Latest news with #Pakistan-born
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Pakistan refused to give Adnan Sami visa to attend mother's funeral: ‘India agreed but… I watched her last rites on a WhatsApp call'
Adnan Sami, the Pakistan-born singer and composer, became a citizen of India in 2016, which resulted in a lot of heartburn in the country of his birth. The singer — who was also honored with Padma Shri, has now revealed that Pakistan refused to give him visa in 2024 after his mother passed away and he wanted to attend her funeral. Speaking to India TV, Adnan said that after his mother, Begum Naureen's demise, he requested both Indian and Pakistani authorities that he wants to visit the country to attend the funeral. He said that despite India granting him permission to travel, Pakistan refused. Adding that his mother's demise came as a shock to everyone because she didn't had any health concerns, he recalled how Indian authorities immediately understood his situation. 'Maine yaha ki sarkaar se pucha main jana chahta hu toh apko koi objection to nahi. Unhone kaha, 'Zahir hai, aapki maa ka inteqal hua hai, aapko zaroor jana chahiye'. Unki taraf se koi problem nahi tha (When I asked the Indian government that I want to go, do you have any objection? They said, 'It is obvious, your mother has passed away, you must go'. There was no problem from their side),' shared the singer. But when Adnan applied for a visa in Pakistan, his request was denied. 'Maine visa ke liye apply kiya, par unhone refuse kar diya. Maine kaha, 'Meri maa ka inteqal hua hai'. Phir bhi unhone mana kar diya. Main nahi ja saka. Maine unka poora janaza Whatsapp ke video pe dekha (I applied for a visa, but they (Pakistan government) refused. I said, 'My mother has passed away'. But they refused. I could not go. I saw her entire funeral on a WhatsApp video),' shared the singer. Born in London, Adnan Sami is the son of Pakistani Air Force pilot and diplomat. He took Indian citizenship in 2016 and have time and again talked about how the deteriorating political situation in Pakistan made him take the life-changing decision despite his family and son residing there. A post shared by ADNAN SAMI (@adnansamiworld) Adnan was also asked whether he took Indian citizenship because he was earning more in India than in Pakistan. In his response, the singer shared how he was fortunate to be born in a wealthy family and also added that he actully left property worth crores in Pakistan and started from scratch in India. A post shared by ADNAN SAMI (@adnansamiworld) 'An artist longs for an audience. An artist's nourishment is his audience. I received a lot of love in Pakistan, too, but everyone desires growth,' shared Adnan Sami. A post shared by ADNAN SAMI (@adnansamiworld) Adnan Sami made his Indian music debut with 'Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao' with Asha Bhosle which became an instant hit.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Adnan Sami On Why He Left Pakistan For India: "Lot Of Problems, Had Reached Out To Even Pervez Musharraf For Help"
New Delhi: Adnan Sami, the Pakistan-born singer and composer who became an Indian citizen in 2016, has opened up about the circumstances that led him to move to India and build his music career here. What In a recent interview with India TV, Adnan Sami said he faced a lack of support in the Pakistani music industry after his 1998 songs failed to receive marketing and promotion. "After the songs I released in 1998, people in the Pakistani music industry thought I'm finished. So they didn't provide any marketing for those songs. Nobody got to know when the album released and vanished. I was very dejected. I was in Canada at that time. I knew they'd done that on purpose," he said. Sami recalled discussing his struggles with legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who had worked with him on songs like Kabhi To Nazar Milao. He shared, "I told Asha ji I'm dejected because people here have decided they don't want to work with me for whatever reason, and that I want to record with her in London." In response, Bhosle advised him to move to Mumbai, saying, "'Why do you want to record in London?' she asked me. I said I know some people there. So she said, 'See, if you really want to do something new, come to Mumbai. This is the capital of Hindi music. Whatever gets popular here would spread out to the rest of the world. So this is the place to come.'" "Main boriya bistar le ke pahuch gaya Mumbai," Sami said, recalling how Bhosle and her family supported him during his early days in India. "She made me stay in RD Burman's home. I was very lucky because it was like a music temple," he added. The songs that had earlier gone unnoticed in Pakistan became hits in India. "The songs that didn't work in Pakistan, like Kabhi To Nazar Milao, Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein, Lift Karadey, they were marketed so well that the rest is history. The way people embraced me and loved me, I could've never imagined it." Background Adnan Sami also spoke about the immense respect Indian audiences have for music. "You can't deny the audience and the masses are in huge quantity today. The attitude and respect for music here can't be matched anywhere else," he said. He expressed sadness over how legendary Pakistani artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, and Reshma faced tough times despite their talent. "The audience loves them and has always praised them. But the authorities have never offered any help. These are just a few names. There have been many others like this, including actors," he said. Responding to a letter allegedly written by then-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to his father in 2005, Sami said, "There was no truth to that letter. In 2005, I wasn't an Indian citizen. I was a Pakistani citizen. I don't know where he got the wrong information from. It's obvious that it's gone from the bottom to the top. That's why everyone just disowned me." Sami added that his move to India was not motivated by money. "Money wasn't my driving force. In fact, when I came here, I had to start from scratch again," he said. "I was facing a lot of problems then as a Pakistani citizen, especially in a public profession. Everyone knows all your moves. I had even reached out to Musharraf for help." He applied for Indian citizenship in 2015 and was granted it the following year. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour. In A Nutshell Adnan Sami revealed he moved to India after facing neglect from the Pakistani music industry and receiving encouragement from Asha Bhosle. He credited India for embracing his music and clarified that his decision to seek Indian citizenship was not driven by money but by professional struggles. Sami was granted citizenship in 2016 and recently received the Padma Shri.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Adnana Sami says money isn't the ‘real reason' why he gave up Pakistan, chose India on Asha Bhosle's advice: ‘I gave up properties worth crores in Pak'
