After the 2016 Uri terrorist attack in India, artists from Pakistan were not allowed to work in India as there was tension between the two countries. Another resolution by Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) was that they should not give work to Pakistani artists and technicians in any new projects.
This ban affected many Pakistani artists, including Atif Aslam. Now, in an interview on a YouTube channel, Atif talked about his almost decade-long gap with India.
Speaking about his absence from India, Atif Aslam said that it has been almost 10 years since he was banned in India. He said, "It was the Indian government's decision. They decided to ban Pakistani artists. Now, Indian artists are banned in Pakistan as well. I haven't sung a song there for the last 10 years."
Atif also revealed that his fans in India still find a way to listen to his music. He said that his fans are listening to his songs through VPNs and making CDs and giving them to each other. He said, "I don't like piracy, but music reaches where it's meant to go."
Atif Aslam also had a special message for his Indian fans. He said they need not be sad about this. The singer said, "I always wanted to tell you that I miss you guys." I don't miss working there, but I do miss you guys.
Atif further stated that he learned a lot from playback singing. He believes that if this ban hadn't been imposed in India, he probably wouldn't have been able to pursue his own music.
He added, "If this ban hadn't happened, I probably wouldn't have been able to create my own music. So I thank you guys for that too. I also thank those who banned me, because if it hadn't happened, I probably wouldn't have been able to explore myself."
Atif Aslam is one of Pakistan's most popular singers and has a strong fan following in India as well. He gained recognition in Bollywood with the song "Aadat" from the film "Kalyug" (2005). Following this, the song "Woh Lamhe" from the film "Zeher" was also very popular. After this, Atif lent his voice to many Bollywood films. His popular songs include "Tere Bin," "Pahli Nazar Mein," "Tera Hone Laga Hoon," "Tu Jaane Na," "Jeene Laga Hoon," "Be Intehaan," "Jeena Jeena," and "Tere Sang Yaara." Atif Aslam has received several nominations for his playback singing at the Filmfare Awards in the Best Male Playback Singer category.
