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FACT
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
FACT Chats: Atif Aslam talks fame, faith, and finding himself through music
From humble beginnings to legendary status, the Pakistani singer has amassed a global following of millions. It's 2004. I'm living my best life in Riyadh, but the closest I've gotten to Pakistani music is a few cassette tapes of Junoon and Vital Signs. And then, one evening, while lazily flipping through TV channels, I stumbled across a song that sounded different. It's raw and gripping in a way that feels personal, even though I don't know what the lyrics mean yet. It was Aadat by a new band called Jal, fronted by Atif Aslam. Within seconds, I'm hooked and so is my best friend. We can't stop talking about it. Our schoolbooks turn into pages of doodles and lyrics, passed between classes like secret letters. The obsession was real. So real that after browsing fan pages and forums on dial-up internet, I managed to find Atif Aslam's manager's number. Called him from a landline at 2am in Riyadh and whispered into the receiver like I was smuggling state secrets. 'Please, can I speak to Atif Aslam?' is what I asked his manager, and after some convincing, he handed over the phone to the icon himself, who was heading down from the stage fresh off a college or university performance. I don't remember what I spoke to Atif Aslam about, but I had told myself that if I ever got the chance to talk to him again, I'd ask him. It took me two decades, pursuing a career in journalism, and a last-minute schedule shuffle to finally make it happen. When I got the call that my slot with Atif Aslam was confirmed, I knew that this was my shot. An anxious 30-minute drive later, I was face-to-face with the voice that shaped my teenage years, my friendships, my first heartbreak – my wedding entrance even. I wore my grandfather's shirt to the interview, a man who never quite understood my Atif Aslam obsession. He passed away earlier this year and would probably shake his head if he knew, but he'd also understand because this wasn't just an interview. It was a full-circle moment. From a silly teenager making secret, international midnight calls from Riyadh, to a grown woman with a press pass and a voice recorder. And while the fangirl in me wanted to squeal, the journalist — and Capricorn — kept her cool. We exchanged pleasantries and got into the music, memories, and magic. From humble beginnings to a household name, Atif Aslam has witnessed the full arc of transformation. And yet, there's a steady humility in how he recalls it all — not as trophies, but as turning points. With over 20 years in the spotlight, he has remained both elusive and ever-present. In this chat, he reflects on the defining moments of his journey, the burden and blessing of fame, and the power of rediscovering joy in his craft. Looking back, it isn't the standing ovations or chart-topping records that Atif Aslam highlights first, but the quiet milestones such as his first paycheck and the moment his parents accepted his passion for music. Aadat turned his tide, launching him into the spotlight. But behind this rise was a young man watching his dreams unfold, armed with a voice that refused to be ignored. For a career that began with a soft rock ballad recorded on a modest budget, the trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. From underground stardom to Bollywood's Tere Bin, and Sufi tunes like Tajdar-e-Haram, Atif Aslam has always resisted being boxed into a single genre. 'The sound has always evolved,' he reflects. But it's the environment around him that inspires his music. 'It's the people around me, a sudden thought or an unexpected emotion,' he explained. 'I'm lazy when it comes to capturing the moment, but when it hits, it's often because of the energy in the room.' Over the years, that energy has travelled with him through massive performances, from Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena to the Royal Albert Hall in London. Among the many memorable shows, one that stands out took place at the O2 Arena. 'We had to cover for another artist who didn't show up, and we ended up performing for three and a half hours,' he laughs. 'Someone from the crowd said, 'We came for — I don't want to name the artist — but we're leaving as your fans.' That was a beautiful twist of fate.' It's easy to think of Atif Aslam as a larger-than-life figure, but he remains surprisingly grounded. Had music not found him, he might have pursued a career in aviation or cricket. But giving up never felt like a real option — even during moments of doubt. Though the industry came with its share of pressures, including moral dilemmas about lyrics he didn't align with, he always found a way to return to himself. 'There were songs I didn't feel right singing,' he admitted. 'I had to change lyrics, but I had a family to take care of, a career to keep.' However, those tensions also prompted him to shift toward more spiritually rooted pieces that resonated with his soul, such as Wohi Khuda Hai, which showcased both his musical prowess and passion. There were also times when even fame felt like a burden. Being called the 'number one singer' everywhere, Atif Aslam began questioning it. 'Do I want to be number one? Do I even believe it?' he shared. 'But then I realised it's not for me to decide. If God gives you that position, be grateful and stay humble. Because nothing lasts forever.' That's also something he'd tell his younger self: 'So enjoy it while it lasts.' And fame, he's learned, is a double-edged sword. It's 'having the power to misuse fame but choosing not to'. Atif Aslam believes, 'Treating people like humans, regardless of what they've done to you, is the real measure of success.' Becoming a father also shifted his worldview. 'It didn't hit me in the first two years, but then I saw my son growing up and realised I wanted to take a back seat,' he chimes. 'He became my centre. But Atif Aslam still needs to sing to function, but there's a deeper intent behind each note. 'Music is spirituality,' he added. 'It's how I communicate with God. I found Him through it.' Lately, fans have been seeing a candid side of Atif Aslam — one that embraces goofy moments and connects with fans in surprising ways. The man who once projected mystery now posts reels. But this isn't a reinvention, it's a revelation. 'I've always been like this! I just never showed it publicly,' he laughs. 'It helps me connect. I don't want to be that untouchable 'legend'. I'm still here. I see you. I hear you.' But he also draws a line wherein his home life, for example, remains off-screen. 'Some things are sacred,' he adds. For UAE fans, Atif Aslam is more than a touring artist, he's practically a regular with Dubai being a 'second home'. And when he's not on stage, he's often spotted attending concerts and events, slipping into the crowd. 'When I'm in the audience myself, I see things differently,' he shared. 