He is calm, he is focussed and he is very intense. On the outset these adjectives don’t seem to sync well with the stereotypical image of a pop star. But they describe Atif Aslam well. Awaiting his debut on the silver screen, Atif shares his experiences about Bol, Bollywood, the future of the Pakistani music industry and life

By Naila Inayat

Instep: On the official website of Bol you say that you had been getting a lot of film offers. What made you say yes to this venture?

Atif Aslam: Yes that’s right, I was never interested in films but I got bored with my commercial work and I wanted to do, explore, something else -- so I explored myself as an actor.

 I was certain I didn’t want to do any of those traditional ‘chocolate hero’ kind of roles or be typecast as a macho, six-pack looking leading man was what encouraged me to do Bol. People have heard my music all over world, and I was eager to do a film that had substantial content and a social message. Shoaib Mansoor’s film was just what I had been aspiring for. After reading the script I was convinced it was the right role for me.

Instep: So talk us through the journey of exploring Atif the actor…

AA: One fine day Shoaib Mansoor called me to ask if I was interested in doing a film. Honestly, I was a little confused and undecided; I wanted to know the storyline. When I met him later, he narrated the story to me and I felt some affinity for it. I was interested in doing something for my nation -- something that could reconstruct and rehabilitate the image of Pakistan in people’s minds.

 I have spent my childhood in a village; I could relate to the character of Mustafa in Bol and I would say it suited me. Shooting in a dingy house in the conservative walled city didn’t seem alien. From the first day, I felt I belonged there.

Instep: After the shooting of Bol were you surprised by your own acting skills?

AA: I still haven’t seen any of the rushes because I just want to enjoy the whole experience at the premiere (smiles rather humbly). So I don’t really know how the end product looks! But according to Shoaib Mansoor I didn’t take much time in producing the best shots. The maximum retakes were two. Appreciation from the director is always encouraging.

Instep: Is this your first stint as an actor? Or you have some experience of act and acting at an amateur level?

AA: No, I have never acted but I can handle the stage with confidence. After performing in so many parts of the world you acquire a self-assurance and belief which is imperative for an actor. But acting is entirely a different ball game -- it is truly challenging. Take for instance dialogue-delivery: I never thought it would be much of a hassle but MAN! It’s tough! I had to rehearse my lines repeatedly, making sure that I don’t blank out on the set. It isn’t easy when you have to learn entire paragraphs by heart and then speak the lines with the required expression and emotion. Working with senior actors like Irfan Khoosat was inspirational.

Instep: How was the experience of working with Shoaib Mansoor?

AA: Shoaib Mansoor is a true professional. He is super talented and very hardworking. He has this magical ability to recreate whatever he has conceived. Impressions and rumours about him not being punctual all went out of the window once we started shooting.

Instep: What is the USP (Unique Selling Point) of the film?

AA: Its production value and the commercial aspect I believe. Bol is a very serious film -- an intense tale with no humour. I’m the little smile in the film.

Instep: Hona tha pyaar is already doing the rounds, how would you categorise the film’s music?

AA: It’s neither too pop nor very arty; it strikes the correct balance between the two and brings out the real and the commercial Atif in one . As for me singing will definitely remain a priority but the future is in the hands of my fans.

Instep: With Khuda Kay Liye came this talk of revival of Pakistani cinema but five years on nothing substantial actually

happened. Can Bol do what Khuda Kay Liye couldn’t?

AA: Kuch na honay say kuch hona behtar hai (something is better than nothing). Bol is one step ahead of Khuda Kay Liye. There is no hard-line against anyone in Bol, it conveys the right message, though the interpretation may vary from viewer to viewer.

Instep: After Bol what is Atif the actor eyeing? A full-scale Yash Chopra movie?

AA: Umm… my preference would still be selective of script and role. If I like it I will do it. Something like Dil Chahta Hai. I know acting is all about being an actor and taking on different roles but I believe you have to be yourself eventually. I won’t mind working with small productions as well but I’m certainly not interested in hardcore commercial stuff.

Instep: Something like Tere Bin Laden?

AA: No, more like say, Monsoon Wedding.

Instep: Has the seven-year struggle been worth it...?

AA: Oh yes! I come from a middle-class family. In my college days I used to travel by local transport, manage my own bus fare and other expenses, so I always had to work hard for whatever I wanted in life. It’s been a tough struggle to reach the top. But today when I look back I feel that it was all worth it. If you talk about stardom, I have played everywhere in the world and covered all the continents. I have played at places where there were no Pakistanis or Indians like in Suriname and Trinidad, the locals didn’t recognise me but they enjoyed my music. I never thought I would become this big but every now and then I make myself believe that I’m not living a dream and this is all for real.

Instep: And there were times when critics wrote you off…

Atif Aslam: Yes there were times and there will be more in the future. And that is very important. It keeps you grounded.

Instep: Did that help you to reach this far?

AA: No it didn’t, it never helped me. There was all sorts of criticism, with people telling me what to wear and what not to wear, newspapers criticising my sense of style, alleging that my singing was "out-of-tune”. I read it all, but never complained. Now newspapers are also my fans. Also, Facebook has been great and I have the fastest growing fan following in the world. That is a huge indicator of my success.

Instep: Would that success have been possible without Bollywood?

AA: I definitely give credit to the Indian media, those millions of channels and especially Bollywood -- Bollywood is just so huge. It’s sad that there is no pop and rock industry in India, I can’t do my kind of music there, songs like ‘Jalpari’ or ‘Meri Kahani’ is my kind of music but Doorie is not my kind of music. Still I had to do a number like ‘Doorie’ to capture that market. Now I have balanced the two. Onstage I’m the rocker with ‘Meri Kahani’; offstage in the studios it’s ‘Doorie’ -- that’s where the future lies. Soap operas like Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Bollywood have a massive following and show you how big the industry is. The Indian presence in Pakistan is huge and you can’t get away from it.

Instep: So then, is the fear about the future of Pakistan’s music is justified?

AA: Well there is a reason for that in Pakistan we don’t have any record labels or any media support whatsoever. We don’t have cinemas; there are only money-minting machines. It’s the same with the music industry. If we had been given a platform, this country would have produced rock stars.

Here the channels tell upcoming artistes if they create a video and give it to them, they will see if they can air it. They don’t help to create videos. A new band cannot afford that kind of money. Musicians are not well-protected, not well-marketed either. As a result the masses aren’t interested in listening to your product. Right now no one has time for your music; people are busy watching the Khabarnama or Tees Maar Khan.

Instep: How do you react to the opposition to Pakistani singers recording and performing in India at the cost of India’s

talent?

AA: I don’t know whether it is justified or not. There is a perception there in India about Pakistan that it is a conservative society and majority of the women here are burqa-clad. Music just doesn’t sync in well with that kind of image. So yes I agree it is difficult for them to absorb it.

Instep: Do you think that the NOC policy for Pakistani artistes will get in the way of their careers?

AA: I don’t think it’s the right way to go about it. But if the government wants us to take an NOC and go to India, I suppose we’ll do it. What I understand of it is that they just want to monitor where the money is going.

On that front I’m pretty safe, I’m paying my taxes in India and in Pakistan. In fact I’m one of the highest taxpayers from the industry in both countries so I’m okay with whatever policy they enforce.

[Via Naila Inayat]