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Shiraz Upal


Pakistani Pop Singer

It is a fact that for the last two years Pakistani pop music has witnessed a lot of new bands, new artists and new video directors as well. Shiraz Upal is not a new name, the guy has been working in the music scene for the last four years and has given upteen numbers that have touched the hearts of many. His last hit number was Tera Te Mera that was a runway success depicting the story of loved ones and their sacrifice for one another. After been out of scene for around a year, the guy is back with a vengeance. His latest track is Jhukhi Jhuki, a soul stirring song that is the title track from his upcoming album. Jhuki Jhuki has been directed by young and upcoming director Umar Anwar, who before that has directed Strings 'Kahani Mohabbat Ki' and Jal's Aadat. He is no doubt one of the best upcoming directors in the town right now and this video is a proof of his exceptional directional abilities. Like most of the recent videos' themes, this video is also completely off - quite irrelevant to be precise with the song. The song is slow paced, exhibiting memories, some unforgettable moments spent together; it is undoubtedly the best track on their album with regards to vocals and composition. Shiraz Upal has done a remarkably good job with the vocals and the compositions. But the video is unique; it revolves around a bus, and shows the different sorts of people traveling in that. There are different types of people in them including a Malang who is humming this song. Good, though it has no relevance with the beautiful song but the video speaks out the exceptional quality been churned out. The video has some very good shots of the Pakistan and interestingly enough, there is no performance by Shiraz Upal, he is also humming the song as like the other people on the bus. Though the execution of the video, whatever the concept might be, is bizarre but it is no doubt a good concept, handled very well and remarkably. Many of Umar Anwar's fans find it hard to understand the theme of his videos, as it was with his debut Aaadat and also with Kahai Mohabbat Ki. For most of the people this song is an imitation to the Swades 'Yun Hi Chala' but it is not, it is way different than that. It is fact that finally a typical boy-meets-girl-they-fall-in-love-and-they-depart one, or with band members dancing around wearing cheesy outfits type videos are finally over and there is more to serious themes and videos. All in all, a wonderful work on part of Umar Anwar. Ali Muhammad's work as usual stand out of the rest because of his excellence shots, taking techniques and angles that he has used.

