Government has taken right steps: Ali Zafar

Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar happy that his tweets have lead to ailing singer Mehdi Hasan’s medical expenses being paid for. Read on.

Eighty-five year-old Mehdi Hassan was admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi on January 11. He was put on a ventilator following respiratory trouble.

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In less than a week, Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar, who admits the ghazal maestro’s divine music is his biggest inspiration, dedicated a song to him in his latest album Jhoom, Jaane man…. This, along with his tweets wishing Hasan, a swift recovery, has turned the spotlight on the ailing singer.

The Information Minister of Sindh, Shazia Marri, visited him in hospital and in view of the fact that he had served the music industry for 50 years and promoted Pakistan internationally, offered to bear the expenses of his treatment.

She added that a medical board would be constituted under the supervision of senior doctors, and if need be Hasan would be sent abroad.

Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, also offered Hasan, who was born in the state, financial help. The Indian High Commission in Pakistan is in touch with Hassan’s family.

“The government has taken the right steps. I’m happy to hear they’ve taken charge of his medical facilitations. I’ll pray for his health.

He is a great asset to music. There is no singer like him, never was and never can be,” says a relieved Ali, who unveiled his first Bollywood score for London Paris New York yesterday.

The singer-actor performed live, crooning two tracks, O dekhney mein… and Tere si sehmi si… with co-star Aaditi Rao, strumming the guitar. Ali has composed the music for his own albums earlier but admits it’s different when you’re doing a movie.

“When it’s your album you can go with a song anywhere but in this case, the song is for someone else. You’re bound by a script and screenplay. Fortunately, I was part of LPNY from day one and in sync with the thought process. Everyone claims to be different. I have tried to come up with tracks that have never been heard before. Now it’s for the public to judge,” says Ali who has sung all the male vocals.

“We’ve already picturised them, now I’m waiting to dub my part,” he says. “But I haven’t composed this score. Slow and steady is my motto.”