ENTERTAINMENT
Ali’s Safarnama
Actor, singer, composer and painter from Pakistan, Ali Zafar is back in Bollywood with his latest film Total Siyappa. The actor talks about his family, films and his future
Swati Rai

He broke into his own in 2003 as a pop singing sensation, ruling the musical roost with the release of his single ‘Channo’ which sold half a million copies in just the first week and ended up selling more than five million copies of his first album Huqa Paani. Ali Zafar, who debuted in Bollywood in 2010 with Tere Bin Laden, is back with his latest film Total Siyappa.

About his latest release, he says, "I had seen Neeraj Pandey’s earlier movies, A Wednesday and Special 26 and was very impressed with the script of this movie.We met and I can say that our sensibilities matched perfectly and that’s it, what more can you ask for!"

Directed by E Niwas, Total Siyappa saw an ensemble star cast of Yami Gautam, Kirron Kher and Anupam Kher among others, sharing the screen space.

The only Pakistani actor to come into the Bollywood industry as a main lead, Zafar has clocked movies such as Love ka the End (2011), Mere Brother ki Dulhan (2011), London, Paris, New York (2012), Chashme Buddoor (2013) which have received a moderate to good response.

Blessed with the brand of looks that would make many a women want to ‘take him home to meet her parents’ is pretty much saddled with a ‘pretty boy’ image.

Zafar says, "I don’t only want to be seen as a looker and someone who is appealing. Not to say that I have anything against it but I want to be known for my acting ability too. So I am not trying to run away from that image tag but surely I am looking for much more out of my films!"

This should also explain the ‘No kissing clause’ Zafar has stuck to in his Bollywood stint! Flitting between Pakistan and India, says Ali, is manageable and ‘now the family has also adjusted to it well and they understand that it is a professional requirement."

Total Siyappa also premi`E8red in Pakistan which is ‘great’ says Ali and calmly claims that the movie is a ‘light-hearted, feel-good movie’ that he enjoyed doing!

Talking about comic timing in romantic comedies considering there are quite a few of these in Zafar’s repertoire, the actor says, "I think it comes and should come naturally to actors. I am not one of those actors who will sit and mull endlessly over my lines, etc. I do my homework well. I am well-prepared, know my characters and script well and then I go and do it spontaneously."

Not a believer in method acting, Zafar spends his free time vacationing with the family and is quite active on social networking sites, which he feels ‘is a great way to communicate with everyone, especially with his fans.’

Considering Ali has in his kitty Kill Dil and Tere Bin Laden 2 to look forward to next year, in popular perception, he is not seen as a pop sensation. Having been a part of the music of Total Siyappa recently and sung his songs in some of his earlier movies, Ali says of his musical journey, "I don’t think there is something as ‘pop music’ nowadays and I want to and will continue to sing for films as this is future!"

Point taken! Ask Ali as to if there is any wish list of directors that he would want to work with, pat comes the longish list.

"The director is important but I feel the script is crucial and no compromises can be made on the same. Having said that yes there are many talented directors I would like to work with like Raju Hirani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, Anand Rai and Dibakar Banerjee." And all we can say is Amen!

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