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Bringing disco back: Bollywood biopic to be made on Zoheb and Nazia Hassan

Bringing disco back: Bollywood biopic to be made on Zoheb and Nazia Hassan

Will Alia Bhatt be seen playing the role of the late pop music legend?
11 Mar, 2016

Nazia Hassan was the epitome of a true star. Dubbed the 'Queen of Pop', Hassan's contribution to Pakistani music changed the map of the industry and her success opened doors for other women in the arena of entertainment that no one thought even existed.

The world was devastated when the beautiful, graceful Nazia lost her battle with cancer at the young age of 35.

She collaborated with her brother, Zoheb Hassan on her album, Disco Deewane, which went on to break all records at the time to become the highest selling Hindi/Urdu album with worldwide sales exceeding 65 million -- the duo became unstoppable.

"Nazia and I were a team and I was too shattered after her death to continue to make music. I detached myself from showbiz completely until I was convinced by Strings to perform for Coke Studio," reveals Zoheb.

We were two school-going kids and had never seen success like this, states Zoheb. —Photo courtesy: www.profilepk.com
We were two school-going kids and had never seen success like this, states Zoheb. —Photo courtesy: www.profilepk.com

It's no shocker that Bollywood has decided to make a movie on the lives of the two legends.

The 49-year-old says that a friend who's a writer from India approached him with the idea of scripting a film on the journey of two young siblings through the harsh world of showbiz, based on their life story: "I was so impressed with the script that I agreed to let him approach Bollywood companies and four major players are gunning for it. It is a story that needs to be told keeping in mind the public interest in our music and what actually happened to Nazia Hassan."

There will be two different sets of actors, portraying the siblings in their younger years and then later in their lives.

"The actress who plays Nazia does not have to know how to sing but should be able to portray a female pop icon convincingly. Where possible we will use her original voice from recordings she did just prior to her demise, no one has ever heard these versions. I will sing my parts," he shares, admitting that he'd love their mentor Biddu to appear in the film too but he has retired from the business.

"However, he will be helping with the musical score. The soundtrack will have the earlier hits like Disco Deewane, Dosti, Boom Boom, Tere Quadmon but also some new, unreleased tracks."

Also read: Biddu – the (un)sung hero of Pakistan

Is it possible that we might see Alia Bhatt essay the role of Nazia? The budding actress did say that she'd love to do a biopic on her, as she enjoys singing too. Only time will tell.

Zoheb says the director is a well-known name in Bollywood and will be announced soon. The script is complete and primarily in Hindi but because the Hassans spent a large part of their lives in the UK, there are bits in English too. Will the film end with Nazia's untimely death? Zoheb points out that he cannot give away the story except to say that it will offer a "behind the scenes" look into their lives and career and also give an interesting insight into the workings of the music industry in the 80s and 90s.

"Even though physically she was really petite, Nazia was one of the strongest persons I've known. This will come through in the film," he promises.

If Nazia had been around would they have continued to make music together? "Most definitely," he asserts.

Comments

Shahid Mar 11, 2016 02:09pm
No one but Anushka Sharma would be the best choice to play Nadia Hassan.
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analyses Mar 11, 2016 02:53pm
Nazia Hasan's voice was just so beautiful and unique that you can recognize that the moment you hear it. She was unparalleled then and even today and there is not a single female singer in Pakistan of her caliber still.
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stranger Mar 11, 2016 03:05pm
Bollywood is really out of topics as they are making movies on Imran Khan, Dhoni, Nazia Hassan, etc. This is what happens when cheap Indians have some skill. They will follow their scratch the bottom (low) nature.
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Salman Mar 11, 2016 03:14pm
Would love to see a movie on Nazia & Zoheb! We grew up listening to their music and her death left a void in the pop music industry of Pakistan
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Just here Mar 11, 2016 03:24pm
This is big step and I think bollywood will ruin her imagine. Very bad idea
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Wahib Mar 11, 2016 03:39pm
Great idea ! Alia is a very good actress, No disrespect intended but Alia Bhatt's typical Indian Hindi accent would be a big turn-off for Pakistani audience. Nazia Hassan had a very subtle and sweat Urdu accent which was symbolic for the richness of Urdu in that era. It naturally reflects in her songs as well.
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GA Mar 11, 2016 05:25pm
@Wahib - that was my first thought. Even Urdu-speaking Indians have a certain accent that differs from Pakistanis.
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Irfan Mar 11, 2016 06:02pm
@Shahid Agreed. She looks quite similar. In fact she was more resembling before the surgery.
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Hamaad Mar 11, 2016 07:34pm
Anushka Sharma does resemble Nazia Hasan. Not sure if she can do the urdu dialect as well.
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Shehryar Mar 11, 2016 08:01pm
They should cast Pakistani actors in the lead roles for this movie for their better understanding of the culture and Urdu speaking skills. I think Mahira Khan as Nazia Hassan and Fawad Khan as Zoheb Hassan would be a good idea
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haque Khan Mar 11, 2016 09:26pm
Anushka Sharma would be able to portray the legend the best. She also look like Nazia Hassan and is a very talented actress.
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gp65 Mar 11, 2016 09:41pm
@stranger No one in India is making a movie on Imran Khan. What exactly is cheap about making a movie on Dhoni and Nazia Hassan?
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Madhusudan Mar 11, 2016 09:44pm
@Shehryar fawad and mahira as brother and sister? Than what will happen to humsafar"s cult image?
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Mady Mar 11, 2016 10:23pm
@Wahib Shabana Azmi speaks good Urdu :-)
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Mady Mar 11, 2016 10:27pm
@Shehryar Let the makers decide what they won't to create: pop or documentary movie :-)
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Indian Mar 11, 2016 10:34pm
@Shahid Nazia was a beautiful person of normal height.
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Indian Mar 11, 2016 10:37pm
@Hamaad There is the Dubbing, which can be done by a Pak person.
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a Mar 11, 2016 11:42pm
Ninety pc of her albums were bought by Indians.
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Zak Mar 12, 2016 12:54am
This venture will fail , unless it is Pakistani owned, Pakistani represented and produced in Pakistan.
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wasim Mar 12, 2016 01:09am
please orchastrate disco and slow songs in every kind of musics,
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Khan Mar 12, 2016 02:49am
WE VOTE FOR ANUSHKA SHARMA because she looks just like Nazia and Anushka will do a great job as she is a very talented actress.
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sm Mar 12, 2016 04:14am
Whattt! Alia bhatt as the great Nazia Hassan ? I would love this film to be shelved than seeing any crappy bollywood actress playing beauty, grace & elegance personified Nazia . Plz Zohaib have mercy on us. Why cant u sign any Pakistani actress for the film? Iman Ali is the only actress that can do justice to nazia. She is the most goegeous & classy actress . She is a killer combo of beauty & talent.
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Rakaposhi Mar 12, 2016 08:31am
Parineeti zinta can be better transformed into Nazia Hassan.
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Saad Mar 12, 2016 03:21pm
I think Mahira Khan is the best option to play Nazia Hassan role. It would make more sense if movie make by Pakistan film I industry.
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