3 weeks ago
Atif Aslam thanks ban backers, says fans listen via VPN
Atif Aslam is a very famous singer from Pakistan.
His songs were once super popular in India too, where he sang for many Bollywood movies.
About ten years ago, the Indian government stopped letting Pakistani singers work in India.
That meant Atif could not sing new songs for Indian movies or perform concerts there.
This happened because India and Pakistan, two neighbouring countries, were not getting along, and tensions grew after 2016 and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.
But his fans in India still love his music.
They use special internet tools called VPNs to listen to his songs, and some even burn his songs onto CDs to share with friends.
Atif says he misses his fans but not the work in India.
He even thanked the people who banned him because the break helped him focus on making his own music.
Pakistani singer Atif Aslam said he has been effectively barred from working in India for almost 10 years, a decision he credited to the Indian government.
In an interview with Kris Fade, he said his Indian fans still listen to his music over VPN and burn CDs to share, insisting that 'music will reach wherever it has to reach.'
Restrictions on Pakistani artistes intensified in 2016, when his Gurgaon concert was cancelled and the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution against hiring Pakistani artistes, actors and technicians.
The ban was reinforced in 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack, when the All India Cine Workers Association announced a ban on Pakistani artistes, while Indian artistes are now also banned in Pakistan.
Atif said he does not miss working in India but misses his fans, and thanked those who banned him because the break pushed him to make his own music.
- Who
- Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, speaking in an interview with Kris Fade
- What
- Opened up about his nearly decade-long ban from working in India, thanked those who banned him, and said his Indian fans still listen to his music via VPN and burned CDs
- Where
- India and Pakistan, whose governments bar each other's artistes from working in the other country
- When
- Restrictions intensified in 2016 and were reinforced in 2019; Atif said it has been almost 10 years since the ban, with the interview reported on August 12, 2026
- Why
- The bans followed heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, including the 2016 unrest and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack
Artists and fans
Indian authorities and industry bodies
Ban on Pakistani artistes in India
Artists and fans
Artists and fans say music should reach people regardless of borders; Atif's Indian fans keep listening via VPN and burned CDs, and Atif says he misses his fans even though he doesn't miss working in India.
Indian authorities and industry bodies
The Indian government and industry bodies, citing heightened tensions and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, banned Pakistani artistes, actors and technicians from working in India.
Impact of the ban on Atif Aslam
Artists and fans
Atif says the ban forced him to explore himself as an independent musician, and he thanks those who banned him because otherwise he wouldn't have been able to make his own music.
Indian authorities and industry bodies
The ban kept him out of the Indian music industry for nearly a decade, ending his Bollywood playback work and changing the course of his career.
Key facts
- Artist
- Atif Aslam (Pakistani singer)
- Absence from India
- Almost 10 years
- Ban timeline
- Intensified in 2016; reinforced in 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack
- Reciprocal measure
- Indian artistes are also banned in Pakistan now
- Interviewer
- Kris Fade (YouTube channel)
- Bollywood debut
- 'Woh Lamhe' from Zeher (2005)
- Last Bollywood song
- 'O Saathi' from Baaghi 2 (2018)
- Honour
- Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (2008), youngest recipient
Quotes
Atif Aslam
Pakistani singer and former playback artist
“"I have learnt a lot from playback singing and if this ban didn’t happen, I think I would be unable to make my own music. So I thank you guys for that as well. I thank those who have banned me as well; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to explore myself."”
livemint.com
freepressjournal.in
indianexpress.com
“For the past 10 years, I haven’t done a song there. My fans are listening over VPN and they burn the CDs and give them to people. Not that I appreciate piracy, but music will reach wherever it has to reach.”
livemint.com
freepressjournal.in
indianexpress.com
Sources
Atif Aslam says he doesn't miss working in India amid ban over Pakistani artists: ‘My fans are listening over VPN…’
Pakistani Singer Atif Aslam Says He Doesn't Miss Working In India After 10-Year Ban: 'My Fans Are Listening Over VPN'
Atif Aslam Opens Up On India Ban, Asks Fans Not To Feel 'Sad': 'I Miss You Guys'
Atif Aslam reacts to India ban, thanks those who banned him: ‘Fans are listening over VPN’
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