Ali Azmat


Like A Rolling Stone

Junoon are back stage. Their fans want their favourite member of the band to come out and show himself. When he does there is an applauding roar and th everybody quietens down.en Ali commands attention at any live show. Because one never knows what he is going to do next. How does he manage to be so unpredictable? " I never know what I am going to do next either," he guffaws. Ali doesn't think about eventualities. He just takes the waves as they come. That is how one keeps abreast of the ebb and flow of the tides of time. In the 1990s Junoon crash landed on the local music scene like some leaded zeppelin from the sky. The Vital Signs got there first, but today Junoon are the undoubtedly the most successful band in Pakistan. And it is not so much the Junoon sound that has made them soar above the rest. It is their ability to entertain that has taken them places. It seems that when Junoon play live, lead singer Ali Azmat is their not so secret weapon. When it comes to shaking things up on stage, Ali is the one who has a thousand and one tricks up his sleeve. An inborn entertainer, he can make the crowd go wild. He says it's because he is having as much fun as they are. Ali Azmat is an enigma and an icon rolled into one bohemian package. He hails from Lahore and his Punjabi identity is stamped on him like a birthmark that can never be erased. The fact that he so obviously belongs to his land is what makes him such a hit with his fans. He is one of them, but he has it all – fame, money, the token chick on his arm and free tickets around the globe with the band. Ali dares to be different and that is something they all aspire to be. What differentiates Ali from them is that he went ahead and did it. Ali is proof that that if you grapple with destiny, you might even find yourself on top. All his problems are a breeze now. Life was so hard in the beginning that as he gets older, it is left with no option but to get softer by each Junoon album that is released. Ali was born in Lahore in 1970. Growing up on the streets of the oldest cultural centre in Pakistan, he imbibed the streetwise and happy go lucky attitude that is still shield against the worls today. "I remember the Zia years," he says. "Curfews, stoning, people dying. Society was really closed up then. Nothing used to happen. But then again thirteen years of Martial Law can mess any nation up," he says as he exhales the cigarette he smokes out of his own free will. He has always been a malang doing when he wants, how he wants, where he wants. That is why he left home when he was eighteen-year-old to do his Bachelors in Australia. He never got the degree. He chased the sun and the warmth found him. Now life is a synonym for summertime and Ali is busy making hay with the rest of his colleagues. There was a time when he wasn't. A musician in our society is often called a mirasi. The only people willing who ventured into the field were people from gharaanas. Indeed Ali's father was one artist whose creativity was aborted by tradition. "My father really wanted to be an actor. But his mother would have beaten him up if he ever took it up," reveals Ali. Its not surprising that Ali has lived out his dream. His father, after having his ambition nipped in the bud backed his son in his pursuits. It paid off. Somewhere along the way Ali's flights of fancy sprouted wings and took him along with them all the way to rock star glory. When a diamond in the dust realises that it is, in fact, a diamond, life has boundless possibilities. Ali was humming songs as a child and all around him told him that he could sing. "As a kid, I used to sing the national anthem in school," he says about his initial foray into music. In his first year of college he started playing drums for an amateur band called The Scoundrels. Such was life till his first public performance with the Jupiters at a show organised by the Jang Group. The Jupiters got the first prize. "It took us two years to come out with something original," says Ali of his ex-band that has since then disbanded. ""All of them were scared of being accepted. I didn't want to go to weddings and sing chart topping songs done by other artists," he laments the absence of initiative that strikes potential musical talent dumb. "If you don't have guts, you will never do anything," he says of people unlike him. Gutless and aimless id something he has never been, pursuing his goal with the single-minded zeal of a man who has put his finger on what he wants to do and where he wants to go. Ali has always felt at home away from home. "After I came back from Australia, I couldn't live with my family any more. I liked living alone. Rohail Hyatt (Vital Signs keyboardist) and I were supposed to do an album together, but that didn't work out. I met Salman (Ahmed) there who was being booted out of the band. We wrote ten songs, got in touch with Nusrat Hussain and made the first album," he reminisces his route to pop stardom. For Talaash the second Junoon album, Salman Ahmad got in touch with his high school friend Brian O'Connell who flew down here and never went back. The rest as they say is history right up to the notorious ban on Junoon that continues to this day. "There are all kinds of things in the environment that stop you. Bands are chewed up by corporate sponsorships. Some musicians are shot down by critics. Everybody has money problems. But if you really want to make music, who can stop you from it?" Ali scoffs at the brick bats and hurdles he has encountered. And music is what it is all about for him. He loves it even though he is the first to admit that he is not a trained singer. Though he did take lessons from one of Mehdi Hasan's students. "Its terrible. My ustad was a good singer, but he was so much in awe of Mehdi Hasan that he could never do anything on his own," says Ali about the experience. "I can never accept what I am told without questioning it first," he says. And indeed, the only teacher Ali has had is life itself. And the only belief he has ever really had has been in him alone. Living alone. Partying with friends. Jamming with his colleagues. Ali has come of age and has never stopped playing. If anything has paid off it's the eclecticism that makes him more outlandish than Brian. And his munda sheher Lahore da attitude that makes him more Pakistani than Salman. Ali is not some raving intellectual. He is just quick on the uptake and coupled with his energy and appetite for life makes him do much more than just go on. Ali has not dealt with the odds. He has defied them. His bohemian sensibility seems to be the sign of times to come. When you listen to what you tell yourself to do. That's when you stop leading life because it simply starts unfolding itself.

