An actor, advertising professional, lyricist, musician, vocalist, and writer, Shahvaar Ali Khan is a man of many parts. He entered the world of music with a splash with No Sazish No Jang in 2008 and went on to quickly establish himself as a musician of merit by producing a number of hit songs including Azad Ki Dua, Jab Koi Pyar Se Bulayega and Filmain Shilmain, which was featured in Rohit Dhawan’s feature film Desi Boyz. A few years later, the handsome young artist took up acting and starred in the popular television serials Noor E Zindagi, Tishnagi Dil Ki, and Mera Dard Na Janay Koi. Khan is one of television’s most bankable actors today. In an exclusive interview for Good Times, he talks to Ally Adnan about his personal and professional life, music, acting, politics and a lot else.

You study Hindustani Sangeet, the music of Northern India and Pakistan, with Basharat Hussain Khan, who belongs to the Gwalior gharana  of music. Why does a pop musician like yourself need training in classical music?

All musicians need training in classical music; there really is no other form of training. One can practice lighter form of music but a sound foundation in music is necessary and this can only be built with proper, rigorous training in Hindustani Sangeet. The most popular singers of Pakistan and India, Noor Jehan and Lata Mangeshkar, were both trained in classical music although they almost always sang ghazal, geet, and other lighter forms of music.

What are the unique characteristic of the Gwalior gharana of music?

The Gwalior gharana was founded by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the sixteenth century. It is the oldest gharana of khayal, which is the most popular genre of classical music both in India and in Pakistan, today. The history of most of the extant schools of music is inextricably tied to the Gwalior gharana. It is an ancient school of music with a truly venerable history.

The Gwalior gharana is known for the purity, authenticity and simplicity of its music. Gwalior musicians make music accessible, lucid and comprehensible. They try to both entertain and educate in their concerts. Their goal is to endear and not to impress listeners. They focus on pure singing, free of artifice, complication and gimmickry. Musicians of the gharana are known for their tayyari (virtuosity) and ilm (knowledge). They prefer to sing at medium and fast tempos and like to perform well-known, popular raags, and using musical ornamentation with restraint. The most commonly used tan is the sapat tan, which employs music notes in sequence. A lot of emphasis is placed on the text of compositions, the bandish, which is rendered with great fidelity and accuracy. The asthayi (first part of composition) and antara (second part of composition) are sung in their entirety before improvisation and the introduction of variations.  The music of the Gwalior gharana is serious, somber and genuine.

What does your teacher, Basharat Hussain Khan, teach you?

A whole lot.

Basharat Sahib works with me on the clarity, tone and timbre of my voice. Voice culture is of paramount importance in music. A singer must have a rich, resonant and distinct voice to achieve success in music, and he must protect his voice from damage and deterioration. It is easy to ruin one’s voice by singing without proper training and instruction.

Basharat Sahib trains me in the basic elements of music, sur (melodic notes) and lay (tempo), by introducing raags (musical modes) and taals (rhythmic time cycles) of Hindustani Sangeet to me. He teaches me the various alankaars (musical ornamentations) of music and guides me in their proper and judicious use during singing. He makes sure that I explore my full vocal range, from teep (high registers) to kharaj (low register). Most importantly, he makes sure that I focus on riyaaz (practice) and give it due time and attention.

Basharat Sahib is a truly special teacher. He is a full trained classical musician but has equal facility in the lighter forms of music. He used to sing for films in his youth and has, in fact, recorded duets with Noor Jehan. Since, my goal has never been to become a classical musician, he has trained me in a unique manner: he has established a base in classical music but trained me in the singing of lighter genres of music like geet, ghazal and film songs. I am truly blessed to have him as my Ustad (teacher).

A lot of your songs deal with themes of peace, syncretism and tolerance.

Yes, they do. Nationalism, peace and tolerance are very important to me. They are a part of my person and my music and I am proud of the fact that my songs represent my beliefs, values and politics. They would be meaningless if they did not. All good art represents the truth that is held dear by the artist. Art that does not do so makes no impact, affects no one, and fails the test of time.

Your parents are graduates of the venerable National College of Arts, Lahore, and are known to have a great love for art, culture and history. How did their love for the finer things in life affect you?

It helped me develop whatever I have by way of taste, appreciation and fondness for the finer things in life. I owe a lot to my parents. They gave me a lot of time and attention, in addition, of course, to love. They made sure that I was introduced to the best of art, poetry, literature, and music, as a child. They made me proud of my heritage by introducing the culture, history and arts of Pakistan to me, at a very young age, in a very effective and interesting manner.

