Atif Aslam
Atif Aslam was born in Pakistan on March 12, 1983, born into a Punjabi Muslim family in Wazirabad, Punjab, Pakistan. He went to Kimberley Hall School in Lahore until 1991, when he moved to Rawalpindi and continued his studies at St. Paul’s Cambridge School in Satellite Town. In 1995, Aslam returned to Lahore where he continued his studies at a Divisional Public School and College (DPSC) branch.
Atif Aslam proceeded to attend Fazaia Inter College for his HSSC from 1999 to 2001, and later went to PICS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science. In an interview, Atif revealed that his ambition around this time was to become a professional cricketer.
At the age of 9, he moved to Rawalpindi where he studied at Saint Paul’s Cambridge School. He came back to Lahore in 1995 where he continued his studies in Divisional Public School (DPS), Model Town, Lahore.
Atif Aslam was selected in his school cricket team as a bowler. He cleared his 10th grade at 14 years of age with a distinctive edge that he has always been the youngest boy in the class because of his double promotions while he was in Kimberley Hall.
Family
Atif got married to Sara Bharwana and have a son Ahad Aslam.
Career
Atif did not have any professional training in music or singing infect he was not very interested in music at all he really wanted to invest his life in sports he wanted to be a cricketer.
It was not until college that he participated in the musical events and musical competitions and was pushed over by his friends to actively take singing seriously. His first musical inspiration was Legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
In the very start of his career Atif Aslam formed a band named JAL – The Band
Releasing the song ‘Aadat‘ with Goher Mumtaz in Pakistan in 2003.
The original version of the song was written by Goher Mumtaz and sung by Atif Aslam. During that time, Atif Aslam was the lead singer of Jal. He recorded Aadat with his pocket money at the age of 17. The band released the song on the internet in 2003, which became a youth anthem.
After separation from Jal, On 17 July 2004, Aslam released his first album titled Jal Pari produced by Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor, having 11 Tracks, which was an instant hit. The album also won the 4th Lux Style Awards in 2005 in the category of Best Album. Following this album Aslam had also released his solo album ‘’Doorie’’
Bollywood Debut
He got his first breakthrough in Bollywood when director Mahesh Bhatt called Aslam to seek his consent to include “Woh Lamhey” in the soundtrack of his new motion picture, Zeher (2005).
Aadat and its remix was recreated for the film Kalyug , directed by Mohit Suri. In 2006, Atif worked with Mithoon for the song “Tere Bin” from Bas Ek Pal.
The song was a hit in both India and Pakistan. 3 songs from his first album “Aadat”,”Ehsaas” and “Yakeen” were used in Hollywood film Man Push Cart in 2005.
Third solo album titled “Meri Kahani” released in 2008, having 12 tracks. It was produced by Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor. In 2008, the album was nominated in 7th Lux Style Awards in the category “Best Album“.
Album’s song “Hangami Halaat” was nominated in 2009 in “MTV Music Awards” in the category “Best Rock Song”.
In 2008, he recorded three versions of Pehli Nazar Mein and Bakhuda Tumhi Ho from Race and Kismat Konnection respectively composed by Pritam with lyrics by Sameer and Sayeed Qaudri respectively. Pehli Nazar Mein catapulted him to Bollywood mainstream success.
Atif Aslam has also worked with co-singers like Alka Yagnik for Baakhuda Tumhi Ho .
Shreya Ghoshal for Tere Liye.
Coke Studio
He had recorded 10 songs in the Coke Studio in the year 2010 for the film Prince and also recorded remix versions. Composed by Sachin Gupta with lyrics by Sameer. These songs showcased the rockier side of Atif.
A Punjabi song Rona Chaditta (also known as Mahi Mahi) for the film Mel Karade Rabba was released, composed by Jaidev Kumar, which went onto become a hit. 2 songs Doorie
Maula
from his second album Doorie were used in the film Spanish Beauty (Hindi Version). Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga was recorded with Strings.
We Will Rise Again
sung with Todd Shea, composed by Lanny Cordola. An advertising song for Warid Pakistan titled “Jee Lay Zindagi” was also released. Atif Aslam also had sung few Pakistani songs – Hona Tha Pyaar
Kaho Aaj Bol Do
Coke Studio started with songs of Atif Aslam in Season 12.
Aaye Kuch Abr
Mubarik Mubarik
Wohi Khuda Hai
International Tours
His first international tour was in the US and Canada with Rhythm Dhol Bass and Annie Khalid.
Aslam then made his solo debut concert in New Jersey in Summer Beats 2008 at Sovereign Bank Arena, which also featured Kailash Kher, Richa Sharma and Amanat Ali.
