Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar
Zafar at the Indian Film Festival, 2011
Born	18 May 1980 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Alma mater	National College of Arts
Occupation	Actor, singer-songwriter, musician
Years active	2003–present
Spouse(s)	Ayesha Fazli (m. 2009)
Relatives	Kanwal Ameen (mother)
Musical career
Genres	Pop, Electronic, Folk, Classical, Sufi
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
Labels	Universal Records, Coke Studio, Sony Music, Alif Records, Frank Finn, Fire Records
Website	AliZafar.net

Ali Mohammad Zafar (Urdu: علی ظفر‎; 18 May 1980) is a Pakistani actor, singer-songwriter, musician and painter.^[1] Zafar was the first Pakistani to establish a career in the Hindi cinema and his success led many Pakistani actors to venture into Bollywood films. Through his successful attempts in Indian Film Industry, he has received four Lux Style Awards and a Filmfare Award nomination and has become one of the most famous Indo-Pak celebrity.^[2][3]

Zafar started his career as a music composer and gained popularity by his single Channo from his debut album Huqa Pani which sold over five million copies worldwide.^[4] Channo turned out to be a huge success topping many music charts and earned him the Lux Style Award for Best Music Album.^[5][6]

Zafar made his acting debut with a leading role in the 2010 Bollywood satire film Tere Bin Laden, a moderate box-office success. His performance in the film garnered critical appreciation and earned him several nominations in the Best Male Debut category, including Filmfare.^[7] The following year, Zafar made a special appearance in the romantic comedy Luv Ka The End and played the lead in the romantic comedy Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. Zafar was widely praised for his performance and received Best Actor nomination at several award ceremonies. Zafar received further praise for portraying leading roles in the critically and commercially successful films, the romantic comedy London, Paris, New York (2012) and the comedy Chashme Baddoor (2013).^[2][8][9]

Alongside his acting and singing career, Zafar participates in tours, concerts and stage shows, is active in humanitarian work and has a number of endorsement deals. Zafar was voted as the "Sexiest Asian Man on the Planet" based on a worldwide poll by the British newspaper Eastern Eye in 2013 and 2014.,^{[3][10][11][12]}

Life and career

2003-2009: Early life and success

Zafar at the premiere of Tere Bin Laden

Ali Zafar was born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan^[13] in a Punjabi family. His parents Mohammad Zafarullah and Kanwal Ameen were professors at the University of Punjab. He has two brothers: Zain and Danyal, the later of these is a commercial model. Zafar received his early education from C.A.A. Public School. He completed his graduation from the Government College of Lahore and the National College of Arts.

Zafar started his career as a sketch artist at Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore and then began acting in television serials. Zafar made his debut as a musician in 2003 with the album Huqa Pani which was a success. The album sold over 600,000 copies worldwide and winning several awards and nominations including 2004 Lux Style Award for "Best Album" and 2008 "Best Male Artist" award at the MTV awards.^[14] making Zafar one of the most popular pop singers in Pakistan. It was also claimed that Himesh Reshammiya copied one of the track "Rangeen" from Zafar's album in his song "Dillagi Mein Jo". Zafar joined Coke Studio Pakistan in 2008 and performed the songs "Allah Hu", "Yaar Dhadhi Ishq", "Nahin Ray Nahin" and "Daastan-e-Ishq", in season one and two.^[15][16]

Zafar with Salman Khan at the audio release of the song "Ullu Da Patha" in Dubai, 2010.

Zafar released his second album "Masty" in November 2006. He has released four videos from the album, titled "Masty", "Sajania", "Dekha" and "Aasmaan".^[2][9] The music video of the single "Dekha", was the named as the most expensive music video of Pakistan, costing more than rupees ten million. The video was produced by Lux and was shot in Malaysia featuring Reema Khan, Meera, and Amina Haq. The song was also made part of the Hollywood film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, which was released on 24 September 2010. He is currently the fourth Pakistani artist after Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Strings and Atif Aslam to have a songs featured in Hollywood films. He also won the "Youth Icon" award in the Lux Style Awards 2007, in Malaysia. On 14 February 2011, Zafar released his third album "Jhoom" which won 2012 Lux Style Award for "Best Music Album".^[17][18] His fourth album is staked to release this year.

2010-present: Acting career, Bollywood and Coke Studio

Zafar with Siddharth Narayan, Taapsee Pannu and Divyendu Sharma in Mumbai.

Zafar started his acting career as a television actor. He acted in drama serials Kanch Ke Par and Kollege Jeans. He also offered a role in 2007 Khuda Kay Liye but was unable to sign due to some personal reasons. The role was then performed by Fawad Afzal Khan.

