All you poetry lovers out there, we are sure you are enjoying our new section Irshaad, celebrating the magic and true essence of poems, shayaris and dohas. Your response to the articles has been encouraging and we are committed to further push the idea in the coming days.

After all, a world without poetry would be a world without thoughts, without beauty, without hope, without any deeper meaning.

There is poem in a child’s smile, an old man’s walk and also in a bird’s flight.

And the charmer of an actor, Hasan Zaidi absolutely agrees to the above thought. The man is a performer par excellence, something we have noticed in his acting chops in shows like Shapath, Khottey Sikkey and Tum Saath Ho Jab Apne. He has also mesmerized audiences with his big screen acts namely in Dishkiyaoon and Horror Story.

But many are not aware that he is the son of celebrated poet Syed Humayun Zafar Zaidi and is himself a poet at heart. He enjoys penning his thoughts and living the magic of words.

We feel that life without poetry would be incomplete…your thoughts?

Absolutely! Like a guitar is incomplete without strings, so is life without poetry. Poetry gives a new language to life and a better projection to your feelings.

Do you have interest in poetry and shayari?

Yes. My father Syed Humayun Zafar Zaidi was a known poet and he had been instrumental in organising poet meets. In my younger days I have spent time with noted poets like Kaifi Azmi. My mother Zareen Zaidi too writes beautiful poems, and yes, poetry is in my genes. 

Have you ever written/recited a poem or a shayari to profess your love for someone?

Not really, for I think my smile does all the wonders (winks). But I feel when you truly love someone, everything that you state or write, is inspired by your lover. 

In this day and age – where people have lost interest in poetry and that kind of romance, how do you stay connected to shayari/poetry?

See, if you love the art, you will stay connected, no matter what. I think poetry is beautiful and should be treated with utmost love.

Who is your favorite shayar or poet?

Apart from my father’s, I like the writings of Ahmed Faraz. In today’s time, the writings lack depth, but stalwarts like Javed Saab and Gulzar are trying their best to keep the essence alive.

Do you know Tata Sky & Javed Akhtar are reviving the essence of poetry and dohas with Tata Sky’s Actve Javed Akhtar service? Your comments…

I have heard about it and I think on being marketed well, the idea can really do wonders. It’s unique and quite refreshing.

Dohas are sometimes believed to be old-fashioned, with no relevance in today’s world. What are your views on this?

Absolutely not. Dohas have been there since ages and will always remain. In today’s modern world people might think dohas are irrelevant, but if one takes time off and understands the meaning and the sayings, he or she would understand life better. For me, dohas are beautiful and have souls in them. 

Javed Akhtar is a magician with the pen. Any favourite song or poem of his you remember/like?

All his songs are beautiful and have a magic touch. It will be a sin to choose any one or two. I think he is a real influence who is working towards keeping the importance of lyrics alive in modern day style of music composition.

To end, kuch irshaad kijiye…

Log Mujhse mil ke, mujhe bhool nahi paate...

Aur..

Mujhe log, mil ke bhi yaad nahi aate...

Isiliye shayad...

Hamaari mulaaqaat nahi huy.i..

For those who are fans of Urdu Shayari and spiritual dohas, check out ‘Actve Javed Akhtar’, the latest offering from Tata Sky.