Junoon


Ali Azmat

Junoon are back stage. Their fans want their favourite member of the band to come out and show himself. When he does there is an applauding roar and th everybody quietens down.en Ali commands attention at any live show. Because one never knows what he is going to do next. How does he manage to be so unpredictable? " I never know what I am going to do next either," he guffaws. Ali doesn't think about eventualities. He just takes the waves as they come. That is how one keeps abreast of the ebb and flow of the tides of time. In the 1990s Junoon crash landed on the local music scene like some leaded zeppelin from the sky. The Vital Signs got there first, but today Junoon are the undoubtedly the most successful band in Pakistan. And it is not so much the Junoon sound that has made them soar above the rest. It is their ability to entertain that has taken them places. It seems that when Junoon play live, lead singer Ali Azmat is their not so secret weapon. When it comes to shaking things up on stage, Ali is the one who has a thousand and one tricks up his sleeve. An inborn entertainer, he can make the crowd go wild. He says it's because he is having as much fun as they are. Ali Azmat is an enigma and an icon rolled into one bohemian package. He hails from Lahore and his Punjabi identity is stamped on him like a birthmark that can never be erased. The fact that he so obviously belongs to his land is what makes him such a hit with his fans. He is one of them, but he has it all – fame, money, the token chick on his arm and free tickets around the globe with the band. Ali dares to be different and that is something they all aspire to be. What differentiates Ali from them is that he went ahead and did it. Ali is proof that that if you grapple with destiny, you might even find yourself on top. All his problems are a breeze now. Life was so hard in the beginning that as he gets older, it is left with no option but to get softer by each Junoon album that is released. Ali was born in Lahore in 1970. Growing up on the streets of the oldest cultural centre in Pakistan, he imbibed the streetwise and happy go lucky attitude that is still shield against the worls today. "I remember the Zia years," he says. "Curfews, stoning, people dying. Society was really closed up then. Nothing used to happen. But then again thirteen years of Martial Law can mess any nation up," he says as he exhales the cigarette he smokes out of his own free will. He has always been a malang doing when he wants, how he wants, where he wants. That is why he left home when he was eighteen-year-old to do his Bachelors in Australia. He never got the degree. He chased the sun and the warmth found him. Now life is a synonym for summertime and Ali is busy making hay with the rest of his colleagues. There was a time when he wasn't. A musician in our society is often called a mirasi. The only people willing who ventured into the field were people from gharaanas. Indeed Ali's father was one artist whose creativity was aborted by tradition. "My father really wanted to be an actor. But his mother would have beaten him up if he ever took it up," reveals Ali. Its not surprising that Ali has lived out his dream. His father, after having his ambition nipped in the bud backed his son in his pursuits. It paid off. Somewhere along the way Ali's flights of fancy sprouted wings and took him along with them all the way to rock star glory. When a diamond in the dust realises that it is, in fact, a diamond, life has boundless possibilities. Ali was humming songs as a child and all around him told him that he could sing. "As a kid, I used to sing the national anthem in school," he says about his initial foray into music. In his first year of college he started playing drums for an amateur band called The Scoundrels. Such was life till his first public performance with the Jupiters at a show organised by the Jang Group. The Jupiters got the first prize. "It took us two years to come out with something original," says Ali of his ex-band that has since then disbanded. ""All of them were scared of being accepted. I didn't want to go to weddings and sing chart topping songs done by other artists," he laments the absence of initiative that strikes potential musical talent dumb. "If you don't have guts, you will never do anything," he says of people unlike him. Gutless and aimless id something he has never been, pursuing his goal with the single-minded zeal of a man who has put his finger on what he wants to do and where he wants to go. Ali has always felt at home away from home. "After I came back from Australia, I couldn't live with my family any more. I liked living alone. Rohail Hyatt (Vital Signs keyboardist) and I were supposed to do an album together, but that didn't work out. I met Salman (Ahmed) there who was being booted out of the band. We wrote ten songs, got in touch with Nusrat Hussain and made the first album," he reminisces his route to pop stardom. For Talaash the second Junoon album, Salman Ahmad got in touch with his high school friend Brian O'Connell who flew down here and never went back. The rest as they say is history right up to the notorious ban on Junoon that continues to this day. "There are all kinds of things in the environment that stop you. Bands are chewed up by corporate sponsorships. Some musicians are shot down by critics. Everybody has money problems. But if you really want to make music, who can stop you from it?" Ali scoffs at the brick bats and hurdles he has encountered. And music is what it is all about for him. He loves it even though he is the first to admit that he is not a trained singer. Though he did take lessons from one of Mehdi Hasan's students. "Its terrible. My ustad was a good singer, but he was so much in awe of Mehdi Hasan that he could never do anything on his own," says Ali about the experience. "I can never accept what I am told without questioning it first," he says. And indeed, the only teacher Ali has had is life itself. And the only belief he has ever really had has been in him alone. Living alone. Partying with friends. Jamming with his colleagues. Ali has come of age and has never stopped playing. If anything has paid off it's the eclecticism that makes him more outlandish than Brian. And his munda sheher Lahore da attitude that makes him more Pakistani than Salman. Ali is not some raving intellectual. He is just quick on the uptake and coupled with his energy and appetite for life makes him do much more than just go on. Ali has not dealt with the odds. He has defied them. His bohemian sensibility seems to be the sign of times to come. When you listen to what you tell yourself to do. That's when you stop leading life because it simply starts unfolding itself.

Rungg


Pakistani Pop Group

Rungg is a red-hot, molten fusion of different elements in music like Alternative, Rock Rap and Ambient, all of which merge in unique consonance to create a raw, new sound, never heard before in Pakistan. In this regard their tracks can be considered to be highly experimental within the boundaries of commercialism since the sound manages to appeal to the new generation of Pakistani listeners that have cut their teeth on bands like Linkin Park, Creed, Staind and so on and so forth. The band works on the belief that their music, their lyrics, should tell a story, tender a philosophy and above all else - inspire and instigate change. Inducing metamorphosis in thought and perception is what the band aims for through its music. Rungg's tracks are characterized by dark, melancholy, ambient preludes and interludes, pulsating drum beats, electronica, like scratches and other sound-effects, reverberating vocals and raw, scathing guitar riffs backed up by delicate string work on the rhythms. All of which makes for a very magnified soundscape - a creative effort that thrives on the diversity, dissonance and varying backgrounds that each of the members of Rungg bring to it. • Check out on http://www.rungg.com Rungg, a new pop band on the Pakistani music scene has their song 'Hum Na...' available for download in MP3. Tune in to Pakistani pop-rock.music.

