So, who is this Ali Zafar guy?

I follow some Bollywood blogs to catch up on the news and look at Katrina Kaif pictures. However, I usually have nothing to add to those discussions; hence I refrain from adding a lot of Bollywood related news stories on this blog. However, since the following trailer came in our lives, I was itching to write something about the lead actor.

Tere Bin Laden seems to be a very interesting movie (which means it might turn out to be horrible as well), where a Pakistani journalist makes some fake Osama videos to become famous.  The main character in the movie is played by the Pakistani Pop singer Ali Zafar, and he’s making his debut in film acting with this movie. Now, most people in Pakistan know a lot about Ali Zafar and for them, this post would be redundant. However, I saw an opportunity to be finally useful in the Bollywood crowd (Please take me seriously, Bollywood bloggers! =P )

Anyways, this is my small attempt to introduce (and hopefully not a fanboy blabbering) who Ali Zafar is, to the Bollywood world!

In short, Ali Zafar is the reigning “Prince of Pop” of Pakistan, despite the fact that he shares the turf with the internationally acclaimed singer like Atif Aslam. And there is a good reason that he is the “Prince”, because he has managed to wow the audiences, repeatedly. I, personally, didn’t even want to like Ali Zafar when he started out, but over time he has won many hearts, including mine, with his talent. Why, you might ask? Well, for once, he’s the Jack of All Trades (Pun intended). He’s a model, actor, singer, composer, and even a video director (OK, he directed only one of his videos). Also, he can fly, but still prefers to travel on top of trains!

Also he makes the ladies go googoogaga (according to this, which is apparently one of the most expensive videos from Pakistan, ever!)

Plus, he has managed to establish himself as respected member of the musical fraternity as well, but more on that later.

Ali started out modeling and then acting, when he was in a very famous art school in Lahore. He started out with a few plays like Lunda Bazaar, and that brilliant Tariq Abro show (I believe it was called Kollege Jeans (sic)). Then he came into the limelight as one of the models of a hit Abrar-ul-Haq video

Soon he was branching out to music and he sang for a film by Sameena Peerzada, Shararat, which was released in 2003. Then, late in 2003, he released Channo! And he was an overnight sensation!

There was not a single wedding, where Channo was not being played, over the speakers. Also, it was a good time to enter the pop market, as the old stalwarts were in decline and the new breed of musicians, like Noori and eP, were not of everybody’s taste. This was also the time when Atif Aslam and came up in the market. So, there was this good looking boy, singing a catchy tune, and was having a hoot while doing so. Naturally, I despise all things glitzy and glam and hence Ali Zafar was more or less dismissed. However, when his album Huqa Pani was released, it became a guity pleasure of sorts. All of his videos were hit, because all of them were colourful and full of pizzazz. Ali released two videos:  Rangeen, and Chal Dil Mere (one of the first one-shot videos in Pakistan). He also directed the video of “Ek Pal”, which was kindaaaa interesting thematically, but also it featured a shirtless Ali Zafar

Over the next couple of years, Ali garnered more fan base, and when he released his second album “Masty”, he was really huge! And that was very evident when he made some grand videos for his second album.

Also, he evolved as a singer, and his music became much better. Also there was “Sajania” which has one of the sweetest openings.

“What is your behavior of choice, this evening?

Do I sound a little cheesy?

SHOW ME THE MONEY!”

Also, other videos from the album included Dekha Jo, Aasman, and the dramatic, dramatic Aag (Something tells me has pretentions to be an action hero in the coming years).

However, he earned some serious street cred when he performed “Allah Hu Chambe Di Booti” on Coke Studio season 1, and he cemented that place with a couple of amazing tracks done for Coke Studio season 2. He also played some musical instruments on his own, with some of his composition.

And with Yaar Daddi, he won my heart! (The build up is till 2:27, and then it picks up! and wait till you get to 5:42)

Tere Bin Laden is out on July 16^th, and I am terribly excited about it! I would like to wish Ali Zafar with the best of luck in his endeavors! Let’s just hope the movie, and Ali Zafar, is not crap in it! Btw, this video was posted by the makers of the film to basically say the same thing. I like to believe I was more meticulous.