My mother is a graduate of the National College of Arts, Lahore, and received her doctoral degree from Harvard.  She has an unwavering belief in the necessity and importance of education. It inspired me to secure the best education that was available to me. She is also a very hardworking woman who did more in a month than people do in a year. She was the perfect mother and wife while being a dedicated academician and educationist. She helped me understand the value of time and the importance time-management. I am embarrassed when people say that I do a lot – acting, singing, managing a business – because what she used to do in a day is so much more than I manage to accomplish in twenty-four hours. She set high standards for me.

My father is an artist. He has a very deep understanding of art, design and aesthetics. He is also a lover of music and the person who first introduced me to South Asian music. As a child, I use to watch him listen to music with both awe and amazement. He did not take it lightly and gave it time, attention, thought, and love – A lot of love. He made me realize that listening to music is an art in itself and as important as performing music. Good listeners bring out the best in good musicians.

You have a degree in Economics & International Studies from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and have held jobs in advertising and investment banking. What prompted the move to show business?

I am an artist and was born and raised as one. I can only work as an artist; other careers are not for me. I enjoyed studying at the Trinity College but was never comfortable in the corporate world.  A corporate junkie by day and a performing artist by night – the dichotomy seemed duplicitous and was hugely disconcerting. It became necessary – very quickly –  for me to make a move to the arts in order to be true to myself.  And, although it was daring and risky, the move was refreshingly easy. I felt great relief after making it.

You work as an actor, writer, musician, vocalist, and lyricist while managing an advertising company. That is a lot to do.

It does seem that way but, although I get overwhelmed with work, every now and then, I am very happy to have a lot on my plate. It is good to be busy. It keeps one out of trouble.

You are known to be a workaholic. Do you find time to pay attention to your family?

I try to do my best but sometimes fail to give my family the time it deserves. There are times when I wish I had more than one of me to do all that is on my to-do list but, for the most part, I enjoy being overloaded with work. Time is precious and every single moment should be productive. Workaholism is good. I do not really believe in work-life balance. I think it is a regressive ‘corporate’ concept. We have twenty-four hours in a day and need to make them count so that we make a mark in life and leave behind a meaningful legacy. Small talk, gossip, meaningless conversation, shallow socializing, and the like are a horrible waste of time. I believe in spending quality time with friends and family members, that helps all of us become learn and become better, more intelligent people. Idling is not for me.

Which do you like the most, singing writing, or acting?

I like all three. I am a singer at heart. Writing helps me explore myself and my psyche. And, acting affords me an escape from the din and vagaries of daily life.

Did you have formal training in acting?

I do not. I learn from the directors, actors and producers that I work with. I also learn by watching great actors perform in films and on television.

Do you enjoy acting?

Yes, I do. I like being able to take over the identities of other people and experience lives that are vastly different than my own.

What do you find most difficult about being an actor?

I have trouble dealing with lack of discipline, professionalism and responsibility and get annoyed when have to deal with it as an actor. Fortunately, it does not happen very often.

What constitutes a lack of discipline, professionalism and responsibility?

Changing schedules at the last minute and without justification tops the list. Giving actors scripts a few minutes before the start of shooting is unprofessional. It prevents them from preparing properly and limits their performances. Tardiness is bad, as is poor scheduling. I have a lot going on in my life and do not like having my time wasted. Nothing makes me angrier than having someone disrespect my time.

Your advertising agency, Farigh Four, produced a remarkable promotional campaign for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospitals, a few years ago. Who conceived the campaign?

My partner, Beenish Mir, and I conceived the campaign. Farigh Four has developed a number of very successful campaigns during its relatively short history. I am proud of all that I have accomplished with the company but, like everything else that is good in my life, I give full credit for the success to my wife. She manages the business and the home while I reap the benefits of being married to a particularly special lady.

Do you believe that the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospitals have made a genuine contribution to Pakistani society?

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospitals are truly great philanthropic institutions. One can have millions of differences with Imran Khan but no one can deny the fact that the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospitals are a huge gift to Pakistan, much bigger than the 1992 Cricket World Cup. I consider being associated with Imran Khan’s noble cause both an honor and a privilege.

Farigh Four was also behind PTI’s 2013 Naya Pakistan campaign. Why did your advertising agency take the risk of aligning itself with one particular political party in the highly polarized political landscape of Pakistan?

Farigh Four is not politically aligned with any one party. Different people at the company have different political ideologies and preferences. These do not affect their work. We treat PTI like any other client and work hard to do deliver the best possible work to the party.

On a personal level, do you agree with the politics of Imran Khan?

I am a student of political science and human behavior. I do not believe in messiahs and in having blind faith in political leaders. On the political front, I like what Imran Khan stands for but dislike some of his actions and decisions. It is not black or white for me. If we take politics out of the picture, I am a tremendous fan of Imran Khan. He was a great cricketer. His philanthropic and charitable work is truly awesome. And he is a dreamer with boundless energy, unbridled optimism and infinite grit. I am a fan of Imran Khan, the person if not the politician.