Karavan


Pop Group

• Karavan are a band in a constant state of motion, never satisfied to rest where their previous record has left them. They are a band of self-reflection and reinvention, a band unwilling to stand still. One that demands change within themselves, they enjoy the thrill of placing themselves out on the limb. The newest Karavan emerges with their latest and possibly most inventive album to date, "Karavan Unplugged". • Sneak preview of the tracklisting from Karavan's next album titled "Karavan Unplugged" scheduled for November 2003. • 01. Rakh Aas - unplugged... • 02. Aa Meray Sang Sajni - unplugged... • 03. Irada - unplugged... • 04. Jhoom Zara Jhoom - unplugged... • 05. Aaja Meray Paas Aaja - unplugged... • 06. Beqarar - unplugged... • 07. Aagay Hee Aagay - unplugged... • 08. Dil Ki Pyas - unplugged... • 09. Yeh Zindagi Hai - unplugged... • 10. Insaan - new studio track... • 11. Sapna - redux of Barbarians cult classic... • 12. Kiya Huwa - redux of Barbarians cult classic...

Najam Sheraz


Pakistani Pop Icon

Najam Sheraz, 33 [born 02 August 1969], is one of Pakistan's most popular pop vocalists. His career took off with the release of his first single "In Sey Nain" in 1994. He won the illustrious 1996 Pro Audio Show Award for best newcomer and later went onto record the single "Mera Jee Nahin Lagay", which was used in the 20th Century Fox movie "Split Wide Open". • Najam Sheraz says: I have always been thankful to Almighty Allah for giving me this life and my voice. By doing this album I want to thank Him for giving me a new life a very beautiful life which I have always been dreaming of(Roop Nagar and Aoo wahan chalain) Oh my God its real….Yeh moamla koi aur hae….It's a miracle …..for someone like me who has lived a fairly sinful life it's a greatest gift from Allah, a chance to improve as a human and become a Muslim in the sight of Allah. Its about time that the educated people of Pakistan should understand the message of Allah Al-Quran and portray the actual picture of Islam in the world and that is PEACE in every aspect of life. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said "The best amongst you is the one who learns and teaches the knowledge of Quran". I would like to thank all of your encouragement and love PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.I would like to thank my parents and Aisha for the support and care and everyone at Quran class for their appreciation.My deepest gratitude to one and only BABAR BHAI, (MR. BABAR R. CHAUDHRI), for his affection, unconditional love and care. Is it not a miracle that someone who has never written a word in his entire life writes for the first time and that turns out to be Hamd "Yeh Moamla Koi Aur Hae" and a Naat "Rahain Bhataknay waalay" and then on my request he wrote "Hamari Pehchan", "Gilay Shikway" and "Kar Liya Sauda". Thank you very much for giving my voice a direction and making this ability more meaningful and positive.I would like to thank all beautiful people involved in bringing this special album out. Thank you and love you all. http://www.najamsheraz.com/.

