Singer Azaan Sami Khan says that being a star kid has ‘a lot of benefits’

Singer and actor Azaan Sami Khan is one of the few star kids who has made a name for himself through his work in music. Son of the veteran former Pakistani singer Adnan Sami Khan and Pakistani actor Zeba Bakhtiar, he has received praise for composing songs in TV dramas and films like Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, Ishq-e-Laa, Superstar and Parey Hut Love.

He recently gave his two cents on nepotism in a conversation with Nida Yasir on her show Shan e Shahoor on ARY Digital on April 17.

Children of celebrities often face criticism for getting work based on their connections rather than their talent. The host stated that when someone is a child of famous parents, they have advantages as well as disadvantages being in the industry. Yasir asked Azaan what are some of the benefits and challenges he has faced.

“There are a lot of benefits. If today I sit here and say that there a lot of struggles then that would be wrong. Faide hote hain [There are advantages],” the ‘Ik Lamha’ singer said. “It depends on your upbringing whether you exploit those benefits or not,” he explained.

“These are very simple benefits that you know people if you want to come into the industry. This is one side of the benefits. The biggest advantage that I see is, for example if I wanted to become a host then I could meet one of the best hosts in Pakistan like you [Yasir]. Coming to you to learn would not have been hard.

“My mother would have called you and said Azaan wants to learn from you, can he come and observe and assist you? There is that accessibility,” the ‘Ibadat’ singer continued.

Similarly, when he wanted to learn composition, he used to visit the studio of famous Pakistani composer Waqar Ali, he told the host. “Now that access to that art, knowledge, to be able to sit with people who are experts in their fields is the biggest advantage,” he concluded.

When the host asked who he learned acting from, the TU singer said that since his mother is an actor, his whole “childhood has been spent on sets”. “Like I am here today, it’s been a while since I have been to a studio, it feels like I have come home,” said Azaan.

He would go to school and then come to his mother’s shoot at PTV or for some film so for him it is the “most comfortable place”, he stated.

“The environment becomes your second nature. I’m sure if a girl or boy whose parents belong to some other field, then they would get advantages there.”

While speaking about the disadvantages, the actor-singer contradicted the commonly held belief that there is pressure for star children to meet the standards set by their parents therefore, it’s equally hard or harder for them than someone who is not a star kid. “If you are choosing this career, and on your first day you are being compared to a legend, then that itself is also an advantage. I understand that it causes pressure, but after a while it gets easier,” he explained.