Why Vishal Bhardwaj reached out to Aashir Wajahat

Facing online trolling can be tough for anyone, but for singer Aashir Wajahat it became a stepping stone to personal growth and artistic recognition.

Appearing as a guest on a private media podcast, the Na Baligh Afraad actor revealed how he turned negativity into motivation, finding strength in the support of international creatives and industry veterans.

Aashir Wajahat shared that Indian director Vishal Bhardwaj, known for films like Omkara, reached out to him after he made his film John, which was inspired by Bhardwaj's style. Aashir considered this gesture a dream come true and a huge motivation during difficult moments.

“It was a big deal for me,” Aashir shared, reflecting on how such support motivated him through challenging times.

The Sadqay singer recalled the impact of working with renowned names in the entertainment industy, getting appreciation from director Babar and other key figures.

Aashir Wajahat said, “Babar used to give me briefs saying, ‘Watch Omkara,'" referring to the direction that greatly influenced his own film, John. Such gestures helped him keep going despite the harsh comments and negativity online.

Reflecting back on his previous experiences, Aashir shared that when he started his career, the comment section was full of harsh words and trolls. But he realized he had to be focused and not let the negativity affect him. He admitted to stopping reading comments at one point.

“I stopped reading comments a long time ago,” he said acknowledging that it helped him avoid distractions and stay positive.

As the son of a famous director Wajahat Hussain, Aashir is often dubbed as a 'nepo kid'.

Earlier, Actor and singer Aashir Wajahat had opened up about nepotism in a recent interview. Director Wajahat Rauf and Producer Shazia Wajahat’s son is currently starring in ARY Digital’s Pinjra.

Aashir said: “It definitely exists around us, not just in show business but everywhere. But in the end, you’re judged on the work you do.”

He added: “Ranbir Kapoor comes from a family of performers and actors, which obviously helped him get work initially. But he ended up being the star and he is by giving good performances. In Pakistan, we have Ahad Raza Mir, who has a huge fan following which he has earned by producing good work. Every person should be judged on an individual level based on their talent and work irrespective of the family they’re born in because you don’t get to choose the household you’re born in and every parent would want to help their child in any way they can.” 

The Karachi Se Lahore star also discussed his experience of working in Hadiqa Kiana and Omair Rana starrer, Pinjra, “My first reaction to the script and story was that it’s a breath of fresh air. It’s very rare that you see the story of a family or more specifically the problem that arises between parents and their children due to a generational gap. “

He added: “Asma jee, God bless her soul was one of the sweetest people I ever met. She was an exceptional writer and an even better person. Obviously, I felt honoured when she told me she sees me as Azaan.” 

Talking about his character Aashir revealed, “I don’t know if a perfect child exists but in his parents’ eyes he is definitely one. Good at sports, academically strong, and well-behaved. Obviously, this leads to his younger siblings constantly being compared to him and he knows this is wrong and will only complicate his relationship with them.”