Strings


A Great Pop Group

"The album was not as difficult to make as was spelling it" Bilal laughs. "The word 'Duur' meaning 'far' in English took us weeks of brainstorming to spell it right". • "I am a big fan of yours," said the Bollywood biggie Hrithik Roshan to Strings in a party at Javed Akhter's residence in Mumbai. The duo's jaw dropped at the revelation! Jeetendra, Anil Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan and Shabana Azmi present at the gathering also admired this band that has just recently become a sensation across the great Wagah divide. So have the Strings made inroads and started to penetrate the Indian cine industry yet? • "No," says lead singer Faisal Kapadia. "We are extremely lucky to be known and identified by the cine people, but Anu Malick has not yet asked us to work with him," he said smiling. • Lucky they are to have persuaded Javed Akhter to do lyrics for their album. • "Javed saheb has expressed his willingness to write the words for us, but the only hitch is that he works on complete albums and not just a few songs. Still we will see how this can be worked out," Faisal added optimistically. • When the quartet disbanded in '91, to the dismay of its fans, a reunion was destined with a more mature outfit. As teenagers Strings created ripples, by creating hits. But personal affairs led them to split and go their ways. • "We were young and confused," reminisces Faisal. "But just like our triumph was a collective group effort, the decision to break up also came from each one of us. Education was a priority, we shelved our musical instruments to become bookworms again. It was an agonizing decision but we all had to take that step!" • Faisal flew off to Houston to study business. Bilal, at that point in time, a budding painter, went to an art school to polish up his talent on canvas with paint and brushes. The next chapter after education was employment, and once employed, came along the hectic schedule and long working hours. Chances for a reunion seemed grim! Two of the earlier bandmates, Rafiq and Karim, decided not to continue with the band as they settled down to a new life. Had education and employment not intervened, would one be looking at a much bigger band today? • "I don't think so," says Bilal. "The time spent String-less has gone into maturing and learning more about dynamics of music. Frankly, the disbanding helped me acquire a broader spectrum and vision of life." • Faisal doesn't disagree either. His sheer drive never withered even when the band ceased to exist. • "I had a harmonium, tabla and a classical ustad building up my voice, morale and dreams (in this order) for a slow but sure re-entry into the business." • Music is an extension of Strings diverse personas. Their capacity for a comeback is testimony to their enduring power. When they struck again with a vengeance earlier this year, their detractors were startled. After weathering the seasons and after nuptials and parenthood, the Strings with the apparent lack of fire of youth, today are mature, hard-shelled musicians. • "We both gave up are respective jobs in pursuit of music," reveals Faisal. "I worked in the marketing department of a production unit where Bilal was serving as creative director. Soon after re-forming Strings both of us realized that this sort of work was neither our strength nor did we have time to dedicate ourselves to it." Signed resignations were then immediately left behind on tables from where Bilal and Faisal left for Duur. • To market Duur, their pessimistically titled third album, Strings are going round the world with Dame luck on their side with part free road shows for satellite channels and part-paid full-length concerts. Duur is doing phenomenal business. • "The album was not as difficult to make as was spelling it" Bilal laughs. "The word 'Duur' meaning 'far' in English took us weeks of brainstorming to spell it right." • They yet may not have been able to spell it a hundred per cent correctly but they have captured the success charts. Duur has taken Strings pretty to far flung lands such as England, America, Middle East and India! They have already performed alongside Adnan Sami Khan, Nitin Bali, Euphoria, Sukhdev, Hans Raj Hans, Baba Seghal and others on different occasions in Delhi and other cities. "Also we made it to the preliminary round of Govinda's Chapper Phar Ke but lost." Strings got a chance to express their versatility when Channel V approached them to record a song and video with singer Sagarika. • "It was a random affair," says Faisal. We composed, recorded and played to the rolling cameras with Sagarika." The video was later put on air by Channel V and grabbed second place on the Top Ten chart. • Strings mercurial rise to fame can be gauged from the fact that even Amitabh's parents came in person to meet them. Bilal cites it as the most hilarious incidence of his life. • "Namaste. I am Amitabh's father and this is Amitabh's mother" said an old man pointing towards his old wife to Bilal backstage before a concert in Mumbai. "We both are your fans," he added and Bilal leaped out of his skin in excitement. He immediately ran over to Faisal to tell him the news. "Yes I know they are Amitabh's parents," Faisal replied grinning, "Amitabh is one of the dancers of our entourage and not Amitabh Bachchan the actor." • He should have known better that nobody gets to know Mr Crorepati's folks so easily! • Bilal and Faisal of Strings claim that their wives don't get green with jealousy, blue with depression or red with anger when fans of the opposite gender approach them. On the contrary Bilal's wife Tina and Faisal's better half Seema, like their hubbies to mingle with female fans as they consider it the essential part and parcel of Strings stardom. Both the Strings men like to attribute every note of their success to their wives, kids and loving parents.