You lost your son, Sher Ali Khan Azad, to a lung disease a few years ago. How did you deal with the tragedy?

Yes, that was the biggest tragedy of my life. I tried to find solace in faith, friends and family. It was not easy. It still is not. I think that I have gotten used to living without Sheroo but am as sad about his passing today as I was when he left us. He has left a gaping hole in my heart that can never be filled. Not a day goes by without me thinking of him. The loss of a child is an enormous tragedy. I hope that no parents ever have to deal with it.

I want to add that, in leaving us, Sheroo gave me and Rohma the gift of marital bliss. He brought us together in a truly remarkable manner, giving us an understanding of matrimony that we did not have earlier. He united us, made us grow closer, and strengthened the bond between the two of us.  He was with us for a very short time but gave us enough happiness to last a lifetime. He was a very special baby.

Acting was helpful at the time. It was therapeutic for me. The opportunity to act came along shortly after Sheroo left us. I am glad that I seized the opportunity because it offered me the escape that I needed at the time. It helped me leave my own and lead someone else’s life for a few months. It was an incredibly healing experience.

Did you name your son after the renowned Indian writer and poet Jagan Nath Azad?

No, I did not. People just assumed that I did because I had put Azad Ki Dua, the national anthem written by Jagan Nath Azad, to music.

What is keeping you busy these days?

Three things – television, music and Farigh Four.

I am working in a television serial for Geo Entertainment. It is the story of a simple, young man who is torn between the conflicting demands of love and tradition, as he tries to navigate Pakistan’s disparate urban and rural cultures. I am in talks with another channel about doing a serial. It has a great script and looks very promising.

I am growing Farigh Four and recruiting some very talented people into the agency. We have a lot of interesting work ahead of us and I am assembling the right team to execute it.

I am also working on music. It has been a while since I released a song and have a strong urge to create good music. I plan to release several singles during the year.

And on the personal front?

I am having a great time with the love of life as we celebrate the arrival of our new baby daughter. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Photographs by Daud Malik

Ally Adnan lives in Dallas and writes about culture, history and the arts. He tweets @allyadnan and can be reached at allyadnan@outlook.com.

Shahroz Sabzwari may be the son of veteran actor Behroz Sabzwari, but he has made his own place in the field of acting and modeling, making his mark with his impeccable performance in the drama serial Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay and Nanhi. Though his debut movie Chain Aye Na flopped at the box office, his recent hit serial Zard Zamano Ka Sawera made that look like a little bump in his very shiny ride. Sana Zehra sits down with the star of drama serial Seep to talk about love, life and his plans

One regret you live with?

None

How are you different after the release of your movie Chain Aye Na?

I’m much stronger.

What insults your intelligence?

Lies

In an emergency who would you call for help?

I have a lot of friends I can call but in an emergency I would call Naeem Khan.

Ever falsely accused of something?

No

What do you think people say behind your back?

He is one pompous @#%*!

What temptation have you successfully resisted?

A lot of them! (Laughs)

If you are in an honesty room with Syra what would you ask her?

Syra is an open book really. I don’t need to ask her anything.

First thing that comes to your mind when you think of the word fun?

Music

Name one commonly held belief that you find offensive?

That you shouldn’t eat to lose weight. No, you need to eat and eat right to lose weight.

Crazy held belief you held as a child?

That my mother was a tooth fairy.

Tell us about your project Seep?

Seep is on air now. It is Shaista Abbas’s debut. I’m very proud of it, as it’s very different.

Who did you get the most retakes with?

Sarish Khan

What is your most useless talent?

Nothing, everything has been pretty useful so far.

How do you seek someone special’s attention?

By talking. I sure can talk!

One song that you can never get tired of?

Running away by Hoobastank

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes, yes! With Syra.

Have you ever been stalked by an ex?

Yup

Who do you think has it easier, men or women?

Women

Who do you think is the best dressed celebrity?

My uncle, Jawed Sheikh

If you get a chance to ask God one questions what would it be?

I ask Allah questions every day. I’m very much connected to Him.

If Hareem Farooq and Hania Amir were drowning who would you save first?

Hareem

Rule breaker or take permission?

Take permission

Who would rather by your costar in 007?

Syra, who else?

Who is your favourite actor?

The late Marlon Brando

What is that one character you feel like you should’ve never said yes to?

No such character

An advice from your father that you should’ve followed?

Just recently, my tooth cap came off and my father said to go get it fixed right away. I didn’t listen and lo and behold I have severe toothache right nowL

Most embarrassing comment anyone has ever made?

There were a lot of lethal comments made when Chain Aye Na trailer was released.

Describe love in three words?

I can’t describe love in three words. I can write a whole book about it!