'The real connection isn't always in the views or streams, it's in how people respond when you're in front of them.' After all that he's achieved, Atif Aslam is still searching — but not for stardom. 'I'm not seeking Atif, the star,' he says. 'As Atif, the human being, I still need to look within, ask myself tough questions, fall, regroup, fall again, and rise again.' The search is inward now. And if he had to describe his journey in one word, it would be 'water', translating to 'jal' — ever-flowing, ever-changing, and always finding its way. As for the call that I made to him over 20 years ago, he didn't remember. Which, honestly, was a bit of a relief. But he laughed and said, 'You should include that in the interview.' So here it is, as a gentle reminder that sometimes the moments we hold onto are often the ones that shape us the most, moving us forward — just like water. GO: Follow @atifaslam on Instagram for more information.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Civic body thirsts for 1cr switch to alkaline water in glass bottles
1 2 3 4 Ahmedabad: Only alkaline water, please! Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials and councillors apparently want to ditch the plain old purified bottled water the corporation currently manufactures at its Kotarpur plant, and upgrade to alkaline water in glass bottles. This has been made evident from AMC water production department's May 29 tender for the upgrade and modification of the 3,000 LPH (litres per hour) packaged drinking water plant in Kotarpur, setting up a 1,200 BPH glass bottle water packaging plant and its operation and maintenance (production, storage, sale, distribution, logistics) for three years. The tender is for Rs 1 crore. There are also plans to market this alkaline water under AMC's existing drinking water brand, Jal. Sources in AMC said that a decade ago, officials, dignitaries and councillors at events such as inaugurations, seminars and meetings were served bottled water sourced externally, which cost the corporation Rs 40-50 lakh annually. To save this cost, AMC set up the plastic bottling plant in Kotarpur, and even launched the Jal brand. This plan to save citizens' money failed to work as intended. Other private brands still are roped in to supply drinking water, sometimes in glass bottles due to reasons including protocols on serving VVIPs. This costs the civic body Rs 20 to 25 lakh annually. Sources add that officials and councillors themselves are avoiding AMC's water brand, leading to 200 ml bottles being discontinued. On April 30 this year, a proposal to spend approximately Rs 1.50 crore annually on tea, snacks, meals and drinking water at govt events in the city was put up for approval. The proposal to award a rate contract for Rs 1 crore annually for tea, snacks, and meal packets at various AMC events was approved, while a proposal to spend Rs 50 lakh annually on bottled water was rejected, with instructions to retender. Now, AMC is processing the tender, rendering the current bottling plant ineffective. Caught in its own 'Jal jaal' Sources in AMC's health department said that a decade ago, as serving bottled water at events cost the civic body Rs 40 to 50 lakh a year, the then municipal commissioner, D Thara, approved a plan to set up a bottling plant for Rs 1.25 crore in Kotarpur. The plant, ready by 2014, remained non-operational for two years and in 2016, was activated under the brand name 'Jal', producing 200 ml, 500 ml, and 1,000 ml water bottles. These were sold at Amul parlours outside AMC gardens and served at corporation events. In 2019, when the central govt began implementing a phased ban on single-use plastics, the then civic chief, Vijay Nehra banned the 200 ml bottles of 'Jal'. After the responsibility for water arrangements at all AMC events was handed over to its health department, it went back to serving 200ml bottles, procured from private companies, defeating all environmental and cost-saving purposes, the sources said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Express Tribune
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Saeed proud of weightlifter Sybil Sohail's gold medal
Farhan Saeed, former frontman of the renowned Pakistani band Jal and now a singer-songwriter and actor, took to Instagram to publicly express his pride after Sybil Sohail became the first Pakistani woman to win the gold medal at the Asian Weightlifting Masters Championship in Doha, Qatar. In a simple Instagram Story, Saeed tagged Sohail herself and wrote, "Proud moment. Congratulations." Adding a Pakistani flag emoji at the end of his short but sweet message to lock in his national pride, Saeed's simple message captured the essence of the country's joy and pride in Sohail's achievement. This was not the first time Saeed has used his social media platform to highlight Pakistani sporting excellence. When javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem clinched gold at the Asian Athletics Championship by defeating a strong Indian contender in the men's javelin final in May, Saeed took to Instagram Story to extend his congratulations on the historic victory. Sohail, 31, competed in the 59kg weight category in Doha. She lifted a total of 95kg — 40kg in the snatch and 55kg in the clean and jerk — to secure her place at the top of the podium. This gold medal marked not only her debut in international weightlifting but also a significant milestone for Pakistani women in strength sports. Previously a decorated powerlifter, Sohail holds titles such as Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion and Asian Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion. Transitioning to weightlifting, she set out with a clear ambition: to raise Pakistan's flag at major Asian events. "I aim to make my country proud, make my family proud. We have sacrificed a lot for the sport, but I need to make sure that all of that effort and dedication pays off," Sohail told The Express Tribune in Doha.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Central team inspects preparedness to implement ₹1,400 crore worth JJM projects in West Godavari
A central team-led by senior official Chinmay Pundalikaro Gotmare has inspected the preparedness to complete ₹1,400 crore worth projects sanctioned under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in West Godavari district. The team which visited the region on Monday (June 2) inspected the water quality, density and other parameters at the source point and inquired about the prevalence of waterborne and kidney ailments in Penugonda Mandal. In an official release, West Godavari Collector Chadalavada Nagarani said that the team had inspected water grid at Dowleswaram barrage from where the water is being sourced for drinking purpose to some parts of the West Godavari district. Rural Water Supply Department Superintendent Engineer S. Trinadhbabu, Groundwater Department Deputy Director K. Gangadhar and other officials were present.