Zeba Bakhtiar


Actress

The above maxim holds true to the Pakistani show business celebrity, Zeba Bakhtiar. • Zeba Bakhtiar, who is the daughter of the former attorney general of Pakistan, Yahya Bakhtiar, hails from Baluchistan , Pakistan. Her mother is of foreign descent. Like Zeba Bakhtiar, her brother also associated himself with Pakistani television. • Equipped with higher educational grades, distinct family background and human values, Zeba Bakhtiar was attracted to show business as a teenager. The tremendous talent of Zeba Bakhtiar was there, just waiting to be used. • Zeba Bakhtiar debuted from the Karachi television's play 'Anarkali', opposite Mehmood Akhtar. In it, she played the title role of 'Anarkali'. The drama stirs the heart with its story of a girl in a man's world. Those were moments for wistful looks and glistening eyes. • Back in the late 1980s, Zeba Bakhtiar was a young Pakistani actress of glistening freshness and uncanny intuition. Any one, whose heart does not embrace this gorgeous, gracious, glamorous girl of the yester year, probably does not have one. • Moreover, she often found, of all things, innovation and honor in the television programs. Soon she became the perennial favorite of Pakistani youth. Zeba Bakhtiar's debut film 'Hina' was made and produced by R.K. films in India. She played the lead opposite Rishi Kapoor. Director, Randhir Kapoor, writer, Haseena Moin. • The moral authority she brought to the role in 'Hina', without sacrificing a youthful spontaneity, was astounding. Its characters make surprising connections when it comes to team- work. Zeba Bakhtiar's first marriage, which took place before the movie shoot of 'Hina' ended in divorce. • She often finds, among other things, prestige and challenge in the movie business. During those days, there were rumors circulating in the press of Zeba Bakhtiar's marriage to Indian actor, Javed Jafri. However, Zeba Bakhtiar vehemently denied those allegations as a conspiracy against her. • In her movies and television plays, Zeba Bakhtiar displayed one of the defining sensibilities of the 1990s and beyond. She has captured the imagination of admiring fans since she was a girl. • The rosy radiance that follows a pleasant encounter with Zeba Bakhtiar is laudable. She reached the pinnacle of a remarkable career by following her own instincts. • In times due course, Zeba Bakhtiar moved to Pakistan and married actor- singer- composer, Adnan Sami, son of Aijaz Sami. Ah, the web of love. How these forces feed the flame of life. She had a son, Azan, from Adnan Sami. • Those were great moments at work, when Zeba Bakhtiar played the lead opposite Adnan Sami in her first Pakistani film 'Sargam'. Theatrical release was on September 1, 1995. Director, Syed Noor, producer- composer, Adnan Sami. • Additionally, Zeba Bakhtiar's caricature of lead actress in 'Sargam' has won the Nigar Award in her debut Pakistani movie. She seems destined to add more laurels to her celluloid persona. Indeed, she gives a brilliantly restrained performance in 'Sargam'. • Zeba Bakhtiar's marriage to Adnan Sami could not stood the test of time, and it resulted in their separation. That occurred after the theatrical release of 'Sargam', and Adnan Sami went abroad with his son, Azan. • After a long child custody battle, Zeba Bakhtiar succeeded in getting her son back. Those days Zeba Bakhtiar fielded inquiries about her relationship with Adnan and Azan, and in doing so proved that her heart was loyal. • Zeba Bakhtiar's greatness shines through in director Sangeeta's successful film 'Qaid' in which she played the lead lady opposite actor Saud. Alternating between television and films, she frequently was cast in major television roles. • She was most memorably cast in writer Rauf Khalid's drama serial 'Laag', which was telecast from Pakistani television. An artist of unusual prowess and grace, Zeba Bakhtiar turned in one of her best performances as leader of Kashmiri independence movement, 'Dukhtaran-e-Kashmir' in 'Laag.' • The drama serial 'Laag' made the public realize the deep resonance of her work. A part of her charm derives from the apparent fact that she is working and having fun at the same time. • Zeba Bakhtiar is, indeed, a loveable woman whose hatred of hypocrisy is legendary. She worked in the heartfelt and handsomely made movie, 'Chief Sahib' in 1996. In dramatic roles, the movie cast moves effortlessly from one scene to another. Producer- director, Javed Sheikh, stars included Zeba Bakhtiar, Javed Sheikh and Neeli. • Zeba Bakhtiar shone in her directional debut movie 'Babu' in 2001. Its story revolves around love, lust, and the well- known adage 'give respect get respect' starring Zeba Bakhtiar, dubbed as 'Ghazal', Saud Amin, Lehri, Peer Moazzam. • She brings a new level of intensity to her acting in the Pakistan television drama serial 'Pehli see mohabbat'. Writer, Rafaqat Hayat, director, Najam-Uz- Zaman, executive producer, Ghazanfar Ali. 'Pehli see mohabbat' is the Urdu version of the English novel 'Beware of pity.' Cast included Zeba Bakhtiar, dubbed as 'Sofia' Shahood Alvi, and Shakeel. It is a story of a pretty handicapped girl. • Zeba Bakhtiar's keenly articulate movie grammar and a tender grasp of human nature have maintained uniformity all through these times. Further, her artistry is worth applauding in television drama 'Sangam' Cast includes Zeba Bakhtiar as 'Farah', Talat Husain, Qazi Wajid. Written by Zahida Hina, director, Nasir Danawala. • Best known for her splendid direction capability, Zeba Bakhtiar attained major celebrity as an artist also in drama 'Kundi'. Cast included Zeba Bakhtiar, Firdous Jamal. • She is the source of quite a few exemplary television plays. That said Zeba Bakhtiar's resplendent career moved on fulfilling her initial promise of consistent hard work. • A quick example is the television drama 'Kisay apna kahoon' cast included Zeba Bakhtiar, Noman Aijaz and Talat Husain. Additionally, she emerged as a convincing artist in the television drama 'Gunah gaar'. Cast included Zeba Bakhtiar, Izhar Qazi and Tahira Wasti. • Overwhelmed by her artistic prowess, the audience always gives her an enthusiastic response, which Zeba Bakhtiar well deserves. In spite of her enormous talents as director, Zeba Bakhtiar still possesses a face made for acting.

