Atif Aslam apologised to me: Goher Mumtaz

Former Jal members cleared the air privately

Originating as a youthful passion project, Jal started off as a brand of two. Even before it had acquired its name, the band was carried by the joint skills of Goher Mumtaz and Atif Aslam. Together, the two artists released tracks that have carved spots for themselves in the legacy of iconic Pakistani music.

However, despite having undeniable synergy, the guitarist and the vocalist had a fallout early in their careers due to creative and managerial differences. This led to Atif pursuing a solo career, especially releasing hit after hit for Bollywood, and Goher revising the lineup for Jal, adding Farhan Saeed to the mix. Speaking on Ahmad Ali Butt's podcast, Goher recalled the ordeal of years ago.

"It was a struggle for me, personally," he admitted. "I haven't spoken much about it because back then, I was keen on suppressing those emotions."

Although Goher and Atif's estrangement has been a public spectacle since it began, it seems that certain sentiments have been quelled over the years. "I believe it's important for a band to inspire people, rather than fill their ears with hearsay," explained Goher. "There was a lot I wanted to say, but I kept it in. The band was larger than life, hence I did not want to be negative about anybody and wanted to prove my worth through my work and songs."

Goher further mentioned Atif's interview with Samina Peerzada, in which the Pehli Nazar Mein singer spoke about the dispute and the incidents involving each musician's family that caused a rift between the two, even though Atif also later mentioned that the two have now resolved their differences.

"I felt hurt after watching that interview," admitted Goher about Atif's pre-pandemic conversation with Samina. "This was the time when we were frequently meeting up, playing cricket together, and whatnot. I was hurt because I was asked the same questions, but I didn't discuss the matter."

However, Goher added that Atif had made an effort to make amends. "Atif came up to me and apologised, mentioning that he got carried away by the questions," he revealed. "I told him, he was permitted to speak ill of me, though it was wrong to bring up my family. Still, we got that sorted the day he admitted his mistake. Besides, we are older now. We're no longer teenagers."

Goher reiterated the significance of opting to inspire someone rather than getting caught up in grudges. "The fans love us. They should only be told what they'd like to hear, hence family matters should be reserved for our homes. This is especially important in an age where social media tends to blow things out of proportion," he observed.

The 43-year-old musician also clarified that his past with Atif had not affected his decade-long bond with the torch-bearer Farhan in any way. "I think that Farhan's reason for leaving was to explore what was next. When you're in the band and you've accomplished every possible feat, there is an urge to expand, to go to Bollywood maybe.

"I did advise him to stay in Jal and pursue a career in Bollywood," Goher said. Earlier, the two former bandmates were involved in a social media dispute after Goher referred to Farhan as an "average" singer during an interview with Freebird Music when he spoke about Jal's struggles after Atif's departure.

The Udaari actor then quoted the word on Instagram and shared various footage of performing in front of enthusiastic crowds, expressing his love for his fans in the same caption. This prompted a re-share on Stories by Goher himself, as well as a lengthy statement that stirred up yet another scandal for the associates of Jal.

"I should not have said that, honestly," the guitarist admitted to Ahmad, further explaining that he holds respect in his heart for Farhan and only meant to recall the training phase that the latter had to undergo to become the star that he is now. "During my entire career, I've avoided vilifying people. But no one can escape social media."