Farhan Saeed has ‘no regrets’ on quitting Jal
In September 2011, Pakistani singer-songwriter Farhan Saeed announced that he was leaving the popular rock band, Jal. Now, seven years later, the 33-year-old has “no regrets” about leaving the rock band, which he was associated with since 2003.
“It’s been seven years already! I didn’t even realise it has been that much time,” Farhan laughs. “But seriously, I have no regrets about leaving Jal. When I took the decision (of quitting) I wanted to pursue a career as a solo artist, and post my exit, I feel that I have been lucky enough in establishing that. I wanted to act in films, I have done that as well,” he adds.
Farhan replaced Atif Aslam in 2003 after the latter had decided to call it quits due to “musical differences” between him and founding member, Goher Mumtaz. But unlike Atif, Farhan insists his departure was not because of any differences between him and Goher. He explains,“I left when Jal was at its peak. We had done a lot of live shows in Pakistan, India and across the globe. Jal had become a big name, and by that point, I wanted more and that’s why I decided to leave.”
After quitting the band, as a solo musician, Farhan has released many hits including Pi Jaun (2012) and Sajna (2015). He made his Bollywood debut in 2012 with the song Meethi Yaadein (Qasam Se). His latest offering is a love ballad, Maula, for which he has collaborated with Indian music producer Rishi Rich. “It’s wonderful to collaborate with an artist whose musical style and sense is different from your kind of music. When I went to Rishi’s studio in Mumbai, I gave him the bits of the song I had made, and within one and half hours, he had composed the entire structure of the song,” he says.
Samarth Goyal