Pop star duo hits the ‘Highway’

Published January 23, 2014
Zeb and Haniya. – Dawn Photo
Zeb and Haniya. – Dawn Photo

LAHORE: The popular pop duo of Zeb and Haniya has achieved another milestone by teaming up with music icon A.R. Rehman for an upcoming Bollywood flick, ‘Highway’.

Zeb has become the first female singer from Pakistan to have signed up a project with A.R. Rehman. She has sung a song in Haryanvi (the language being spoken in Haryana) and Haniya played the music.

‘Highway’ is a 2014 Bollywood romance-drama film, directed by Imtiaz Ali and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. It stars Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. The film will be released worldwide on Feb 21.

“It’s a dream come true that I have worked with A.R. Rehman,” Zeb told a press conference at her Sarwar Road residence on Wednesday.

She said the duo during a visit to India had a meeting with film director Imtiaz Ali who offered us a song for ‘Highway’. They also had a chance meeting with A.R. Rehman in the studio.

Asked what could be done to boost the music industry in Pakistan, Zeb suggested a “multi-pronged approach including the abolition of 65 per cent entertainment tax and solution to copyright issues.

”Zeb (Zebunnisa Humayun Bangash) and Haniya (Haniya Aslam) made their Bollywood debut with the film ‘Madras Café’. Their upcoming projects include two Bollywood movies ‘Ghoom Kay Tu’ and ‘Running Shadi.com’.

The duo evolved from two college kids experimenting with music as a hobby to artistes who have created one of the most anticipated albums of 2007. Zeb has been singing since age eight.

She told this reporter that she was also learning classical music from Ustad Muabrik Ali Khan.

Her fellow musician and first cousin, Haniya is a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. They started singing from their college days in the United States, where Zeb studied Economics and History of Art and Haniya studied Computer Science and Anthropology.

Opinion

Editorial

Desperate measures
Updated 27 Dec, 2024

Desperate measures

Sadly in Pakistan, street protests and sit-ins have become the only resort to catch the attention of a callous power elite.
Economic outlook
27 Dec, 2024

Economic outlook

THE post-pandemic years, marked by extreme volatility in the global oil and commodity markets as well as slowing...
Cricket and visas
27 Dec, 2024

Cricket and visas

PAKISTAN has asserted that delay in the announcement of the schedule of next year’s Champions Trophy will not...
Afghan strikes
Updated 26 Dec, 2024

Afghan strikes

The military option has been employed by the govt apparently to signal its unhappiness over the state of affairs with Afghanistan.
Revamping tax policy
26 Dec, 2024

Revamping tax policy

THE tax bureaucracy appears to have convinced the government that it can boost revenues simply by taking harsher...
Betraying women voters
26 Dec, 2024

Betraying women voters

THE ECP’s recent pledge to eliminate the gender gap among voters falls flat in the face of troubling revelations...