In conversation with Ali Zafar

One must contemplate to find the meaning of life

Ali Zafar is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, model, actor and producer. His exemplary journey   models immense diversity starting from the field of painting to modeling and acting. What made him the global rockstar? Bol News sat down with Ali to find out more about his jhourney

How did you start painting?

As both of my parents belonged to an academic profession and a middle class family back-ground, a whole sum of their earnings used to get spent in fulfilling my educational expenses along with those of my siblings’. It developed a sense of responsibility in me from a very young age that I had to earn as soon as possible, and never burden my parents with my needs. So, I talked to my father about my exceptional skill of sketching and painting through which I could earn. He referred me to one of his colleagues who was serving as a head of Human Resource at Pearl Continental (PC) Hotels, Lahore. I was selected and granted permission to sit in the hotel to render my services of live sketching and painting. I remember my first painting sold for Rs 1500 which was a huge amount for a sixteen-year-old boy.

What made you choose music as a career?

Music is something which came to me very naturally. It was maybe due to my parents’ inclination towards literature and classical music or maybe the occurrence of classical event gatherings attended by Israr Chisti and Shah Nawaz Zaidi, at our home which fuelled my interest. The remaining elements of oomph were added by my mentor in Government College’s Nazir Ahmad music society, who supported me in learning songs by heart.

How was your life in NCA?

I remember I would do my weekly assignment one night before their submissions, because I used to be very busy. I was dealing with my music classes, acting and modeling projects along with gym sessions and completing my bachelor’s degree all at the same time. It was awesome because of the fact that I had already invested a great deal of my time into painting real-life portraits and sketches from a young age.

What does happiness mean to Ali Zafar?

Human relationships. Starting from my parents, my children and my wife and people who are really important to me.

What makes you unhappy? 

It is in fact people, not realizing that they are in ultimate loss. There is a chapter in the Holy Quran which identifies the fact that people are in ‘decline’ but not the ones who do carry out good deeds. So people have simply failed to realise the cycles where they are stuck and coming out of them is necessary. I see people suffering from anxiety and depression. They merely are unable to disconnect themselves from their priorities and somehow shaken from the inside. People should never rely on information, they must seek knowledge and wisdom. Seeking wisdom is the only way to obtain sustainable peace and happiness.  And surround yourself with positive energy above all.

What change do you want to bring within yourself and surroundings?

Be the change that you want to create in the world. As Rumi said, yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world, today I am wise so I am changing myself. So the journey of change within one’s self begins with self-correction and self-reflection. Every person born on the planet Earth must have their own journey, because they have been made unique. One must contemplate to find the meaning of life. The change has never been brought about by updating Facebook status. In order to bring change, one has to work in the field, facing real-life circumstances. If you are able to change the life of a single human being, your entire life will be blessed. Imagine, people getting healed merely from your presence.

Do you a review the activities you performed during the whole day before going to bed?

I do plan my next day. I do not get time to review all activities as I keep on getting ideas about the notes and tones for my upcoming songs and other projects before I go to bed.

How often do you get distracted? 

Frequently. Whenever I find some topic being discussed with no absolute meaning and wisdom somewhere in social gatherings, I practice two things. Either I maintain eye contact or I simply pretend listening to them while I am just gone into my own world to utilize that time and energy in a more productive manner.

What is the craziest thing that you have ever done so far?

You would find me singing loud not just in the shower but when I am walking in a park or a forest. I have done pretty frivolous stuff in films already, and I prefer to take rest in my remaining time.

Tell us about any unfulfilled wish that you aim to accomplish

I am blessed to have fulfilled them all. I would be really ungrateful and unthankful to God, if I say I still have any of them unaccomplished. I am aiming to cater bigger projects for Ali Zafar Foundation and working to beat my fears.

Any past memory that you want to erase?

It all constructs the person you are. Any experience good or bad or even people who bring happiness or pain into your life, actually are your teachers. One should respect and learn from them.

When did you fall in love for the first time?

Well, call it love or crush. It happened in grade 7. I could not do anything, I was so shy to express my feelings anyway. So what I did was just to record a series of old Pakistani songs and classical poetry in a cassette and sent it to her through a mutual friend from school, during college days. She never received it, and my cassette was received by me back in the day. I placed it in my drawer with a heart half surprised, half perplexed, and it is still lying there till date.

How did you meet Ayesha?

While I was busy completing one of my sketches in PC Hotels Lahore, she came to me with one of her friends to get herself sketched on paper. The only thing that captivated my senses and conquered my heart was her kindness. She was and still is a human angel in disguise. And it is just not her, this trait has been inherited from her mother, who is an incredibly kind human being.

What is success?

Realising success, where does it actually lie, especially when someone is happy, grateful and healthy.

How do you define failure?

Not being able to acquire any of the blessings.

What is life?

A song. It depends on the person whether he would like to sing, be it a happy or a sad genre. The better the song will be, the more mortal the elixir of existence it might carry in the hearts and minds of people.

What is death in your opinion? Are you afraid to die?

It is a transition. I am not at all afraid. It should be embraced with an open heart. It is the time when you would finally be able to meet with divinity. It is the moment of being grateful to God for sending the best of His blessings upon one’s self.

Where are you standing in your life currently?

I am floating through my life and living in the moment. Any day, if I feel like I am standing stagnant on a point, I start working to lift the pace of my work to make sure that I am moving forward, becoming the better version of myself each and every passing day.