As Coco Chanel once said: “The right ingredients can create a legend.” A luminary figure, Ali Zafar has it all; charisma and impeccable command on acting. His debut film titled ‘Teefa in Trouble’ is one of the highest grossing movies in Pakistan. Daily Times interviewed Ali in Islamabad to discuss ‘Teefa in Trouble’s success and his upcoming venture.
‘Teefa in Trouble’ is the biggest non-Eid film in Pakistan regardless of the box office numbers. Why do you think your debut film has an edge over other movies?
There are two reasons; people can tell better, when it comes to content and what left a mark on their memories. For me, my work has always been more about something that lives on for a longer period of time. If you can do that through your work, you tend to live on longer even after you are gone. My philosophy is that the work you leave behind, defines the caliber of the artist or the human being that you were. I think people really just loved the film and its content. What we were trying to achieve with it struck a chord with the audience. For the first time, we felt that we needed to give our people a film they have been waiting for years that has an international standard of a movie and not a television film. ‘Teefa in Trouble’ is not just a comedy film but has a proper screenplay, choreography, songs, direction and sequences that are memorable.
My brother Danyal, the director and myself would sit together, bounce ideas off each other for different scenes and correct the dialogues. Speaking of the commercial aspect of the movie, we felt that no Pakistani film had worked, besides on Eid. There are films that are a hit on Eidul Azha but not on Eidul Fitr. It is true that people visit their local cinemas on the occasion but the actual pull for ‘Teefa in Trouble’ was that we released it on a non-Eid day and that was a risk.
You have written/produced/acted in/composed songs and did most of your own stunts in the film. Ordinarily that is difficult to pull off. How did you multitask on the film? Was it an effortless shoot?
There is nothing easy in life and I don’t believe in shortcuts. I have earned respect for myself over a long time and I believe in its process. Everyone on social media can become a star but back in the days, we had no such luxury. Coming from a family of two professors, I knew no one in the industry and had to dig my way through on merit. I had to listen to many people say, “It isn’t him singing or this isn’t his song.” ‘Teefa in Trouble’ had its own destiny and journey.
I know it is very difficult but I have trained my mind and body to function in a certain manner. I have trained myself to think that you cannot accomplish greatness if you are not working extremely hard. I worked relentlessly on the film. If you were doing martial arts, you would concentrate on martial arts only. If you were a writer, you would have to think in a closed room all the time. If you were an actor, you need your own time.
I said I would do all the stunts on my own. The style of fighting we wanted to shoot along with my team and director was not typical. Take the knife sequence; it took time for us to do it the right way. It was somewhat inspired by Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee’s combat style. Ahsan was pursuing perfection so we had to shoot repeatedly. In action, when you fight for one minute, it takes a lot of your energy but if you are to do it for hours, you need good stamina. Before I signed for the project, I worked on my stamina for two to three months. I trained for at least four hours a day and I was the producer on set and had to manage different things. The most important thing is for your mind to be focused, cool and calm. For that, there is meditation and tapasya. You are in a consistent meditative form. I had to deal with all the troubles in a very calm, complacent and logical manner.
What new projects are in the pipeline?
We are getting onto the next project. Apart from that, music is a passion. People do listen to the film soundtrack but I want to do an album on my own. Hopefully, maybe this year, There are other things too but with me, it takes time for things to cook up.
Are there any Bollywood projects we will get to watch you in?
Currently I have no projects in Bollywood. Until the relationship between India and Pakistan gets stable, and trade starts; it doesn’t make sense (to work there). Like every other industry, film is an industry. When someone invests in it, you need some assurance. Why would someone invest money in a film when he or she knows it may or may not work out? It is a risky prospect. If the trade does not run smoothly between the countries, forget about Bollywood!
Your brother Danyal Zafar is doing great work too. How would you describe him?
I don’t praise him much as people think I am promoting him as an elder brother. I told him early on that your journey will be your own. You will be in the dark for a while but fight your battles with merits. If you are not good at what you do, it will come through and people will discard you.I trust him because he is an extremely talented musician. Whatever you have seen of him so far is not even 10 percent of what he is capable of. He is taking his time and there is great stuff that he is doing in the studio. Danyal is an extremely grounded and kindhearted person.
Criticism is inevitable for a celebrity especially in the digital age. How well do you handle it?
I think I handle criticism very well. There are two types. One, which is directed towards correcting to you and I appreciate it when people say that you should have done this or that. I like it when I get to read such comments. My fans are very important to me because I work for them only. It is for their entertainment. Why am I even out there? I am their artist who says, “I am for the people”, which is why I hate to disappoint them. That is precisely why I fight. However, there is another type of criticism, which a negative mind’s construct that stems out of hate and jealousy. One figures it out eventually. In that case, the best thing to do is ignore that person.
Are you a fan of Pakistani politics or do you try to stay away from it?
If you are a responsible citizen and are genuinely concerned about your country, it is impossible to withdraw from politics as massive change comes through it. I keep a keen eye on political developments in the country, but I am not a politician and have no moral authority to say what is right for us. I can only have an opinion on certain things. I express it sometimes but we should realise that politics is not a one-man show. As a country, we want a single person to solve everything but the time has come that everybody in their own individual capacity do their part.
In today’s day and age, internet is a platform for people to vent out. Do you think social media is changing people?
Yes and for the worse. This is my observation regarding social media. Technology always has some pros and cons. We don’t realise what it is doing to the entire generation. It is completely detaching you from reality. It is providing you with a virtual world where you have a picture on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and you are living through that account. Today, it is more about how many likes and comments a person gets. It is no longer “Hey look! The weather is beautiful!” Your entire focus is on a virtual life and validation. It is as if a person does not get many comments or likes, he or she is not good enough. People think, “should I post a photo like this or that? Will I get validation then?” I have seen people do this and it is causing anxiety.
If I tell you, “Haider you are a terrible person,” and 10,000 other people say the same thing to you on social media, you will think about that comment ten times more. This is how social media is used to program your mind and the phenomenon is absurd! I am from a generation where I have seen a life with and without social media. If we do not do anything soon, it can program the entire generation to think and behave in a manner that is unworthy of being productive. There needs to be strong moral and ethical checks and balances. If someone is accusing you of something, what will be the accuser’s punishment? Everyone can easily accuse anyone. These are some serious crimes and we need to do something so sanity can prevail. I felt so sorry for that poor girl who committed suicide. I have no idea what happened to her but it is usually loneliness. You don’t have real relationships. You don’t have people who are there for you, or can empathise with you. An Oxford study observed humans from all walks of life; the question was, “What makes a human being happy?” It is not fame or money but the relationships you have. In my song Julie,I write: “Relationships, connections and a beautiful conversation are what make life.” Social media has become more of a venting tool. We have to understand why it is wrong. People have stopped reading books and acquiring knowledge. Friends are fighting with each other on social media. People think they have to be right all the time and have to prove themselves. You don’t have to be right all the time. When you are at restaurants, unplug from you cell phones and get a life!
Published in Daily Times, September 17th 2018.