meet him, the producer Fizza( Ali Meerza) complained to me that I didn’ t get back to her for Na Maloom Afraad. The truth is I didn’ t know they were looking for me. So I decided to do a song for the fi lm and that’ s how ' Dil Dancer Hogaya ' was conceived.” Atif Aslam has been winning hearts in India, Pakistan and even the West. He has a huge fan following that remains unmatched. When asked about the secret of his success, the vocalist has little to say.“ There is no secret to my success. It was a dozen years ago when I started off and people loved my style of singing. Since then I have been touring all around the world, and there came a time where I got
tired of the routine. That’ s when I needed a break but now I’ m back to what I’ m best known for.” In the last one month, Atif Aslam has released not one but four numbers – two for Actor In Law, one each for Rustom and The Flying Jatt, and all of them have gone on to become chartbusters.“ Insecure people don’ t stage comebacks since they don’ t leave the scene. I gave my best to the songs that were offered to me and the result is ' Tere Sang Yaara '( Rustom), which had 10 million hits in the fi rst fi ve days of its release. I am thankful to Allah for keeping me grounded and my fans for believing in me. For someone who is not trained but self-taught, the jour-
COVER STORY
ney has been huge.“ Interestingly, I have been loved in both India and Pakistan and trust me, only a few press conferences have messed it up. I have been very successful in handling people who hurl abuse simply by being patient. Ignoring them is the best policy because afterwards it’ s the fans that criticise these so-called celebrities for their bad conduct. There are good people as well in India and colleagues who praise me. I have learnt from experience that being insecure never helps and neither does pulling anyone’ s leg.” The man with the magical voice says he believes“ for every rise there is a fall” and adds that that’ s the very reason he doesn’ t want to get into the race for the top.“ I don’ t care about being No 1. I just love to do what I’ m doing. Wherever I go, I am loved by the people – be it Nairobi, the West Indies or even South Africa. I cherish their love and they are the reason I am in the reckoning for so long.” The singer who became a sensation after the song ' Aadat ' refers to his recent concert in Singapore as well as one in Norway six years ago as his best moments on stage.“ There were over 70,000 people in Norway and I have never been more charged. I also cherish the time when I got to perform with Slash( of Guns‘ n’ Roses fame), the great Peter Gabriel who had worked with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the recent team-up with Sonu Nigam in Dubai where we gelled well. I’ m looking forward to the second leg of that concert later this year.” When asked what song he wishes had been his, he replies by honouring the greats on both sides of the Wagah Border.“ There are many songs of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan that I would have loved to sing. I had no idea that my cover of Mohammad Rafi’ s ' Gulabi Aankhen ' would go on to become so popular since I fi rst sang it casually in a cafeteria. It has now become one of the most requested songs wherever I go. I would have done anything to have sung it when it was fi rst released nearly 50 years ago.” Travelling back in time, what advice would Atif Aslam give to his younger self?“ I would like to tell him not to get famous,” he replies without blinking an eye.“ I really miss my youth. I’ m not being ungrateful but there was an Atif who used to roam the streets, who didn’ t care whether his photograph was taken or not, who used to hang out without people staring at him. I miss that carefree life and would give anything for it, even if it only lasts a few moments.”
27 | BOOM