In 2010, He made his debut as a leading actor with the Bollywood film Tere Bin Laden which was directed by Abhishek Sharma.^[19] Tere Bin Laden was partially based on Osama Bin Laden and Zafar played a Pakistani journalist from Karachi who makes fake video of Osama Bin Laden, so that he could go to America. The film released on 16 July 2010, proved to be a major commercial success in India but was banned in Pakistan. Zafar's performance in the film garnered critical appreciation and earned him Best Male Debut nominations at several award ceremonies, including IIFA Awards, Screen Awards, Zee Cine Awards and Filmfare Awards. He was also named as the first Pakistani to be called to Indian Film Festival at Australia in March 2011 for his movie screening. In 2011, he appeared in another Bollywood film Luv Ka The End in which he made special appearance as "Freddy Kapoor". Zafar also acted in the film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011) with Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif. The film was released on 9 September 2011.^[20] Zafar starred in the film London, Paris, New York with Aditi Rao Hydari, directed by Anuradha Menon. Zafar also composed the soundtrack for the film. He then received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Best New Talent Male and the Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow – Male for his performances in London, Paris, New York and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.^[21][22] In 2013, Zafar acted in a romantic adult-comedy film Chashme Baddoor, directed by David Dhawan. The film was released on April 5, 2013 and was declared a box office super hit.^[23]

Zafar with Naz Choudhury, Shahid Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandez at the Bollywood Showstopper show, 2014.

Zafar then did another two films in 2014, Total Siyappa which was a romantic comedy film released on 7 March 2014 and Kill Dil which was released on 14 November 2014.^[24] He also released a single "Urain Ge" as tribute to victims of 2014 Peshawar school massacre in 2014.^[25][26] He joined Coke Studio Pakistan in 2015 after six years in the eight season where he performed three songs. The first song 'Rockstar' became popular worldwide. It received more than 2 million views on YouTube. The song was also appreciated by Imran Khan, Mahira Khan, Sonu Nigam, Hrithik Roshan and Adnan Sami through tweets and Facebook posts. Zafar then performed the second song "Ae Dil" with Sara Haider and the third song "Ajj Din Vehre Vich". In 2016, Zafar performed an item number "Six Pack Abs" in the sequel of his 2010 film Tere Bin Laden, entitled Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive.

As of late 2015, Zafar has various commitments. He has completed filming for Ahsan Rahim's untitled project, that will mark his debut in Pakistani cinema. He is also producing a film Deosai, which will be release in the end of 2016. In addition, he has also signed Gauri Shinde's untitled project.^[27]

Tours

Ali Zafar in his concert entitled Dil Jhoom Jhoom on 2014's Valentine,

In 2012, Zafar performed at Lux Style Awards with Humaima Malick and also paid tribute to musician Mehdi Hassan by singing his ghazal 'Mujhe Tum Nazar Say'.^{[28] [29][30]} He also performed at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2012 contest held at Bhavans Ground in Mumbai on March 30, 2012 and GiMA Awards 2012. In 2013 he performed along with Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Preity Zinta at Temptations Reloaded concert in Muscat in 2013.

Zafar also performed at Lifestyle Pakistan Expo where he walked the ramp for designer brand ChenOne and also performed with a dhol. Zafar was also invited to perform in 2013 Cannes Film Festival held at Cannes, France.^[31] In 2014 Ali Zafar performed in Naz Choudhury's Bollywood Showstoppers at The O2 Arena along with Sonakshi Sinha, Jacqueline Fernandez, Mika Singh and Shahid Kapoor^[32]

Personal life

Zafar married his long-time fiancee Ayesha Fazli who is also distant relative of Indian actor Aamir Khan^[33][34][35] on 28 July 2009 in Lahore, Pakistan. On 6 March 2010, his first child was born. He named the baby boy Azaan Zafar.^[36] On 23 February 2015, Alyza Zafar, his second child was born in Lahore. The baby girl was named Alyza Zafar, suggested by Azaan Zafar.^[37]

Television

Year	Serial	Role	Channel
1999	Kollege Jeans[38]	Ali	PTV Home
2000	Kanch Ke Par	Temur	PTV Home
2002	Landa Bazar	Ramis	PTV Home

Filmography

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2010	Tere Bin Laden	Ali Hassan	Nominated—Filmfare Best Male Debut Award
2011	Luv Ka The End	Freddy Kapoor	Special appearance in song "Fun Fun Funaa"
2011	Mere Brother Ki Dulhan	Luv Agnihotri
2012	London, Paris, New York	Nikhil Chopra
2013	Chashme Baddoor	Siddharth Kashyap
2014	Total Siyapaa	Aman Ali
2014	Kill Dil	Tutu
2016	Tere Bin Laden 2	Ali Hassan	Special appearance in song "Six Pack Abs"
2017	Deosai	TBA	Filming[39]
2016	Gauri Shinde's	TBA	Filming[40]

