Shehki believes romance is the key to good music

Singer looks back on his glory days

In an interview with Imran Ashraf, veteran musician Mohammed Ali Shehki shared that his approach to music involves romance, be it real or fantasy. And he believes that all artists should champion a similar mindset.

Confessing that he would picture his muse while performing, he said, "An artist has to be in love all the time, whether it is with your wife, girlfriend, or someone who only exists in your fantasy."

Tapping into his romantic side, the singer serenaded the audience with his hit love song, Pyar Kiya Mein Ne Dil Diya. Indulging nostalgia, he reflected on his past fame and the road that led him to stardom in the 1970s.

"There was a lot of craze in that era. But that doesn't exist now since there has been an influx of singers in the scene. Now, nobody is aware of who's who, but back then, there were only a few of us. Actually, just two," he said, nodding to his and Alamgir's names.

The Mae Bhi Pakistan Hoon singer then shared the origins of his journey. "It used to be very difficult to get into the entertainment industry. A makeup artist, Lily Raza, carved the path inside for me," he said, adding that the two formed a connection due to having Irani roots.

Shehki, who is also recognised for his acting credits in films such as Dekh Tamasha and Choron Ka Badshah, mentioned that he used to perform at hotels before earning his big break.

"Ghazanfar Ali had come on television for the first time. He was doing a program with Tara Ghanshyam, who had a full show to herself. She would sing, dance, and introduce new artists in the show. So they took me as a new artist."

He recalled that a song was created as a duet for the two of them, though Ghanshyam had taken ill before it could be performed. "Either she was unable to sing it or she was down with a bellyache, so she left," he said. "I thought that I'd lost that opportunity. But then Ghazanfar Ali sahab said, 'Hey, listen. You'll sing this song solo without any complaints.' So I sat there and the song was rewritten."

That led to Shehki availing what became his second shot as a solo artist, though this one got him the recognition he was looking for. "I was in the studio singing while the musicians recorded everything live, and the song was made," he said. "Then as time passed, the song became a superhit."