Don’t judge Pakistan through Veena or me: Ali Zafar
Says public figures ride on controversy everywhere but it’s not the best method for a career boost.
Pakistan’s poster boy in the Indian media Ali Zafar has said that it is unfair to judge the entire country on the basis of what actors like him and Veena Malik do in India, Indian newspaper The Times of India has reported.
“You have to understand that she’s an individual and you can’t judge the entire community on the basis of one person’s behaviour,” Zafar told the IANS news agency, talking about Malik. “You shouldn’t even judge Pakistan through me. The whole Pakistan is not like Ali Zafar or Veena Malik.”
“And such individuals are there in every entertainment industry. In India also there are women who ride on controversies. It happens everywhere. It happens even in Hollywood,” he added.
Zafar says he makes sure he doesn’t do anything that could bring a bad name to his country. “I pay all my taxes. I make sure all paper work is in place and streamlined. I want to work in a manner that I stay away from controversies,” he said.
“Whatever films I do, I make sure that I don't do scenes or say dialogues or do stuff that could hurt people back home. In my capacity, I try and keep everyone happy but that’s just me. Everybody has their own style of working,” he said.
For Zafar, being controversial is not the best method to boost one’s career.
“It’s unfortunate ... I think one should avoid controversies as long as possible, they may help you in the short run, but I don’t think those who are talented need controversies to boost their career,” he said.
“It’s always good to stay away so that you can work smoothly. You try to stay away from trouble for your own sake and for the sake of other people. I think anybody who comes from there (Pakistan) to here (India) should be cautious and conscious, otherwise it puts others into bad light,” he said.
Zafar, a popular singer in Pakistan, forayed into Bollywood with debutant director Abhishek Sharma’s Tere Bin Laden (2010), which won him critical acclaim from all over. He was later seen in Yash Raj’s Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and right now he is looking forward to the release of his new film London Paris New York, which hits screens on March 2.
“You have to understand that she’s an individual and you can’t judge the entire community on the basis of one person’s behaviour,” Zafar told the IANS news agency, talking about Malik. “You shouldn’t even judge Pakistan through me. The whole Pakistan is not like Ali Zafar or Veena Malik.”
“And such individuals are there in every entertainment industry. In India also there are women who ride on controversies. It happens everywhere. It happens even in Hollywood,” he added.
Zafar says he makes sure he doesn’t do anything that could bring a bad name to his country. “I pay all my taxes. I make sure all paper work is in place and streamlined. I want to work in a manner that I stay away from controversies,” he said.
“Whatever films I do, I make sure that I don't do scenes or say dialogues or do stuff that could hurt people back home. In my capacity, I try and keep everyone happy but that’s just me. Everybody has their own style of working,” he said.
For Zafar, being controversial is not the best method to boost one’s career.
“It’s unfortunate ... I think one should avoid controversies as long as possible, they may help you in the short run, but I don’t think those who are talented need controversies to boost their career,” he said.
“It’s always good to stay away so that you can work smoothly. You try to stay away from trouble for your own sake and for the sake of other people. I think anybody who comes from there (Pakistan) to here (India) should be cautious and conscious, otherwise it puts others into bad light,” he said.
Zafar, a popular singer in Pakistan, forayed into Bollywood with debutant director Abhishek Sharma’s Tere Bin Laden (2010), which won him critical acclaim from all over. He was later seen in Yash Raj’s Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and right now he is looking forward to the release of his new film London Paris New York, which hits screens on March 2.