Acting is all brains! Most important your voice, punctuation, dialogue delivery, intelligence (loads of it), observation, sensitivity are the qualities, which most of the models are not well loaded with, and that is the reason that they are not accepted as actors. Acting requires a huge task and skill for a person to be able to impress others. Looks might be the last in all the credentials.

How did you get attracted to acting?
I was approached initially by Asif Ali Pota for his serial 'Kaanch ke Par', which later proved a blockbuster. And then I did 'Lunda Bazaar', which topped the charts too. 'College kee jeans' and 'Ghar kee Baat thee' were the next in the row. I used to attend my classes and shoot at the same time as luckily most of the shooting tool place in NCA where I study.

What projects are you busy with these days?
I'm working in three serials, hosting a show at Prime TV, and working painstakingly on my thesis at NCA. Also I'm working on my own video for my song.

What type of roles you go for?
I work out of passion. I go for the roles, which offer a great deal of margin for performance. I shrugged off a number of offers that came my way because I felt they lacked substance.

And how did you feel when Samina Peerzada offer you to sing for her movie?
I felt great. In fact, over the cloud nine... First, I was fascinated by play back singing... second, the melody was really good and the song wasn't like one of those typical film industry songs. I knew I wasn't going to waste my energies if I did it. And now the charts have proved that it was a good decision. In fact, it has given me a great deal of confidence over my vocal abilities and the dedication that I was working with on my debut album has considerably enhanced.

If offered, would you like to move on to the big screen?
Until I'm sure that I won't make a fool out of myself I wouldn't... I'm waiting for things in our film industry to get better. Only then if a worthy script comes my way, may be I'll take it... I don't want to waste my energy into something worthless.

Why do our drama presentations fail to register any mark as compared to foreign channels?
A lot of reasons... It lacks the right people from the very beginning. Drama making is a big art, which requires a great deal of training and technical strength but that is what we don't have here.

How the situation can be improved?
It can be improved by getting good intelligent people to get into it who have the intention of not making good money only, but a good art piece. We need a major reshuffle. We need institutions.

Do you give the product a try before accepting its advertisement?
Well this is a very nice question and it's something I'm really conscious about. But fortunately all of the products that I have modeled for are in use since a long time and they already enjoy a great customer following. But if there is something that is newly launched I'll prefer to give it a try first.

What frustrates you and what makes you feel up at the clouds?
When people make stories about you and use your personal life as a tool for their personal enjoyment or ego boost. They claim to know you more than you know yourself. Strange! I feel up at the mountain when I feel that I made a positive difference to somebody's life. It really gets the true pleasure.

What are your plans in the pipeline?
Finish and release my album... Get a sponsor for it if lucky... carry my music internationally and use my talent at maximum, not for personal but national benefits as we have to show the world how much potential we carry in all forms of art.

When and where were you born?
May 18, 1980, Lahore.

Tell us about your educational background?
My schooling took place at Beaconhouse. I topped in my matric exams. Then I did FA from Government College, Lahore and now I'm in the final year at NCA doing fine arts with majors in painting.

How were you as a child?
I was very shy and introvert kind of a boy. I used to prefer sitting among the elders rather than my own age group, but more inclined towards my studies.

So, how did you overcome your shyness.
By facing big crowds and performing in front of them.

Do you get any weird calls or mails?
Yes, a lot... mostly from young girls who have nothing else to do... though I try to be real nice to them.

When do you plan to tie up a knot and get settled?
No clue... I think it will be whenever I feel stable enough to support my family the way I've thought of.

What do you look for in a life partner?
Trust in me and the key word is understanding.

Do you remember any of your childhood crush?
Yes... I remember it was when I was in class 8th. But she was too mature to indulge herself into something immature.

How long have you been involved in media?
For 5 years

Was music your interest, that you thought of opting it?
Yes, very much, Music is my greatest interest.

What had inspired you in making music?
ummm ... the effect it had on me. How a particular singer or singers through their music have been a part of my life and I've always felt their presence with me .. I want to be a part of people's lives too .. in a very positive way .. to share my pleasure with them and their with mine Your career began through acting/modeling and has now spread to the music
scene, would you care to elaborate over this?

This is where I was always meant to be even while acting or modeling, my mind was into music always. That's why I refused even the most lucrative offers, just to give time to my music

How has your experience with Pakistani media been so far?
A lot of hard work, its a very ...pretentious world but I believe I've been blessed that I could make it even till where I have. There's so much more I have to achieve. I just hope I don't get exhausted .. but I will never, if I have people with me.

Your debut video "Channo" is now being aired on music channels rather frequently. What's the concept behind this video?
There is this guy who develops a crush on his class fellow(a girl) while they are doing combined studies. And this "Genie" walks in at his lace one day as a salesman .. sells him the lamp ..and leaves. Later, the boy rubs the lamp and the "Genie" appears asking for his three wishes and the boy wishes for the girl. "Genie" transforms him for the girl to like him, gives him a magic potion to make the girl drink it. The girl drinks and falls for the "Genie." So the boy goes back to Genie screaming .. "Genie" renews the potion for the boy to give it to the girl, who finally falls in love with him but it was the girl all along who had sent the "Genie" to get the guy for her

A media revolution seems to be in session in Pakistan, mostly through music. Would you say this applies to others fields of media as well?
Umm, yes fashion, not too sure about drama as yet.

How far do you see Pakistani media extend itself?
Well .. if we don't get stuck in a decade like we got stuck in the 80s then you have no idea what's coming up .. its huge !

How important a role does media play in terms of national outlook? Do you see our media meeting all criteria's?
It plays a very very very important role, in fact the media is ruling the world right now, its all about how you project yourself as a nation and the world is trying its best to portray as a very backward nation whereas we need to show them what are actually all about !

After having been involved in both music and acting/modeling, which of these two do you feel more comfortable doing? Why?
Music, cause I can relate to it the most not to my face after a shoot

Maintaining standards in all aspects of media can be rather hard on an individual. Do you find it difficult balancing your priorities and effort?
I'm not sure if I've maintained those desired standards. I'm still just trying

With rock music being the rave nowadays, how well do you think your music(pop) will fare?
The thing is, I do my music with passion, what it does to others is not in my control. If people like it ... or not .. its their choice. I cant make them like it but I just do what I like doing myself, for me rock pop or jazz are just names to classify music ..but they're all the same for me

Just out of curiosity, who are your favorite musicians?
Kishore Kumar .. Rafi . Lata . Asha . Jumam Khan . Mehdi Hassan . Iqbal Bano . Fareeda Khanum, Amanat Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali and Nayyara Noor

What flaws do you see in Pakistani media today?
People are into short cuts, produce money instantly rather than creating an art piece not all but mostly

What can we expect from Ali Zafar in the future? Have you chalked out an entire plan. If so, please to share it with us?
Hehe, well for the time being all I can say is .. that I plan to present our culture on an international frame as one of the most outstanding ones and make the west follow us rather than us following them altogether. All our style icons or pop idols mostly comes from the west .. how the west doesn't have anyone from here, its not that we have no one like that here, we have enormous talent and we just need to project our self in a manner as to overwhelm and improve our image as a nation. We as Muslims are taken as a very conservative, barbarous lot whereas our religion doesn't teach that
our religious teaching have been tempered to an interest of a few. We ourselves need to study the real essence of our religion and also share that with the people through out the world.

Thank You for the Interview Ali Zafar, wishes you all the best for your upcoming ventures.

Although the Cola Pop Scene, has been covered some where behind the cloud, these young musicians have faith in themselves, and are struggling in search of a silver lining.