The Pakistani star serenaded Prerna Sharma with a song during a recent interview that also featured the cast of David Dhawan's Chashme Baddoor
With a smile oozing charm, Ali Zafar seems, on first impression, to be a dishy guy, a heartbreaker. He is a man of many parts — actor, singer, music composer, song writer and painter.
He has been there and done that. Back home in Pakistan, he has plenty of fans and people in the subcontinent are part of the band.
During a recent press conference, the audience was keen to hear him sing and excited to have their pictures clicked with him. Zafar was here with the cast of Chashme Baddoor on Wednesday.
Ali Zafar made an impressive debut in Bollywood in 2010 with Tere Bin laden.
Then the 32-year-old signed Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, produced by Yash Raj Films. His last movie, london Paris New York didn’t pull it off. His comment was, “I am happy with whatever I have done. No regrets.”
Asked how Chashme Baddoor happened, he explained, “David (Dhawan)ji called my manager and said he wanted to do a movie with me. He is such a great director, that I did not want to miss the opportunity. I have not seen the older Chashme Buddoor, so I bought a DVD, and liked it. This film is no copy. Only the fun part about three friends bantering is taken from the earlier version (by Sai Paranjpye.)
Dhawan said did not rope in his son, Varun in an acting role, “because it is not easy to handle your own kids.”
Ali said they had fun shooting. He also narrated an anecdotes regarding Dhawan: “At times, in the middle of the shoot, he would start narrating an incident with Govinda, and not stop until he finished.”
Ali sang three songs in the movie. The melody Dhishkaun is currently topping the charts.
“I started my career as a singer, and always wanted to be one,” he recalled.
“When Channo became a hit that sold five million copies, it was a dream-come-true,” said Zafar, who likes alternative rock and jazz.
Ali is also an artist. He’s painted from the age of six. He met his wife, Ayesha at a hotel in Pakistan while sketching and fell in love. They have a son named Azaan.
“He is three and talks a bit. I love playing with him in parks and cuddling him–his laugh is beautiful.”
Zafar continued, “The experience while shooting was amazing! Every single day was a picnic. Dhawan never asked us to do any work or stuff. He just gave us lines before the shot, and asked us to be ourselves.”
Ali’s role is that of a shy boy named Sidharth.
The song Har Ek Friend Kamina Hota Hai, was Dhawan said, “inspired by the Airtel ad, ‘Har ek friend’, twisted a bit. The movie revolves around it.” The movie will release on April 5.
End song: After singing for the crowd, Ali gave us a personal rendition of Sun re Sajaniya and Teri yaad aayi to drool over. Pity the guy’s already taken guys!
Divyendu Sharma
He entered in the industry in 2011 with Pyar Ka Punchnama.
His character of the simple, funny boy named liquid, got known amongst the youth.
Divyendu Sharma was in Goa, when David Dhawan called and offered the role of Omi in Chashme Baddoor. "He said 'haan main bol raha hun.' I asked 'who mainIJ'He replied, ‘main David Dhawan.'
“He told me he wanted to do to a movie with me and asked me to come to his office the next day. I studied the character and said an immediate yes." He added, “My chemistry is amazing with Sidh. We belong to the same college, with stupidity to share. Dhawan sir has control over you.”
Taapsee Pannu
When I got a chance to work in Chashme Baddoor, I grabbed the opportunity, because I always wanted to work in Hindi cinema. I was waiting for the right time,” said Taapsee Pannu. She has worked in 22 Tamil films and plays the character of Seema, a naughty and bubbly girl, who is giving a tough time to all the boys in the movie. Taapsee would like her audience to know her as a girl-next-door from Delhi. “I am the complete Delhiite– from my dressing, to my talking style. The Delhi girl in me also comes through when I tell you about my food taste, which is every Delhiite's common point.”
Siddharth
Siddharth created his niche in the Tamil industry, and been friends with David Dhawan from 2005. “People are shocked to hear this, as we don't belong to the same age-group. He would come up with a variety of jokes that you had never heard before,”shared the actor who plays the character of an aspiring actor,Jai.
One day, I got a call from Dhawan, and he asked me to play a character in his movie. It was an emotional decision, because I play Ravi Baswani's character. Though he is not amongst us anymore, the movie and my character pay tribute to him.”