Adnan Sami, Pakistan-born singer and composer, became an Indian citizen in 2016. While he has received flak from across the border for the move, Sami has maintained that he's proud to be a part of India. Sami was even awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Republic of India, earlier this year. In a new interview, Sami revealed the real reason why he started making music in India. 'After the songs I released in 1998, people in the Pakistani music industry thought I'm finished. So they didn't provide any marketing for those songs. Nobody got to know when the album released and vanished. I was very dejected. I was in Canada at that time. I knew they'd done that on purpose,' recalled Sami. In the interview with India TV, Sami recalled discussing the issue with legendary singer Asha Bhosle. She had sung popular tracks like 'Kabhi To Nazar Milao' from his 1997 album Badaltey Mausam with Sami. 'I told Asha ji I'm dejected because people here have decided they don't want to work with me for whatever reason, and that I want to record with her in London,' said Sami. ''Why do you want to record in London?' she asked me. I said I know some people there. So she said, 'See, if you really want to do something new, come to Mumbai. This is the capital of Hindi music. Whatever gets popular here would spread out to the rest of the world. So this is the place to come,'' Sami recalled his conversation with Bhosle. 'Main boriya bistar le ke pahuch gaya Mumbai,' said Sami, claiming that Bhosle and her entire family took very good care of him. Bhosle was married to legendary music composer RD Burman, who died in 1994. 'She made me stay in RD Burman's home. I was very lucky because it was like a music temple,' recalled Sami. 'The songs that didn't work in Pakistan, like 'Kabhi To Nazar Milao', 'Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein', 'Lift Karadey', they were marketed so well that the rest is history. The way people embraced me and loved me, I could've never imagined it,' added Sami. Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein and Lift Karadey were part of Sami's 2000 hit album Always Yours. Sami revealed not just him, but legends like ghazal maestros Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan, and folk singer Reshma, did thrive in Pakistan, but their popularity grew by four times. 'You can't deny the audience and the masses are in huge quantity today. The attitude and respect for music here can't be matched anywhere else,' said Sami. He lamented the fact that Hassan and Reshma saw very horrific last days and deaths despite being masters of their profession. 'The audience loves them and has always praised them. But the authorities have never offered any help. These are just a few names. There have been many others like this, including actors,' added Sami. The singer also responded to the letter then-Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf wrote to his father in 2005, criticizing him for abandoning Pakistan. 'There was no truth to that letter. In 2005, I wasn't an Indian citizen. I was a Pakistani citizen. I don't know where he got the wrong information from. It's obvious that it's gone from the bottom to the top. That's why everyone just disowned me,' Sami recalled. Also Read — Adnan Sami's Pakistani fans told him they want to change citizenship as they 'hate their army': 'You left in good time' He revealed that he didn't apply for Indian citizenship for money as he left his inherited properties worth crores back in Pakistan. 'Money wasn't my driving force. In fact, when I came here, I had to start from scratch again,' said Sami. 'I was facing a lot of problems then as a Pakistani citizen, especially in a public profession. Everyone knows all your moves. I had even reached out to Musharraf for help,' said Sami. He consequently applied for Indian citizenship in 2015, which he was granted the next year.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tahawwur Rana moves court for permission to communicate with his family
NEW DELHI: : 26/11 Mumbai attacks conspirator, Tahawwur Rana has filed a petition in a Delhi court for allowing him to communicate with his family. According to news agency ANI, Rana has requested access to jail-provided facilities for family interaction, in accordance with regulations. Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national is in judicial custody for following his extradition to India on April 10. Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs has appointed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, and Advocate Narender Mann as lead prosecutors in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case against Tahawwur Rana. "The Central Government hereby appoints a team of Special Public Prosecutors, led by Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, alongside SV Raju, Additional Solicitor General, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, and Advocate Narender Mann (previously notified as Special Public Prosecutors," a circular issued by the home ministry read. "This team will oversee the trial and all related proceedings concerning NIA case before the NIA special courts in Delhi, the high court of Delhi, and the Supreme Court of India," it added. "Their tenure will extend for three years from the publication date of this notification or until the completion of the trial, whichever occurs first, under the terms and conditions outlined in the Department of Legal Affairs' notification." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Pelajari Undo Earlier on May 9, Rana was presented before the Patiala House Court from NIA remand, a day earlier than the scheduled date due to security concerns. The NIA Special Court has ordered his judicial custody until June 6, 2025. Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, was extradited from the United States in connection with his purported role in the deadly 2008 terror strike on Mumbai. According to NIA, Rana is also suspected to have devised similar terror plots to target other cities in the nation.
United News of India
17-05-2025
- United News of India
Maha: Mumbai police receive hoax threat email to blow up Mumbai Airport, Taj Mahal hotel
Mumbai, May 17 (UNI) The Mumbai police have received an alleged threat email warning of bomb blasts at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel but after thorough examination of two vital establishments, nothing suspicious was found and it was declared as 'hoax' threat email, police said on Saturday. The email was received at the Airport Police station of Mumbai on their official email ID on Thursday morning from an ID viduthalai_puli_vellum@ that blast will be carried out as the death sentence for the Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru was unjust. Following this, security was beefed up and heavy police bandobast were deployed within the area of airport as well as outside and inside Taj Mahal hotel, which was earlier targeted by the Pakistan-born Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on November 26, 2008, in which 167 people were killed and more than 250 were injured. The hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in the country and has been on the terrorists' top target list. UNI AAA SS
