Nazia Hasan revolutionized how we South Asians disco: Zeenat Aman

Bollywood icon Zeenat Aman recently completed the film’s 44th anniversary Qurbani with a heartfelt post on Instagram, where he shared his music video Aap Jaisa Koi from the 1980 blockbuster, and recalled a chance meeting that intertwined her fate with that of the late Pakistani pop sensation Nazia Hassan.

Aman recounted the cute encounter with Nazia and her brother Zoheb Hassan in a moving account that highlighted how this encounter profoundly affected their careers. The story began on a tired evening in London. Aman, having just finished a demanding day of filming, meets a polite but persistent Pakistani family in the lobby of her hotel. Despite her exhaustion and longing for a peaceful night, she graciously chose to engage with them.

“There was a family of three waiting for me in the lobby of my hotel in London, but I didn’t want to chat with fans. I had just finished a day of shooting and all I wanted was silence, a hot shower and my bed,” recalls Aman. “However, my training in the monastery did not allow me to be rude. So I smiled sweetly and sat with my thoughts wandering to the luxurious suite that awaited me just a few floors up,” she added.

“The lady was elegant. Her name was Muniza. And with her were her two teenage children. A quiet girl named Nazia and a boy named Zoheb. I hadn’t planned on entertaining them for long, but I soon found myself drawn into deep conversation with Muniza. They were a charming and cultured family of Pakistani origin, and to my surprise I found myself inviting them to accompany me to my suite. That night I learned that Nazia and Zoheb are pursuing music, and I even enjoyed a short demo with young Nazia’s pipes,” revealed the acting legend.

Aman’s connection with Nazia deepened when he introduced the young singer’s talent to esteemed actor-director Feroz Khan during his production Qurbani. “Muniza and I stayed in touch and then I introduced her to Feroz Khan with whom I was starting to work on an ambitious project. You can imagine the rest…” Aman wrote.

Khan, immediately taken by Nazia’s voice, enlisted her to record the iconic song Aap Jaisa Koi, produced under the expert guidance of music maestro Biddu. This song became a monumental success, defining an era of disco music across South Asia.

Reflecting on Qurbani’s legacy and Nazia’s central role in it, Aman expressed her deep admiration for the young prodigy, acknowledging the lasting impact of her short but significant career on the music scene. “Yesterday it was 44 years Qurbani. A film that captivated the South Asian audience and whose music is still playing on the tracks. Qurbani had a stellar cast – Vinod, Feroz, Amjad, Amrish and myself – but for me there is only one important performance in the film, and that is Nazia’s,” he noted, highlighting Nazia’s cultural influence in both Indian and Pakistani music. . “It may be my face and figure that come to mind when his familiar tune Aap Jaisa Koi starts playing, but the song belongs entirely to that young Pakistani girl who revolutionized how we South Asians disco’.

The actress concluded her post by recalling how she often played the overprotective role of sister in Nazia’s life, “I have always felt protective of Nazia and during film events and promotions I would keep a close eye on her, much to the dismay and delight of her fans. of her mother.”

Nazia’s untimely death in 2000 left a void in the hearts of her fans and admirers, including Aman, who fondly remembered her as someone who “died too young” and a “real shooting star who burned hot, bright and fast”. Despite her short time in the spotlight, Nazia’s legacy lives on through her timeless music, continuing to resonate with audiences who dance to her beats Aap Jaisa Koi, Boom boom, Disco Sofaand many other successes.

Nazia Hassan’s influence continues to reverberate throughout the global pop industry. Recently, American pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s new track, Please please pleasehas caught the attention of discerning Pakistani listeners who notice a striking resemblance to the beloved 1980s classic Disco Sofa.

The debate started when Influencer-model Anzela Abbasi shared a reel on Instagram with a brief side-by-side comparison of the two songs. “It’s Nazia Hassan era,” Anzela captioned the post. Anzela, who was recently named among the top 10 finalists of Miss Universe Pakistan 2024, sparked a lively discussion in the comments, garnering over 20,000 likes. Although Carpenter’s song seems to echo Nazia’s success, it is unclear whether this similarity is coincidental or whether the Espresso singer intended it as a tribute to the legendary pop icon.

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