One word for Chain Aye Na?

My first film

One word for awards?

If you have a good jury then that’s fine, but awards should not be given based on public opinion or as a result of a popularity contest.

One word for Botox?

I like it. Everyone should get it done.

Do you think you got it before your time?

No

Do you think people should invest money in flop films?

I think investment should be done regardless. Whether it’s smart or not, the end result always speaks for itself.

Who would you rather go dancing with? Mahira or Maya?

Maya Ali

Imagine A movie scene. you have to introduce your girl to your mother. Who would it rather be: Soha Ali or Shaista Abbas?

Shaista

Who would you rather arm wrestle? Bilal Ashraf or Ali Rehman?

Ali Rehman because I might have a chance with him, but Bilal Ashraf hell no!

If you were given a chance to do a high school musical that would you rather do it with: Sonya Hussain or Armeena Khan?

Sonya

Were your exes invited to your wedding?

I invited some of them.

Did they show up?

One of them did.

Imagine you are swimming in sunny California and suddenly you start drowning. Who would rather be your lifeguard: Sadaf Kanwal or Amna Babar?

Sadaf Kanwal

Imagine there is an alien attack happening. who would rather be your side kick: Kubra Khan or Syra Shahroz?

If I say Kubra Khan my world will end so I will say Syra Shahroz.

If you had a choice of a personal butler, would it rather be Sanam Baloch or Sarish Khan?

Sarish Khan

And why is that?

Because she’d be one hot butler.

Who is that one actress you really wish to work with?

Maya Ali

Rate the following as the best actress: Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat or Saba Qamar?

Mehwish Hayat, Saba Qamar and Mahira Khan

What does GT mean to you?

Good times!

“I invited some of my exes to my wedding”

Off the Cuff with

Shaista Abbas

Making her debut with the drama serial Seep opposite Shahroz Sabzwari, Shaista is the younger, half-sister of Meera Jee and is a paralegal by profession. Growing  up in London, her Urdu is not fluent so she’s working extra hard on her dialogue delivery as  all eyes are currently on this beauty. Sana Zehra sits down with the ingenue for a fun rapid fire session

Most googled question: Are you really Meera Jee Sister?

I’m her half-sister.

Do you think you got special treatment because of your sister?

I don’t think so. I had to audition for this role just like anyone else

How come you are not so active on social media?

That’s because I am a very shy person.

What is your personal grievance?

Don’t have any.

Who is your style icon?

Aishwarya Rai. I think she is gorgeous, a real lady and has a positive energy around her. She exudes optimism.

What is the most expensive gift you bought for yourself?

A pair of gold earrings

What do you think about celebrities posting pictures of various brands on their social media?

Well, if something makes them happy then why not? If it gives them a sense of achievement then why not celebrate it and share it with the rest of the world and give inspiration to young girls as well? No harm in that!

What about people who cannot afford these brands?

It’s a sad reality that so many people are in want and are suffering. We should all help them but if someone wants to enjoy life then I say let it be. God has everything. He can provide anything to anyone. We are divided into social strata for a reason. Everything should be taken positively.

Ever seen a ghost?

No, but I wish to because I don’t get scared.

If you have an unlimited food supply what one thing would you want to eat?

Fish and eggs

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolates.

Favorite Music?

Punjabi songs

Last video watched on YouTube?

Series of interviews of celebrities

Last crush?

I had a crush on my classmate.

Any tattoos?

No, I’m not a tattoo kind of person.

Analog or Digital?

Digital

Who is your spirit animal?

I love dogs.

If you are a magician and you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I’d make myself more beautiful.

Can you cook?

Yes, I love to cook.

Fahad Mustafa, Junaid Khan, and Ahsan Khan: Who would you want to work with in the future?

Fahad Mustafa

Out of these two who would you say yes to a dinner date. Imran Abbas or Mikaal Zulfiqar?

Mikaal Zulfiqar

An actor you really wanted to work with?

Mikaal Zulfikar

What is your take on Botox and fillers?

Something very convenient nowadays, a good thing to have I guess. I appreciate the people who would be that daring to go for it.

Have you ever been hit on by a co-star?

Maybe

Have you ever committed to a shoot and not show up?

No way, I’ve always met my commitments.

If you have an opportunity of losing one memory what would it be?

Hating someone.

How many times have you been in love?

I love to love and I love the feeling of love and I don’t mind falling in love again and again.

Everything is fair in love and war—True or False?

True

What does GT means to you?

Every time can be a good time.

Photography:

Arsalan Bilgrami of a.bilgrami studio

Hair & makeup:

Shaista Studio Z salon and spa

Shahroz grooming:

N-Pro

Location courtesy:

The Deli

Shaista is Meera’s younger, half-sister

“We are divided into social strata for

a reason” (Hmmm    )