Ali: On top of the world. Wherever I go, I receive nothing but love and adulation from the people. My popularity transcends class and gender. All kinds of people come and tell me how much they like my show. The show has been the most liberating experience in my life.
Begum Nawazish Ali also stands today for the liberation of Pakistan. For the people, watching it is a liberating experience. Pakistanis feel that if she can do it, so can we. That is a major achievement for me. The things I talk about, and whatever happens on the show, also happens in the people’s homes and in their drawing rooms. Unfortunately, our nation has long been suffering from hypocritical syndrome. They do things but do not talk about it. The show gives people courage to be honest. It is OK to talk about sex, because they all have sex. Begum Nawazish Ali has given courage to the people to break the taboos. She has taken the country into the 21st century.
No. But there was a time in the 1970s when lots of begmat [high-society wives] used to dress themselves like this for parties and would converse with colonels and generals over drinks. From childhood, I had been fascinated and touched by women. I was always much inclined towards the fairer sex. Women like Benazir Bhutto and Margaret Thatcher were my role models.
No. It has nothing to do with that. When I was growing up, I wanted to be like Benazir Bhutto. I don’t see any difference between men and women except for their reproductive roles. I want the discrimination against women to finish now. I play a better woman role, because I am a feminist.
Many actors in Pakistan have played woman roles, but the difference is that they saw woman only as an object. I have an inherent respect for women. My entire being is an ode and tribute to womanhood. So playing a woman comes naturally to me. It shows in my body language, it shows as I wear my sari. And since I am not a woman but a man, I don’t evoke any jealousy from other women. So I consider myself a superwoman. It is not surprising that men like me better.
My intention is never to demean or ridicule my guests. My intention is to have a good time. My objective is to get the politicians, artists and people from other sections of the society, have a little chit-chat and project them in a way that they can inspire others. Our political leaders suffer from holier-than-thou syndrome. They think themselves above normal people. I want to bring them out as normal people, as people who fall in love. I try to break that wall of pretense that people build around themselves.
First of all, I would like to say that I am a very sexual person. Sex is energy to me. Sex creates love. An average man and woman think about sex many times a day. It is very normal. If we think about sex and have sex, then why can’t we talk about sex openly? I talk about sex in a very subtle manner. It is always suggestive. I don’t understand when people criticize me. I can’t understand this hypocrisy.
I would love him to come. I challenge him to come to my show and to face a real woman and to see how real a man he is. I have my eyes set on Prime Minister’s House. I promise I will take this country to a new height when my dream of becoming prime minister comes true.
