Atif Aslam has given us many memorable songs over the years. But surprisingly, music wasn't his first career choice.
Music has no religion, no borders, and no cultural barriers. Well, Atif Aslam is an example of just that. No matter what, you can simply never hate him. Because his voice has some kind of magic that provides you solace in times of despair, makes you feel nostalgic when you least expect it, and even gets you humming along without realizing it.
Born on March 12, 1983, Aslam is an iconic figure in Pakistani music and has also worked successfully in Bollywood. With countless unforgettable songs (like "Aadat", "Pehli Nazar Mein", "Tu Jaane Na", "Bakhuda Tumhi Ho", "Jeena Jeena", and "Dil Diyan Gallan"), he has carved a special place in the hearts of millions, reigning as one of the most beloved voices of our time. As singer-songwriter Palash Sen put it, "He is the one singer who has made the maximum impact on Bollywood's music and most singers over the last 15 years. He has style, panache, and that nasal twang that most singers try to imitate."
(Credit: atifaslam)
However, quite surprisingly, the legendary singer never set out to be a singer in the first place. Today, on his 42nd birthday, let's learn about that.
Yes. While it may be hard to picture Atif Aslam on a cricket field instead of a stage or recording studio, that was once the dream he chased before music took over his life.
Aslam is extremely passionate about cricket and wanted to become a professional cricketer when he was a teenager. In fact, he was all set to represent his country in the U-19 cricket team as a fast bowler. In his own words, "I worked really hard at it but my parents took it as a hobby and didn’t know how good I was. That led to me giving up on cricket as I was skipping classes, catering to my interest in taking wickets."
(Credit: atifaslam)
In another interview, the "Dil Diyan Gallan" singer said, "My parents didn't let me play for the under-nineteen cricket team. They wanted me to become an engineer. Then I decided to explore myself as a singer. I collected my pocket money to put up my first song on the Internet. The song was Aadat and it became an instant hit. So, I went ahead with it. And now it's been years in this profession."
The common idea is that creative people are not much into formal education. However, that's not the case with Aslam. In fact, he was a brilliant student in his school and college. While on average a person completes their 10th standard at the age of 15-16, he did so by the age of 14.
He studied at Fazaia Inter College for his HSSC from 1999 to 2001 and later went to the Punjab Institute of Computer Science to pursue a bachelor's degree in computer science. So yes, he could become a computer scientist as well.
(Credit: atifaslam)
Notably, his parents wanted him to become a doctor.
Well, it was only during his college years that Aslam realized he wanted to become a professional singer. He first competed on stage, and won, at the age of 15, which gave him confidence.
He formed a pop rock band, 'Jal', with Goher Mumtaz, and their first song "Aadat" received widespread acclaim. After parting ways with the group, he pursued a solo career and released his debut album titled 'Jal Pari' in 2004, which became an instant hit.
(Credit: R z Musical PANDA)
And there has been no looking back ever since then. He soon came to Bollywood and grew stronger with time.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Aslam. Thanks For All The Songs.
