Atif Aslam

A leading Bollywood playback singer and all-round Pakistani heartthrob, Atif Aslam stands as a contemporary Asian superstar who is happy to indulge in glossy celebrity culture but remains centred in the region's musical traditions. Growing up in Lahore, he was a talented cricketer in his youth, but Aslam turned to music in college and teamed up with guitarist Goher Mumtaz to form band Jal. They started out playing in local restaurants and competing in talent competitions, and at 17-years-old Aslam posted a song called 'Aadat' online, which grew steadily in popularity over three years to become an anthem for young, underground music fans in the city.

Aslam left Jal afer falling out with Mumtaz in 2004, launching his career with debut solo album 'Jalpari', which was the biggest selling record for two years running in Pakistan and featured hits such as 'Bheegi Yaadein' and 'Ankhon Se'. Bollywood soon came calling, and his track 'Woh Lamhey' featured in the movie 'Zehar' and became a massive hit, before his second album 'Doorie' in 2006 sold over two million copies and helped him break through further in India. Singing in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi with a message of love and positive energy, Aslam went on to headline the Royal Albert Hall in London and tour the US, before third album 'Meri Kahani' in 2008 mixed traditional bhangra and sufi sounds with Western rock grooves and singer-songwriter ballads and became his biggest international success. He has continued to provide many songs for the Indian movies over the years and featured on the hugely popular TV talent shows 'Coke Studio', 'Pepsi Battle of the Bands' and 'Sur Khestra', and in 2010 teamed up with Slash and Gilby Clarke from Guns N' Roses on a charity project titled The Dreamer Awakens.