind hatred. Artists/professionals aren't the cause of Indo-Pak tension. Average Indian has nothing against common Pakistani civilians, who are trying to earn a living. We just hope they'd wise up against their own establishment that is trying undermined the peace between India & Pakistan by sustaining extremism.
But, I fully support India welcoming with open arms any talented Pakistani (or any other national) actor/singer or even other professionals. I see it as only fair, since Indians can go to other countries of the world and thrive there. These professionals should be treated just like any other expats.
Besides, Ali Zafar was amazing in that movie "Tere Bin laden". Hope he works on more movies like that.
@BruteForce: oh really!master piece films!.what a joke you are making of yourself....at least you could have counted some really good films like lagaan,my name is khan.but what comes out of you is litter!pakistani artists are making hay because they give some sense of quality to indian audiences and music lovers.
Keep it simple please. Acting & Actor have no borders.
@BruteForce: I don’t want to sound close minded and say we don’t need Pakistani artists, but even if they do not come, who cares!
That's exactly we think about you. There is always a TAT for every Tit. If you will hate us, You will not find us behind you in that race. So, take that attitude to elsewhere where they get impressed with it, We simply do not give a Dime.
@mr. righty rightist: So everyone is talentless including Ash, SRK and etc - I think the industry hasn't found a gem like you yet!!! But then, at least some people are talented typists!
If one person who can actually come into leading roles in Hollywood it is Ali Z. He is one of the most versatile and talented person
@A.Khan: You are wrong!! The real taste of cinema is LOLywood. Mr Ali zafar is phenominal actor and Lollywood makes path breaking movie . So he should be acting in them. No need to run here and there hollywood or bollywood. Oh and I forgot another great actor Ms veena malik should also try in Lollywood
@A.Khan:
Have you watched Kahaani or Paan Singh Tomar or Shanghai or Dirty Picture or other gems from has come out of India this year?
The problem for both sides is this: Art requires open mindedness, ability to imbibe talent from all quarters of the world. That doesn't mean there isn't enough talent in India.
If Jackie Chan makes movies in Hollywood, that doesn't make it a Chinese movie, its still a Hollywood movie, an English movie, meant for Americans. Jackie Chan has retired from action movies now, Hollywood isn't crying, because there is no dependency. If not him then someone else. So, is the case with Indian Hindi Film Industry.
I don't want to sound close minded and say we don't need Pakistani artists, but even if they do not come, who cares!
Most Bollywood producers are money launderers, who wre basically washing their black money white.
They are not bright as far as their education is concerned. They have no aesthetic sense. They are not artistically inclined.
Now here is the problem. There used to be a time when people with money used to have artistic leanings and they would honestly support great talents because they had the ability. Be it Akbar or Krishnadevaraya. We see this culture in Europe and even in Iran, even today.
But in Bollywood, the rot is from the head, the producers, who are basically crooks and criminals,
With such people at helms, you can only expect worthless pieces like David Dhavan, Rohit Shetty, Priyadarshan, Farha Khan becoming directors.
Talentless people like Ali Zafar, Veena malik, Aishwarya, Shah Rukh Khan and even criminals like Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt becoming stars.
And with 1.6 billion of idiots of South Asia (Pak, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka included), no wonder, these people thrive.
Ali Zafar is very ambitious person and can go to any length to achieve his goal;this reminds me of his crying on Indian TV regarding Indo-Pak relation to gain sympathy from Indian audience.He is loyal Pakistani when in Pakistan and different person when in India.As a talented person ,I wish he should shine in Hollywood also but I am afraid his cleverness may come in his path to glory.
@kt: Coz they come and beg to us and we have no choice but to accept them. Indians ka tou Dil hi kuch aisa hai
This guy overacts.His acting skills are repelling bad.He will not be successful in any Wood...LolAli Zafar should stick only to his strengths and that is his singing and painting.
I wish to be in Hollywood too. Somebody show me the door to Hollywood.
Typical Pakistani mentality. Getting good money and fame from a country and then whining about it.
@vikas if u dont need them ......then why sign them for music n movies.
Working in india and winning thats success. All the best
all the best love u Ali
@A.Khan: Why do you guys come to bollywood? We don't need you guys.
Think of Hollywood then. That's the real taste of cinema not Boolywood