Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali’s acting debut just happened..guess how?

Remember Suhaib Ilyasi, the television personality turned filmmaker? Ilyasi has been working in a film which is based upon the growing intolerance in India and he has titled it ‘Ghar Wapsi’. Guess what the greatest surprise is? Renowned Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali will be seen acting in the film..as himself!

“Ghulam Ali saab plays Ghulam Ali, the ghazal singer. But he isn’t just singing in Ghar Wapsi. He has a full-length role with scenes and dialogues.”-said Ilyasi. Ali reached Delhi last week to finish the film’s pending work.

Off late, Shivsena has been protesting any Pakistani artist performing in any part of Maharashtra. This has resulted in Ali’s concerts being cancelled twice in Mumbai. Given such a disturbing situation, was it easy filming with him in India?  “We shot the entire film in Delhi. Ghulam Ali saab is most welcome in every part of India and the rest of the world except Mumbai and Maharashtra, where a certain political party is using muscle power to keep him out.”- answers the director.

“My film Ghar Wapsi is about the growing religious and political intolerance in the country. For those who say that no intolerance exists in our country, why don’t they look at how an artiste of Ghulam Ali’s stature is treated by certain political elements in Maharashtra?”- he added.

Congratulations on your acting debut in India, Mr. Ali!

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.