Ind vs Pak: Honour to share stage with Big B at Eden, says Pak singer
Mumbai: Shafqat Ali, the Pakistani singer is eagerly waiting for Saturday evening when he is scheduled to meet India's Big B at Eden Gardens.
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachhan and Ali have been invited to sing the National Anthems minutes before the commencement of the important match between the two neighbouring countries.
Speaking exclusively from Lahore, Shafqat Amanat Ali – the Rockstar Ustad (a term coined by Bollywood music director Salim Merchant), who is the biggest singing sensation to hit the subcontinent in recent times.
I really don't know what I would say to him. I have seen him in movies while growing up and these movies have been a big part of my childhood and formative years in fact, for all of us here.
I have immense respect for him as an actor and his journey has been inspiring because he was not an over night star but became one after a lot of hard work and seeing failure and struggle. I have always been in awe of him and am honoured to be sharing the stage with him. I admire him as an actor and as a human being. I am really looking forward to meeting him," Ali said.
"It feels great. It's a very prestigious occasion where India-Pakistan are having a match in India and it's a crucial match. I am thrilled to be representing Pakistan and singing the national anthem of my country on this occasion," he added.
The singer-writer-composer Shafqat is the son of legendary Pakistani singer Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, making him a part of the nine generation old Patiala Gharana.
Like everyone else in India and Pakistan I have grown up with cricket, watching and playing a lot of it and enjoying it. Whenever we tour India, if we have a few days free between concerts, my band and I play cricket there. So you can imagine how much I enjoy it," he said.
On asked which team he feels would win the game, he said, "If we stop predicting we will enjoy cricket more the way it should be. I do not believe in predicting. Let the better team win. Whoever plays better on the day should be the winner. I just want to enjoy the game," he concluded.