Saadia Imam


TV Actress

Saadia Imam, simple, pleasant and petite, a showbiz girl is enjoying her booming career and hoping to achieve a long way in the acting run. Tview recently had her interviewed a day before her departure to the neighboring country India for the mega joint venture that is to be aired on Geo channel. Saadia kicked off her career in 1996, with a play by Kazim Pasha 'uljhan' but it was her first commercial of 'Supreme', which made her mark in the industry. Saadia is typically an eastern woman, and fancy a life full of happiness and joy. • Q. How is your working experience so far in the Television? It has been very good and I'm enjoying a lot. I feel myself very lucky as I've worked with many senior directors ever since I joined television. I won Lux Award in 2001 and National Award, so I must say that in a short span of time I have gained considerable recognition. • Q. How many serials you have done till now? It is in fact very difficult to recall the number of plays I have worked in, but from PTV I have done hardly four to five serials; these days drama serial 'Paani Pe Naam' by Kazim Pasha is going on air. As for private sectors are concerned so much work is happening that it's not easy to remember them. • Q. Would you like to name any of your personal favorite drama? My favorite play is 'Colony 52' written by Anwar Maqsood and directed by S Suleman. I also like 'Anmol' by Faisal Bukhari. • Q. Any particular reason for liking these plays? Actually in these plays my characters are very different from each other. I feel that an artist never forget those plays in which the director himself is too much involved with the script. These are the plays where including the cast; the director played a major part. My tone, body language, dialogue delivery, one mile to every inch director gave hundred percent input. And last but not the least I also like 'Umrao Jan' in which I played the negative role for the first time. • Q. What for you is the most important feature when you are offered a play? Is it the script, cast, director or the production you seriously look upon? I can only talk about myself but generally speaking artist's first concern is the director; he will inquire about the director first. As for me, no matter how good the story is, unless you don't have an able director, the story does not leave a lasting impact. • Q. These days only numbers of faces are being viewed over from every channel that creates monotony. Do you think, there a dearth of talent in the industry? I think every artist has his or her own time and those who are frequently coming these days are still enjoying their high time, they are maybe in demand. But the other way round it's a dilemma in our country that when you've to sell a product you need at least five star studded cast. In this bid to foil this taboo we surely need to introduce new talent. But it's a job of the producer to introduce new faces. I think Geo and few other private channels have changed the trend. • Q. Do you have a special working chemistry with Humayon Saeed as you're often paired opposite to him? In fact me and Humayon have done only few plays. Though many people insist why Saadia and Humayon do not work together? Actually the thing is that we have recently started working together and I have done a play 'Ham Se Juda Na Hona' sometime two years back and the tragedy is that it hasn't been on air yet, it was Humayon's own production. • Q. Whom do you admire most among your contemporaries/ or feel at ease working with? It's a great experience working with all. I enjoyed working with Shabir Jan, he is an excellent actor. Faisla Qureshi is cool, I think he is a great artist and I foresee that he'll go a long way in his acting career. As well as I always enjoy working with Humayon too. They are among those whom you get friendly within no time and feel at ease. • Q. Are you also mulling over to work in a joint venture in the neighboring production? Yes in fact I've accepted a play by Sarwar Moosvi. It's a mega joint venture between artists of both the countries. This play 'Kuch Rishtey Kachey Dhagoon Key' will be on air from Geo channel. Along with famous Indian stars, the cast from our side includes Shahbaz Khan, Bahar begum, Mustafa Qureshi, Saima Qureshi, Rustam, Ahsan Khan, including me and many other artists are taking part in this joint venture. • Q. What made you accept the offer? Was it tempting or the reason that it includes Indian star cast? In fact the storyline clicked me, which is very good. It is a story of four generations; we will be seen as the first generation in the play and it'll keep rolling on till the fourth generation appears. The cast is very balanced in that play. It consists of more than 100 episodes; it's soap actually. I think no other production has ever worked with such a heavy star cast before; it's going to be a biggest production of Geo. Although Geo has earlier launched a drama 'fasla' which also starred some Indian actors but that was a dead flop serial. • Q. Would you like to do movies? Any offer came your way? Ufff..... I was offered films many times and still offers are pouring in, but I'm not at all interested. I personally do not like movies, and it is pretty simple that I do not want to do movies. • Q. What if a tempting offer from Indian cinema comes your way? Would your reaction be the same? As far as Indian flicks are concerned, it's a big 'NO'. Movies are not my forte it's against my temperament, I cannot even imagine doing films. • Q. Do you have reservations you think you cannot compromise of? Movies are demanding in every sense and I simply do not have that stamina to get along well with the movies. Pooja Bhat offered me the role in her movie during her recent visit to Pakistan I had to decline the offer. (who tu meri jaan ko aagai thi).... • Q. Where do you see yourself as an actress in next couple of years? For nearly seven years I'm surviving in the industry. The respect I've gained during this time period, I'd like to uphold it. I have never conceived myself only as a heroine. I have always tried to work as an artist because artists have a long lasting career. If I'm to become a heroine then I won't be able to portray other characters and how long a heroine can stay in the industry-- say four to five years, her life is short lived. • Q. Let's talk about the scandals, as our artists often become victim of? I might be one artist whose scandals are repeatedly made and the funny part is that it's not with any co-star but I'm always scandalised with some businessmen hailing from Faisalbad, or unknown places. You see it's so annoying. But at times it can just wreck your life totally. Once I was on shooting and the scene was when the kidnappers had to kidnap me, the shooting was going on at Tariq Road. The other day the news with bold headline appeared in some (cheap) evening paper that Saadia Imam has been kidnapped from Tariq Road. My mother who is a sugar patient was hospitalised when she heard the hoax. I called that idiot and said had anything happened to my mother I'd have killed you. This is one reason that we have not subscribed any newspaper and it is prohibited in my home. • Q. What about that scandal when you were/ or made to involve in the embezzlement case, sometime back? Yes there was a case dating two or three years back and by the grace of God I've won that case. Ali Askari (idiot) from Lahore accused me in embezzlement of some thirty lacks rupees. In fact I was in Lahore working for the play 'Tapish', Arshad Tabassum was its director. After a month or so we were intimidated that Askari is involved in cheating hefty amount of some one or two crore rupees. Later he distributed the list of those who were accused of cheating and mine name was among the defaulters. I simply couldn't understand the reason of his animosity towards me. And I'm proud to announce that in a country like Pakistan I won that case without giving bribe to police or to FIA. I knew that I'm going to win since I've not taken a single penny; I fought back and succeeded. • Q. What is your marriage plan? Your fans must be curious to hear it from you? I think marriage is every woman's dream and so is mine. I idealise having a perfect life with a good husband, and lovely kids around. At this stage I just cannot make big decision only being emotional. Whoever will come in my life has to be a respectful man, who knows how to give respect and love. • Q. So you haven't met any such guy yet? I think people will laugh if I say 'yes'. It's not like that; many people had come and gone with the wind. I have to make certain decisions in my life and certainly this is one of the most important. • Q. How did you come up with the idea of running a boutique; you too have joined the same bandwagon like other artists? Yes I opened up a boutique in Dolman Mall and getting a very good response. I must tell you that among females I'm the only actress who has come up with such idea. What exactly happens is that mostly people wishes to wear same type of clothes that we do. So keeping that in mind I decided I must design apparel that is not too goody rather something that we can wear even casually. My boutique is for a mediocre families, it's not exclusive alone.

