Ali Zafar is one of the few actors from Pakistan, who have tasted success on the other side of the border. He is an equally accomplished singer and his chocolate-boy looks make him a hot favourite with women. The actor-singer, who has multiple hits to his credit, will be seen in a all new avatar in his upcoming film, Kill Dil. Gaurav Sharma caught up with Ali on films and more.
Ali, you are having a big release after quite some time. Excited?
Oh yes, I am really upbeat about the film. I had my last release, Total Siyappa, in January and it is quite some time that I have had a release but the release of a film is not in the hands of the actors. We actors work on a film and then it’s up to the makers, who decide on the release date and now I am back promoting the film. It’s the responsibility of all the actors to market and promote the film.
So you are maintaining a hectic schedule travelling to different cities and promoting it.
Promotions play a big and important role these days and I think every actor should be involved in the process. One can’t complain if he or she has to travel. It’s the responsibility of every person involved in the film to promote the film. There are so many films being made these days and unless a film is promoted properly, it can affect the business.
Your last film did not do good business at the box office…
(Sighs) At times, you don’t get the results you desire. I don’t think any actor wants his film not to work. We also do and make films with the expectation that it will work but it’s the audience, who decide the fate of a film. As an actor I am proud of all the films I have done.
This film is quite a shift from the kind of roles you played so far in your career.
Yes, it a big test for me too. I have so long done soft romantic films, a few comedies, which I have thoroughly enjoyed but this is something that is completely new to me. I had always wanted to play a role like this, and thankfully it happened at the right time. Now, it’s up to the audience to judge me.
You have a huge female fan following. Will that help?
I hope it does (laughs). But that are so many other factors that make a film a hit. The simple thing is that I have to perform and that’s the one way to impress the audience.
How did you bag the offer given that you carry a chocolate-boy image and Kill Dil is high on action?
I really don’t know, what impressed director Shaad Ali but I have heard that it was Aditya Chopra, who suggested my name to Shaad. He was very supportive of the idea and I will remain thankful to both of them for showing their faith in me.
You play an assassin in the film.
Yes, I have done quite a bit of action and I had to do a lot of training for that. The action genre is new to me but I was lucky that we had a very good action director. I have tried to give my best. Ranveer (Singh) has done action films earlier so it was a shade easier for him.
Ranveer is a favourite with everyone these days.
(Cuts in) And he has earned it. He is one of the most dignified and focused actors today. He has proved himself and he deserves that. Working with him on Kill Dil was a pleasure. We really bonded well on the sets.
Your song Nakhriley from the film is a hit.
I have always loved singing and will continue doing so. It is an amazing song, full of energy and extremely well picturised. I am sure once you watch it on the big screen you will like it even more.
But is singing slowly taking a backseat because of your acting assignments?
Oh no, not at all. It can never take a backseat. I am a singer first and I will never stop composing, writing and singing. You can’t always find me doing playback in all the film that I do as an actor but singing because that’s not always in the contract when I sign a film?
Are you happy with the way your Bollywood career has shaped up?
I am extremely satisfied as an artist because Bollywood has showered me with love. What more can an actor and singer like me expect, who is not from this country. I also feel confident because I have been able to do this, which very few have managed so far. I hope I keep getting this love from in India.
Any albums in the pipeline?
There definitely are plans but I am not sure when.
What next?
There are quite a few projects. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I just want to continue acting and singing. I haven’t planned anything, as I am happy with whatever is happening in my career. (TWF)
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