Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has opened up about his journey to stardom, the pressures of success and whether he has ever considered walking away from music.
Speaking to Indian YouTube channel The Curly Tales, the singer reflected on how his career grew unexpectedly and said he still does not fully understand how he achieved such widespread success.
"I was clueless. I had no idea about how I got successful. I have no idea till date what has happened," