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Fakhar-e-Alam

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Fakhar-e-Alam
فخر عالم
Genres
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • video jockey
  • host
  • rapper
  • producer
Years active1993 – Present
LabelsSound Master
Websitemissionparwaaz.com
Fakhar-e-Alam
AwardsSitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 2023

Fakhar-e-Alam (Punjabi, Urdu: فخر عالم) (born 19 January 1976) is a Pakistani actor, singer, songwriter, TV host, video jockey, rapper and producer[1][2] famous for introducing the bhangra-rap fusion genre of music in Pakistan. He is considered a pioneer of bhangra-rap music of Lahore in the 1990s. He currently hosts TV shows, sports broadcasts, and high-profile national and international productions.

He also served as the chairman of the Sindh Board of Film Censors from 2013 to 2016.[3]

In 2018, he became the first and, to date, the only Pakistani in world history to circumnavigate the globe in a solo flight, in what he called Mission Parwaaz. He was aiming for a 28-day schedule and was planning on flying to 30 airports around the world.[4]

Personal life

Family background

Fakhar-e-Alam was born on 19 January 1976 in Lahore, Pakistan.[5][6] His maternal grandmother Akleem Akhtar, also known as General Rani, was a socialite close to dictator General Yahya Khan, who ruled Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, while his mother Aroosa Alam is a journalist.[7] Akleem Akhtar ('The Rani General') garnered the reputation of being the "most powerful woman in Pakistan" due to her role as the "muse and mistress" of General Yahya Khan.[7][8]

In 2017, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Leader of the Opposition in India's Punjab Legislative Assembly, alleged that Fakhar-e-Alam's mother Aroosa had affiliations with the ISI and served as a Pakistani spy. It was claimed that she resided at the official residence of India's Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.[9][10] Additionally, she was colloquially referred to as the ‘First Lady of Punjab’ due to her relationship with the Amarinder Singh and was reported to have close ties with the Pakistani military establishment.[8]

Education

In 2022, after doing an online course from the Harvard Business School, he earned an Alternative Investments certificate at the age of 46.[1]

Career

Music

Fakhar-e-Alam started his career as Pakistan's first rap artist with the music album "RAP UP" in 1993. The same year, he debuted as a presenter in Pakistan's first pop chart television show, "Music Channel Charts". After the success of "Music Channel Charts", he was offered the position of a presenter for "Pepsi Top of the Pops".[6]

He met great success with his single "Bhangra Pao", a fusion of bhangra and rap music, in 1993. He received a gold disc for his debut album and is considered one of EMI Records' most successful artists. The single was also broadcast on MTV.[5][6]

Acting

He has acted in movies such as Very Good Dunya Very Bad Log (1998)[6] and in television serials such as Do Biwiyan Ek Bechara (2018).

Production

When he arrived in Karachi in 2004, Fakhar-e-Alam was offered a CEO position in an electronic media marketing company. He accepted the offer and stayed with the company for three months. He then launched his own production house called Industree Productions.

Philanthropy

Fakhar-e-Alam was actively involved in humanitarian activities and relief work after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.[6]

Hosting

Fakhr-e-Alam's show Aaghaz-e-Safar, based on real-life stories of Pakistanis, aired on 18 April 2014. The show was produced and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a two-time Pakistani Oscar winner. It was the first time Obaid-Chinoy produced for a Pakistani TV channel. The show aired on AAJ TV in Pakistan.[11]

In 2016, after the murder of a popular qawwal, Amjad Sabri, in Karachi, Fakhr-e-Alam led a movement pressing for better government security for artists.[12]

On 1 August 2017, he became the second Pakistani celebrity invited to speak at Googleplex.[13]

In May 2021, he was announced as the host of 60 Hours to Glory, a military reality show featuring several international teams. It was broadcast on Hum TV, Hum News, and PTV Home.[14] On 27 June 2021, he was bestowed with the UAE golden visa, making him the first Pakistani celebrity to receive it.[15]

On 2 October 2021, Fakhr-e-Alam announced a partnership with Dubai-based esports organisation Galaxy Racer. As a result of the deal, the two parties will collaborate to create Galaxy Racer Pakistan.[16] Later that month, he hosted the sports show The Pavilion on A Sports as part of its coverage of the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[17][18]

