Atif Aslam reveals why he had to ‘Go Back to Zero’
Pakistani music icon Atif Aslam has opened up about his artistic journey and admitted that years of international tours and commercial projects made him lose touch with the artist he once was.
Ahead of the release of his fourth studio album, Subah Aye Na, Atif said he had to "go back to zero" to rediscover himself and reconnect with his musical roots.
He described the upcoming album as his most personal work in 18 years and expressed hope of releasing a new album every year in the future.
Atif's journey began in the early 2000's when he emerged as the lead vocalist of the Pakistani band Jal.
His breakthrough came with songs such as Aadat, which quickly became popular among young listeners and established him as one of Pakistan's most loved voices.
After leaving Jal, Atif launched his solo career and went on to become one of Pakistan's biggest playback singers.
His popularity soon crossed borders, taking him to Bollywood, where he became a prominent playback singer.
He lent his voice to several successful Indian films, including Zeher, Bas Ek Pal, Race, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Prince, Bol and The Sky Is Pink.
Songs such as Tera Hone Laga Hoon, Tu Jaane Na, Jeene Laga Hoon and Pehli Dafa became widely popular.
Alongside music, Atif also explored acting. He made his acting debut in the Pakistani romantic comedy Bol in 2011, where he appeared alongside Mahira Khan, while later making special appearances in projects connected to the Pakistani entertainment industry.
Atif's career has expanded far beyond Pakistan, with sold-out concerts and international tours making him one of the country's most recognisable musical exports.
However, his latest comments suggest that despite decades of success, he now wants to return to the creative side of music that first inspired him.
On the personal front, Atif married educationist Sara Bharwana in 2013.
The couple have built a family away from much of the spotlight while Atif has continued his demanding music career.