Atiqa Uodo


TV Actress

• Atiqa appeared for the first time in "Lipton Yellow Lable" commercial. Sitar-Ur-Mehrunnisa was her first play. She did many plays after that. • About her personal life: she got married at young age (about 17) but got divorced afer ten years. She left a son and a daughter to her husband. • List of Atiqa Uodo's Dramas Dashat. Junoon. Sitara ur Mehrunnissa • Atiqa is a versatile person who always comes up with something interesting every time. A stint with advertisement soon lost its appeal for Atiqa, so she moved in front of the camera. Small screen was too small for her personality so she adored the silver screen in three movies. When the silver screen did not show any signs of growth for the gorgeous and talented actress, she returned to television. Now based in New York with her husband and three kids. • She was rumored to be involved with fund-raising efforts for Hillary Clinton's campaign for the US senate. Atiqa was highly impressed with Hillary's ability to remember people. She said:" She is amazing. Her biggest strength is her ability to remember faces and names. I was introduced to her through friends who asked me to join the fund raising campaign. When I met her at one such dinner, she talked to me and exchanged views about the India_Pakistan relationship". Hillary's promise to work for easing the tension in South Asia convinced Atiqa to campaign for her. "We can not run away from politics. I thought that if I could use my status for my country in a better way then why shy from it". She says. The Pakistani community responded positively to her efforts. • She knows exactly how to charm people and win them over. She never tells them what they necessarily want to hear. Always known for her open approach to media. Atiqa is not one who shies away from publicity. And when the infamous 'close-up antaksheri' controversy erupted. Atiqa responded in a dignified manner. The controversy broke out when Kargil conflict was at its peak. As a goodwill gesture and peacemaking effort. Zee Television had invited artists from India and Pakistan in New York to participate in an episode of the popular music program. In the same spirit, Atiqa sang 'Dil, Dil Pakistan, Jan Jan Hindustan'. She was distressed from the negative publicity she received from the song both from India and Pakistan. "It was peace making effort. And I firmly believe that artists are the best peace ambassadors. From New York, I faxed a statement to all papers. I said I have given my sincere efforts, time and hard work to my country. And what I got in return is mud-slinging and labels challenging my patriotism. I told them to write what they felt like. It did not affect me," she said. But the memory clearly rankles as her gorgeous face flashes in retrospective anger. • Indian viewers are always fascinated from the talent of Pakistani artist. This is clear from the reception Pakistani artists get in India. Be it Junoon, Zeba Bakhtiar, Ali Haider, Sajjad Ali or Adnan Sami Khan. India always present them as their own artists. • Now Atiqa has gained attention from Indian TV producers. She is believed to have signed many television plays in India. "I have decided that I am an artist and I will work wherever I am offered an opportunity. Those who are looking for dirt will find it regardless. Why should I be intimated by them? My conscience is clear," she declares. • Has opposition ever made her think about ending her passionate affair with the fickle world of light and action? "Never, its not a hobby for me. Its my profession," is her short and firm reply. 'In fact, if I have to start all over again, I will opt this field. It gives me the chance to meet so many people and experience the world in a different perspective. I love it," she adds after a thoughtful pause.