After a solo debut concert in New Jersey, Aslam returned with his band and special guests to Queens Colden Center, New York to perform on 2 July 2010. Aslam also collaborated with vocalist Shreya Ghoshal, their March 2010 tour originally had 10 shows announced in US and Canada.
However, the response inspired the organizers to put shows in six more cities. The following month, Aslam made his debut in South America with a performance at Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Suriname. He continued to tour the world with headline performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London, alongside. He followed that with dates, across major concert venues in the UK in 2010.
Atif Aslam performed with Sunidhi Chauhan for the first time at Hershey Centre, Mississauga, followed by another show at Oracle Arena, San Francisco, Oakland, in July 2011, during their USA and Canada tour. In September 2011, Aslam performed at New York.
On 22 April 2012, Atif Aslam became the first Pakistani to perform in London’s O2 Arena, a concert spectacular to promote love, peace and unity among Pakistan and India. Aslam performed for four hours. This was followed up by shows in Manchester and Glasgow.
In 2012, he was invited for three concerts at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. This was followed by his debut concert in Bangkok at the Centara Convention Centre on 6 October 2012. Aslam then returned to perform in ten major Pakistani cities during his Jazz Jazba Generation Tour. On 2 November, he performed his first public concert in Malaysia.
In December 2012, Aslam was named among top performers of Dubai for 2012 alongside Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Il Divo, Gotye, Evanescence and Swedish House Mafia. Atif Aslam is the first artist from Asia, and the second artist after Bryan Adams, to be permitted to perform inside the Dashrath Rangasla National Football Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Atif Aslam once again returned to Dubai for multiple concerts in 2013 at the world-famous Atlantis resort. In April 2013, Aslam performed for the first time at the LG Arena in Birmingham following which he became the first artist from Asia to perform twice at London’s O2 Arena.
Also in concert at the O2 were Bollywood stars Shaan, Malaika Arora Khan & Bipasha Basu. Because of immense popularity and fan following, Atif Aslam has also performed in Bangladesh and Kenya. Atif Aslam performed alongside Sonu Nigam in three occasions, one of which is a concert Shaam-e-Dostana at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre in Malaysia. Atif Aslam has also performed alongside Neha Kakkar during their USA-Canada tour in 2018 in Long Beach California, Los Angeles.
Television
Atif appeared on a Pakistani reality singing show call Sur Kshetra
Was shot and broadcast from Dubai, where Indian and Pakistani contestants competed against each other. At the end of the show, Nabeel Shaukat Ali from Atif’s team won the contest.
On 19 April 2017, he hosted the 16th Lux Style Awards ceremony, and it was the first time he was seen hosting the ceremony of Lux Style Awards.
He along with Meesha Shafi, Fawad Khan and Shahi Hasan was also on the judge panel of a nationwide talent show Pepsi Battle of the Bands; emceed by PepsiCo Pakistan from July to September 2017.
Pakistani Songs of Atif Aslam
Dil Kare
Dil Ye Dancer Hogaya
Collaborations
Samad Abdul Ghafoor – Zindagi, Yakeen, Aankhon Se, Aadat, Mahi Ve, Jal Pari.
Mithoon – Zeher, Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein (Zeher)
Armaan Malik – Jab Koi Baat, Bol Do Na Zara, Musafir, Jab Tak, Dekhte Dekhte, Tera Hua, Kuch Toh Ha, Piya O Re Piya.
Sachin JIgar – Jeene Laga Hoon (Ramaiya Vastavaiya)
Vishal – Shekhar – Dil Diya Gallan(Tiger Zinda Hain)
Awards and Recognitions
Indus Music Awards – Best Song, Best Composition & Best Lyrics – Aadat 2005.
Sahara Sangeet Awards – Best Playback Singer & Best Debut Singer
Lux Style Awards – Best Album – Jal Pari, Doorie & Meri Kahani 2008.
Best Playback Singer (Male) – Actor in Law, Best Playback Singer – Parwaaz Hai Junoon
Lycra MTV Style Awards – Most Stylish Person (Music) 2007
IIFA Awards – IIFA Award for Best Male Playback Singer – 2006, 2009.
Pakistan Media Awards – Best Male Singer 2010.
The Brand Laureate International Awards – Brand Personality 2013.
Bollywood Hungama Surfer’s Choice Music Awards – Tu Jaane Na 2009
Big Apple Music Awards – Best Male Artist Of Pakistan & Most Popular Male Artist (International).
Hum Style Awards – QMobile Style Icon 2017.