Discography

Albums

Release Date	Album
21 November 2003	Huqa Pani
1 December 2006	Masty
14 February 2011	Jhoom

Film soundtrack

Year	Film	Song	Music Director(s)	Co-Singer(s)
2003	Shararat	Jugnuon Se Bhar Le Aanchal	Wajahat Attray	Solo
2010	Tere Bin Laden	Bas Ek Soch I Love Amreeka Ullu Da Pattha Welcome To Amreeka	Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy	Solo Akriti Kakkar Shankar Mahadevan Solo
2011	Luv Ka The End	F.U.N Fun Funna	Ram Sampath	Solo
2011	Love Mein Ghum	Love Mein Ghum	Waqar Ali	Waqar Ali
2011	Mere Brother Ki Dulhan	Madhubala	Sohail Sen	Shweta Pandit
2012	London, Paris, New York	London Paris New York Voh Dekhnay Mein Ting Rang Thehree Si Zindagi Aaja	Ali Zafar	Sunidhi Chauhan Solo Solo Aditi Rao Hydari Solo
2013	Chashme Baddoor	Early Morning (Remix) Dhichkyaaon Doom Doom Andha Ghoda Race Mein Dauda	Sajid-Wajid	Solo Shreya Ghoshal Wajid
2014	Total Siyapaa	Total Siyapaa Palat Meri Jaan Nahi Maloom Asha Chal Buleya	Ali Zafar	Solo Solo Fariha Pervez Solo Solo
2014	Kill Dil	Nakhriley	Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy	Shankar Mahadevan, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Gulzar
2015	Hey Bro	DJ	Nitz 'N' Sony	Sunidhi Chauhan
2016	"Tere Bin Laden dead or alive"	Six Pack Abs	Ali Zafar	Solo

Coke Studio (Pakistan)

Year	Song
2008	Allah Hu
2008	Janay Na Koi
2008	Chal Dil Meray
2008	Channo
2008	Rangeen
2009	Yaar Daddi
2009	Nahin Ray Nahin
2015	Sohni Dharti
2015	Rockstar
2015	Ae Dil Kissi Ke Yaad Mein
2015	Ajj Din Vehre Vich

Single(s)

Those For Truth

Ain't No Sunshine (Cover)

Rise For Jazba (Official Pakistan Cricket World Cup 2011 song)

Dunia Hai Dil Walon Ki (Pepsi World Cup 2011 song)

Zindagi Gulzar Hai

Facebook Pe Chalta Hai

Youn Challay Ke Ballay Ballay

Mobilink Har Dil Har Din

Pakistan Idol Anthem

Burka Avenger

Urain Ge (Tribute for APS students)

Hanstay Hanstay (Pakistan's Defense Day)

Ab Khel Ke Dikha (PSL's official anthem)

Chaka Chauka (Islamabad United's anthem)

Awards and nominations

Year	Category	Title	Result
Indus Music Awards
2004	Best Debut Artist	Huqa Pani	Won
2004	Best Album	Huqa Pani	Won
2005	Best Pop Artist	Huqa Pani	Won
Lux Style Awards
2004	Best Music Album	Huqa Pani	Won
2007	Best Music Album	Masty	Nominated
2007	Youth Icon Award		Won
2012	Best Album	Jhoom	Won
	Song of the Year	Jhoom	Nominated
2013	Best Original Soundtrack	Zindagi Gulzar Hai	Won
Asian Bollywood Music Awards
2005	Best Pop Music Album in Pakistan	Huqa Pani	Won
MTV Style Awards
2008	Best Male Artist	Masty	Won
2008	Most Stylish Artist		Won
2009	Best Male Singer	Zindagi Gulzar Hai	Won
Zee Cine Awards
2011	Best Male Debut	Tere Bin Laden	Nominated
ARY Film Awards
2014	International Icon		Won
Filmfare Awards
2011	Best Male Debut	Tere Bin Laden	Nominated
International Indian Film Academy Awards(IIFA)
2011	Star Debut of the Year-Male	Tere Bin Laden	Nominated
Star Screen Awards
2011	Most Promising Newcomer-Male	Tere Bin Laden	Nominated
Style Awards
2011	Song of the Year	Jhoom	Won
2011	Personality of the Year		Nominated
Stardust Awards
2011	Superstar of Tomorrow-Male	Tere Bin Laden	Nominated
2012	Musical Sensations-Male	Mere Brother Ki Dulhan	Nominated
2012	Superstar of Tomorrow-Male	Mere Brother Ki Dulhan	Won
Dadasaheb Phalke Awards
2012	Best New Talent-Male	Mere Brother Ki Dulhan	Won
Pakistan Media Awards
2012	Best Singer Male[41]	Jhoom	Nominated
2012	Best Playback Singer	Love Mein Ghum	Nominated
2014	Best Drama Original Soundtrack	Zindagi Gulzar Hai	Nominated
2014	Best Singer Male	Zindagi Gulzar Hai	Nominated
Hum Awards
2014	Best Original Soundtrack	Zindagi Gulzar Hai	Nominated
Karawood Film Festival
2015	Most Versatile Artist		Won

