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Life has not been easy for last year’s Smart Idol
Pakistani restaurant delivery boy, who is jobless now, says life has gone back to square one after months of fame following his win.
- PUBLISHED: Mon 25 May 2015, 2:04 AM UPDATED: Thu 25 Jun 2015, 10:39 PM
- By:
- Sajila Saseendran/senior Reporter
Last year’s Smart Idol winner Ejaz Ahmed performing at this year’s talent hunt in Dubai on Friday. — KT photos by Mukesh Kamal
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Dubai - He has been in the limelight for a year now. However, Ejaz Ahmed, an Abu Dhabi restaurant delivery boy who got the taste of stardom after he won last year’s Smart Idol contest for labourers, is jobless now.
Smart Idol is an annual talent contest — organised by Dubai-based NGO Smart Life — that gives workers a chance to showcase their singing and dancing skills.
Life did change overnight for Ejaz from Pakistan after his singing talent won him the title. He got a year’s contract to perform with the SmartBand of the NGO Smart Life Foundation that runs the contest to unearth the gems of talent from labour accommodations here.
Ejaz went on to perform in live events and was also picked up by Indian channel Zee TV to do playback singing for the title track of a drama serial Parwaaz shot in the UAE. All these stories made headlines in various media.
But what happened to Ejaz after that remained little known till he came back to perform at this year’s Smart Idol contest. Dressed in glossy, white suit, Ejaz looked smart indeed. He sang two songs with Dubai-based band Aftermath and once again won the hearts of the audience.
Speaking to Khaleej Times at the green room after his performances, Ejaz revealed how his life has gone back to square one.
“I was indeed lucky to have got all these blessings. But I have been jobless for months now and I desperately have to get a job soon,” he said.
After winning the show, Ejaz said, he was eventually forced to quit the job at the restaurant where he worked as a delivery boy.
“After winning the contest I worked in the restaurant for six more months. But I couldn’t manage time when I had to perform at shows. I had to keep a substitute for me in the restaurant and I had to pay him from my pocket…Finally, I resigned and went back to Pakistan.”
Six months later he came back to the UAE to chase his dreams again. He has been here on a visit visa for almost three weeks.
“I’m living with my friends now. I need a visa to live here. I want to get a job that also allows me to continue a career in singing as well.”
“People know me only here. I’m not famous in my village…They will get to know about the singer in me only if I am on TV there. I need sources to get into TV business. For that, I will have to struggle a lot.”
He said he wishes to keep singing and doing shows.
“It will happen only in Dubai. We get a lot of promotion here. See from where to where the Smart Life Foundation is taking the labourers here. They are very nice people, who promote the talent of poor workers. I don’t think there is any other organisation that is giving so much love and respect to the workers.”
The 27 year-old is single and is looking out for his ladylove as well. “I’m searching for a job and a wife…but job is the priority now...without that I won’t get a wife. Whatever is in my fate will happen…but I’m hopeful,” said Ejaz. -sajila@khaleejtimes.com