Alam hosted The Pavilion for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which has become a global hit and recognized as the biggest cricket show in cricketing world. It has gained massive popularity especially within India.[19]

Awards

  • National Film Award for Best Actor in Very Good Dunya Very Bad Loag (1998)[6]
  • Sitar-e-Eesaar (Presidential Medal of Sacrifice and Honour) in 2006
  • Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan for TV show hosting and contributions to music, in 2023.[20]

Discography

Albums

  • Bhangra Rap (1994)[6][5]
  • Laut Aao (1995)[1]
  • Munda Pakistani (1996)
  • Malang (1997)[5]
  • Falam Connection (2001)[5]
  • Falam Ab Tak (2004)[5]
  • B3 (2012)[5]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Note
1998 Very Good Dunya Very Bad Log[6] Film debut
2000 No Paisa No Problem
2006 Sarhad Paar Special appearance

Television

Year Title Role Channel Note
1999 Gulls & Guys PTV Documentary and travel guide reality show
2005 Dost ARY Digital Drama serial which featured Indian artists
2018 Do Biwiyan Ek Bechara Faisal Lead role in a comedy-drama serial
Bolain Kya Baat Hai[5] TV Host Geo News

Books

  • Mission Parwaaz: Fakhr Alam Making History, Markings Publishing, 2019, 219 p. Book detailing how he circumnavigated the globe in a solo flight.[21][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c "'Never too old to learn': Fakhr-e-Alam awarded Alternate Investments certificate from Harvard Business School". Images magazine (Dawn Group of Newspapers) website. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ Joy, Prathibha (20 September 2011). "I'm doing good cinema: Manjari Fadnis". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. ^ Qamar, Saadia (20 September 2013). "Fakhr-e-Alam: The new face of Sindh's Censor board". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Fakhre Alam becomes the first Pakistani to circumnavigate the globe solo". Dawn newspaper. 4 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Fakhar-e-Alam profile". PakistanHerald website. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Profile of Fakhr-e-Alam". VIDPK.com website. 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b Desai, Ashok (27 March 2007). "THE RANI GENERAL FILES - The legacy of Akleem Akhtar lives on in her daughter". Telegraph India newspaper. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2024. I do not know what happened to her numerous children, except one — Aroosa Alam. Aroosa did not show early promise. She married and had a son in 1976, Fakhr-e-Alam, who became more famous than her.
  8. ^ a b Shobhaa De (22 August 2018). "When attacking Sidhu, keep in mind Punjab's most famous live-in couple". ThePrint newspaper. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Amarinder's Pak guest stirs up row". The Times of India. 27 December 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Captain Amarinder Singh's Friend Aroosa Alam is Pakistani Spy, Claims AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira". india.com website. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  11. ^ Syed, Madeeha (11 April 2014). "Aaghaz-e-Safar: "This show will be groundbreaking"". Dawn newspaper. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  12. ^ "'No difference between politicians and us': Fakhr-e-Alam demands better security for artists". Images magazine (Dawn Group of Newspapers). 24 June 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  13. ^ Murtaza, Syed M. (2 August 2017). "Fakhr e Alam becomes first Pakistani to speak at Google/Facebook". Pakistan Today newspaper. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  14. ^ Haq, Irfan Ul (4 June 2021). "Fakhre Alam teases new military reality show 60 Hours to Glory". Dawn newspaper. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  15. ^ Gokulan, Dhanusha (27 June 2021). "Fakhr-e-Alam is first Pakistani celebrity to get UAE Golden Visa". Khaleej Times newspaper. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Fakhr-e-Alam takes $40 million stake in Galaxy Racer". Daily Times newspaper. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Who is Shaniera Akram going to cheer for during the Pakistan versus Australia T20 match?". Images magazine (Dawn Group of Newspapers). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Watch: Pakistan greats Wasim, Waqar and Misbah's showtime banter will leave you in splits". Khaleej Times newspaper. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  19. ^ "This World Cup's sleeper hit: The Pavilion, a simple, informal show from Pakistan". The Indian Express. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  20. ^ "President confers Pakistan civil awards on 253 personalities". The Express Tribune newspaper. Associated Press of Pakistan. 14 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Fakhre Alam is launching a book based on his Mission Parwaaz". Dawn News. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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