Other awards and honours

• Sexiest Asian Man On The Planet (Eastern Eye - 2013)^[42][43]

See also

• List of Bollywood films
• List of Indian playback singers
• Music of Pakistan
• History of Pakistani pop music
• List of Lollywood actors

References

1. "Ali Zafar – Pakistani Fashion Model". Fashioncentral.pk. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
2. Agha Majid. "Chashme Baddoor Remake Starring Ali Zafar Releasing In August". Play TV.
3. "Ali Zafar Crowned Sexiest Asian Man on the Planet". timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
4. "Indian Film Festival 2011". Retrieved 16 November 2012.
5. "Ali Zafar". http://www.in.com/. External link in |work= (help)
6. "Huqa Pani - Ali Zafar Pakistani Songs-Channo,Huqa Pani,Chal Dil Merey Raag.fm". raag.fm.
7. Saltz, Rachel (5 August 2010). "Tere Bin Laden". NYtimes.com. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
8. "Total Siyapaa is a comedy with a cause: Ali Zafar". tribune.com.pk.
9. "Ali Zafar’s new film ‘Total Siyapaa’ hits Pakistani cinemas". The News International, Pakistan. 9 March 2014.
10. "Ali Zafar, Rockstar, Coke Studio Season 8, Episode 2". YouTube. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
11. "Coke Studio 8: Sugar, spice and some things nice". Express Tribune. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
12. "Coke Studio: Will songs from Episode 2 make it to your wedding soundtrack?". Dawn. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
13. "Girls used to come to me to get their portraits made: Ali Zafar". The Times of India. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
14. "Lux Style Awards 2004 exclusively on Sony Entertainment Television Asia (official press release) (PDF)" (PDF). 25 June 2004.
15. "'Dillagi' and 'Marjawan'".
16. Aelina (4 August 2005). "Aashiq Banaya Aapne – When Himesh meets Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-05-29.
17. "Lux Style Awards 2012: Glamour's night out". The Express Tribune. July 10, 2012.
18. "Review: London Paris New York". NDTVMovies.com.
19. "All you wanted to know about 'Tere Bin Laden'". Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
20. Shah, Kunal M (18 August 2010). "Ali Zafar signs Yash Raj film". Times of India. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
21. "Ali Zafar to receive Indian award". tribune.com.pk.
22. "Amitabh, Dilip Kumar receive Dadasaheb Phalke Academy award". thesundayindian.com.
23. "Chashme Baddoor scores big at the box office". The News International. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
24. "Did you know? Ali Zafar’s Aman ki Asha has been renamed Total Siyappa". The Express Tribune. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
25. "Ali Zafar tugs at heartstrings with 'Urain Ge'". Anum Rehman Chagani. Dawn. 7 Feb 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
26. "Ali Zafar excited for 'Urainge'". The Times of India. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
27. "Ali Zafar to produce his dream project 'Deosai'". The Times of India.
28. "added performances". Retrieved 15 October 2012.
29. "perform with humaimah". Retrieved 15 October 2012.
30. "tribute to legend mehdi hassan". Retrieved 15 October 2012.
31. "Ali Zafar invited to attend Cannes Film Festival". Bollywood Hungama. May 9, 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
32. "We Danced our heart out in Bollywood Showstoppers". Digital Spy. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
33. "'Ali Zafar is Aamir's brother'". The Times of India.
34. "Ali Zafar and Aamir Khan related". mid-day.com.
35. "Account Suspended".
36. "Ali Zafar is now a father!". 9 March 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
37. "Ali Zafar names newly-born daughter Alyza". The Indian Express. 2 March 2015.
38. Anwer, Zoya (31 May 2015). "6 Pakistani comedy shows that need to make a comeback". Dawn. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
39. "Ali Zafar’s fans to participate in Pak’s biggest flashmob". Daily Times.
40. Maliha Rehman. "Ali Zafar: Balancing act". dawn.com.
41. "Pakistanmedia awards". Retrieved 11 October 2012.
42. "Ali Zafar beats Hrithik Roshan to become the sexiest Asian man on the planet". ibnlive.in.com.
43. "Did you know? Ali Zafar first Pakistani to be named Hottest Asian Man". The Express Tribune. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.

External links

• AliZafar.net – Official Website
• Ali Zafar at the Internet Movie Database