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Reciting azaan was the wonderful moment: Pakistani pop singer Atif Aslam

Dubai - Singer assures surprises galore as he readies to perform his first live concert post the lockdown in Dubai World Trade Centre.

Pakistani heartthrob Atif Aslam is extremely excited to rock Dubai with his songs as he performs at his first live concert ever since the pandemic hit last year, and as always he’ll have surprises up his sleeves at the UAE gig.

“First of all, a Happy New Year to all my fans in Dubai. I’m performing after a long Covid-19 break; it’s my first live show. I want my fans in the UAE to know that I’ll be belting out their favourite hits as well as some new tracks. However, people should know by now that my shows always have a surprise element and for sure, they can expect something different in this show too,” said Atif ahead of his Dubai concert.

The one-night-only show is part of the Dubai Shopping Festival extravaganza and is taking place on January 15 at the Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre.

Atif is not new to the Dubai stage. He is known for his ability to engage the crowd with his smooth vocals which have made him one of the most sought-after performers around the world.

“It’s usual to get a request from fans who expect me to perform all their favourites, but the truth is, if I run through my entire repertoire of hits, the show will go on until dawn. However, I promise they’ll only hear the best of my best.”

The Woh Lamhey singer is known to have successfully bridged the cultural gap between Pakistan and India and has lent his extreme talents to a number of Bollywood hits, including songs like Tu Jaane Na and O Saathi from the Bollywood blockbuster, Baaghi 2. While Covid may have been a lean period for artists worldwide, Atif has been keeping busy with his music.

“Yes, I’ve completed a new song titled Raat which will be releasing soon. The track has an interesting story and the music video is also amazing.”

Atif and his wife Sana Bharwana, welcomed their second child in December and made the announcement on social media. The couple also has a son named Ahad. So, has fatherhood changed him in any way?

“Parenthood has surely changed me, but having said that, I’ve enjoyed every phase of life — from being single to getting married to now having two children. My elder son is six years old and is the mischievous one. The younger son is the opposite of him.”

Atif had no qualms or complaints about the year that has just gone past. With no concerts or movies being shot, it was a tough 2020, but the singer says he enjoyed the break.

“What has kept me motivated and positive and helped me ride the lockdown in 2020 were my kids, wife and of course, my music. Earlier, I was too busy with work and could not spend much time at home and, in a way, the pandemic allowed me to do that and I thoroughly enjoyed the downtime.”

During the lockdown period, Atif also had time to recite the azaan (call for prayer) which the singer shared on social media, with Urdu subtitles. The video garnered praise from fans all over the world.

“I consider myself very lucky to have had the time last year to recite the azaan. It was the most wonderful moment for me and I consider it as the main highlight of the year. I feel blessed.”

Atif is also thankful that he could go out of his home and walk around without the fear of being hounded by fans.

“In normal times, I could not go out as fans would recognise me, but thanks to Covid, I can now wear a mask and go out without the fear of being noticed. The only thing that would give me away would be my eyes and if a fan could identify me by just looking at my eyes, then I consider him as my truest fan.”

Concert organiser Blu Blood Entertainment has carefully planned the show keeping in mind all safety measures and protocols that need to be followed, as per the instructions of the Dubai Government.

The auditorium’s original 4,400 capacity will be reduced to 1,400 available paired seats, and strict social distancing protocols will be maintained among talent and crew members.

The venue will be sanitised a night before the show, thermal scans will be done at every entrance and safety kits will be made available at every seat.

Talking about the arrangements, Atif advised fans to follow Covid protocols strictly.

“Fans should know that it’s Covid times, so maintaining social distance (at the concert) is a must. My band and I have made a tremendous effort to prepare for the show; we’re going through rehearsals and will also undergo Covid tests before leaving the country and after reaching Dubai. So we’re taking all precautions to perform for our fans and I sincerely hope they like our show.”

Tickets for the show are available on Platinum List. For more information, visit www.platinumlist.net