Ali Zafar is a man of many traits. Whether it is singing, dancing, poetry, and even acting. Even before he put out his first music video, he made appearances in the cult classics, like Kollege Jeans and Landa Bazaar. He’s made his journey from the corridors of Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore to starring in Bollywood films, and everything in between. He’s been giving back all the love he gets from his fans, he’s standing up for his colleagues, and he’s adding joy to other people’s lives. So here’s to Ali Zafar – our nation’s fine, fine rockstar.
Ali is also an artist par excellence
Oh, he’s a writer, too…he’s always striking a chord with his words
And everyone who’s heard of Pakistani music has heard of Ali Zafar
He’s had a prolific career over the past few years, having released 3 albums and made multiple, and very successful, appearances on Coke Studio. We take a look at his journey over time and see how much this man has grown over the years. From his first album to his latest, from the first season of Coke Studio to the latest, from music videos in Pakistan to his Bollywood career, here’s a look at Ali’s life.
It was ‘Channo’: a super psychedelic video featuring Tariq Amin and a very jumpy Ali Zafar that first brought the cutie into the limelight
He went on to releasing his first album ‘Huqa Pani’ in 2003, which became an international hit selling over 5,000,000 copies worldwide
The album featured songs that are still on our playlists like ‘Chal Dil Meray’, ‘Teri Yaad Aayi’ and ‘Jugnuoun Se Bhar Le Aanchal’.
He got the Indus Music Award for Best Pop Album, Best Debut Artist and Best Pop Artist in 2004
He also received the LUX Style Award for Best Album in the same year. And he looked a little like this ^
Then came his second album, ‘Masty’, and we saw a whole new Ali Zafar
The new Ali was much less broody and a lot more ‘pumpy’. The amount of sad, dil dehlane wale gaaney was much, much lesser in this album. Ali also had a physical transformation. The always prim, pretty boy image had been long gone, and we saw the rockstar in him, well before the Coke Studio song.
His last music album, ‘Jhoom’, to have come out was in 2011
We could definitely see how much Ali had matured, over the years with his new music.
There was a much stronger Sufi element in this album which was apparent with songs like ‘Dastaan-e-Ishq’ and ‘Yar Dhadhi’
Ali’s rendition of Ghalib’s ‘Jee Dhoondta Hai’ was also one of the most beautiful versions we’ve heard and was exceptionally well received, commercially.
2010 marked Ali’s official entry into Bollywood, with ‘Tere Bin Laden’
The movie was an absolute hit, with Ali fast becoming one of the most loved Pakistani actors in Bollywood. The fun comedy was about a man impersonating Osama Bin Laden and the story goes on from there.
Spoiler Alert: Ali looks a little like this in the sequel of ‘Tere Bin Laden’
He next starred in ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’, opposite Katrina Kaif and Imran Khan
‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ was also one of the highest grossing films of 2011, making sure Ali had found his footing in Bollywood. We saw him next in London, Paris, New York against Aditi Rao Hyderi. While the film had a cute storyline, it didn’t do as well as Ali’s past Bollywood ventures
This was the same year Ali received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the Stardust Awards for the Superstar of Tomorrow, becoming the only Pakistani recipient of the honor
Other recipients of the award have been Ranbir Kapoor, Ranvir Singh, Arjun Kapoor, John Abraham and Farhan Akhtar among others. Moreover, Ali has more than 30 awards and nominations under his belt. From the commercially acclaimed ‘Chashme Badoor’ to the fun ‘Total Siyaapa’ and the very cult ‘Kill Dil’, Ali kept reinforcing his place in the Hindi Film Industry
Ali’s latest Bollywood stint was an extended cameo appearance in the Alia Bhatt and Shahrukh Khan starrer ‘Dear Zindagi’
While his role in Dear Zindagi wasn’t the longest, it left a very lasting impact on the audiences. However, Ali’s Bollywood career was put on hold with the ban on Pakistani actors was put in place after the political pressure in India.
And it’s not just Bollywood that Ali has been reigning over, his Pakistan film debut is all set to come out soon and it looks amazing
‘Teefa In Trouble’ stars Ali Zafar and Maya Ali, both making their debuts in the Pakistani film industry. The film has been shot in Warsaw, Poland, and Lahore, and promises to show a completely different side of the lead actors. Both of whom are renowned for their previous work.
Ali has been a very prominent and constant part of the Coke Studio family, as well
From the very first season, where he looked like an absolute baby
Showing us different sides of his, season after season
We saw a spiritual, emotional Ali Zafar with ‘Dastaan-e-Ishq’ and ‘Yar Daddi’, where we all were swaying with him.
Right up to the latest one
He left no holds barred showing off his bod, and well, people weren’t really complaining. With the advent of the 6-pack abs wala Ali, we’re very hopeful of where his career is going.
What’s your favorite Ali Zafar moment in the entertainment industry?