Business Wire
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Arch Reinsurance Group Promotes William Soares, Pierre Jal and David Seyller
PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arch Reinsurance Group (Arch Re) today announced that William Soares has been promoted to President of Arch Reinsurance Ltd. (Arch Re Ltd.), Pierre Jal has been named President of Arch Reinsurance Europe Underwriting dac (Arch Re Europe) and David Seyller elevated to Chief Underwriting Officer of Arch Re Europe, all effective immediately. As President of Arch Re Ltd., Soares will add to his current underwriting duties functional responsibility for operational departments such as finance and legal. Soares is a long-standing leader within the company, and he has taken on roles of increasing responsibility since he joined Arch Re Ltd. in 2006. As President of Arch Re Europe, Jal will oversee the underwriting mandate and strategy of the company, as well as the reinsurance lines of Arch Syndicate 1955 at Lloyd's. Jal started with Arch Re Europe in 2007 as an Underwriter/Actuary and has held senior underwriting roles at both Arch Re Europe and Arch Re Ltd. Seyller will assume the role of Chief Underwriting Officer of Arch Re Europe, a position previously held by Jal. In this role Seyller will lead the property and casualty, agriculture and structured underwriting teams in Europe that previously reported to Jal. Soares and Jal both report to Jerome Halgan, President and Chief Underwriting Officer of Arch Reinsurance Group. Seyller reports to Jal. 'William, Pierre and David are all seasoned reinsurance professionals and reflect the depth and quality of our bench of strong leadership at Arch Re. These well-deserved promotions position us to better serve our clients, navigate complex risks and capitalize on future growth opportunities for Arch Re,' Halgan said. 'Their deep expertise, strategic insight and unwavering commitment to our clients will be key drivers of our continued success in this evolving market.' 'The promotions of Pierre, William and David reflect both their exceptional contributions to the sustained growth of Arch Re and our confidence in their ability to continue to capitalize on opportunities as they arise,' said Maamoun Rajeh, President of Arch Capital Group Ltd. 'Their leadership will play a critical role in executing our strategy and reinforcing Arch's position as an industry leader on a global stage.' To learn more about Arch Re, visit About Arch Global Reinsurance Group Arch Global Reinsurance Group encompasses Arch's reinsurance operations around the world. With offices in North America, Bermuda, Europe and Australia, Arch Global Reinsurance provides specialty risk solutions through treaty and facultative property and casualty reinsurance with a disciplined underwriting approach. About Arch Capital Group Ltd. Arch Capital Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACGL) is a publicly listed Bermuda exempted company with approximately $24.3 billion in capital at March 31, 2025. Arch, which is part of the S&P 500 Index, provides insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance on a worldwide basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. This release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of Arch Capital Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries may include forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or their negative or variations or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements involve the Company's current assessment of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. A non-exclusive list of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements includes the following: adverse general economic and market conditions; increased competition; pricing and policy term trends; fluctuations in the actions of rating agencies and the Company's ability to maintain and improve its ratings; investment performance; the loss of key personnel; the adequacy of the Company's loss reserves, severity and/or frequency of losses, greater than expected loss ratios and adverse development on claim and/or claim expense liabilities; greater frequency or severity of unpredictable natural and man-made catastrophic events, including the effect of contagious diseases on our business; the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; changes in regulations and/or tax laws in the United States or elsewhere; ability to successfully integrate, establish and maintain operating procedures as well as integrate the businesses the Company has acquired or may acquire into the existing operations; changes in accounting principles or policies; material differences between actual and expected assessments for guaranty funds and mandatory pooling arrangements; availability and cost to the Company of reinsurance to manage our gross and net exposures; the failure of others to meet their obligations to the Company; an incident, disruption in operations or other cyber event caused by cyber attacks, the use of artificial intelligence technologies or other technology on the Company's systems or those of the Company's business partners and service providers, which could negatively impact the Company's business and/or expose the Company to litigation; and other factors identified in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Source: Arch Reinsurance Tag: arch-reinsurance
