The 32 year old still makes you sway to his romantic tracks like ‘Pehli Nazar Mein’, ‘Tera Hone Laga Hoon’ and ‘Jeene Laga Hoon’. Donning the hat of a singer, composer and a songwriter, Atif Aslam is currently in India for concerts and has been city hopping. Extremely overwhelmed with the kind of responses he has been getting in India, the Aslam speaks to Radioandmusic.com’s Dhairya Ingle about his acting plans, cricket and a lot more.
You have been signed by T-Series for the single ‘Zindagi Aa Raha Hu Main’. Tell us about that.
The single is very unlike the soft romantic numbers that I have done in the past; it is more energetic. T – Series made me an offer to do a single, and I agreed. This song is based on a one-time contract. Working with Bhushan Kumar is always great as he is really good with marketing songs, which he has been doing for a long time now.
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Having worked extensively with Sachin Jigar for a lot of Bollywood projects, do you plan on working with them in the near future?
Oh yes! I would love to work with them once again only if the words ‘piya’ or ‘jiya’ are not there in the songs. Jokes apart, Sachin Jigar have been very dear to me. I also have a song with Mithoon which is under the music label Tips, and that could release in couple of months now.
A few Pakistani singers have tried their hand at acting. Do you plan to act in any movies?
I had acted in a Pakistani movie called ‘Bol’, so yes acting is definitely on cards. I took a while to decide on the kind of films I wish to do. For me it not just a film, but the entire team matters. Making a film not only involves acting but also the script. You will soon see me acting in a Bollywood film that will be released by the end of this year or early next year.
Before becoming a singer, you were an aspiring cricketer. How did singing happen to you?
Yes! I was a fast bowler and I even got through the under 19 squad of the country. But my parents did not want me to play cricket. Instead, they wanted me to become a doctor. I studied computer science, of which I know nothing. Singing happened to me when I recorded my first song out of fun. When my friends heard it, they insisted that I take up singing as a profession. I started participating in a lot of singing contests and here I am.
During your recent performance you added an EDM to your songs. Do you plan on having a dance music album?
I like Electronic Dance Music and the song ‘Zindagi Aa Raha Hu Main’ does have a dance music element, so it could happen in the future. Nothing is on cards as of now, but you never know.
Any particular incident that has been heartwarming or memorable?
I recently performed in Bengaluru and the organisers requested me to meet this man Khalid, who had been pestering them to meet me. So I met him and I asked him what he does, and he said that he sells sunglasses on the roadside. I asked him if he could give me a pair, but he did not have it then. So he went to his house and brought back a bagful of shades for me, and then showed me a video in which he was celebrating my birthday with a huge cake. I was so touched by the gesture, because the thing is that a person selling glares on the roadside would probably be living hand to mouth. For him to buy a big cake for my birthday was really heartwarming. I asked my team to make a video and post it on my YouTube channel. I have mentioned the location of the place where Khalid sells shades and have asked my fans to buy glares from him.
If you were given a chance to reinterpret a few tracks, which would they be?
That is quite difficult; I love so many of them. ‘Nadan Parinde’ and ‘Churan Liya Hai Tumne’ are some amongst many others. I would love to reinterpret them in a rock version, because to me that genre is life. In most concerts, I am asked to sing ‘Gulabi Aankhein’, which is not even my song.
How important is creative freedom you as an artist?
It is very important for me as it is something that gives you your own space. I record a song only when I enjoy it, and that comes when I can interpret the track. I am also a songwriter, but people are yet to see that side of mine.
What do you do when not recording or not in the studio?
There is hardly a time when I am away from music. But when I am, I either spend time with my family or I am chilling with my friends.
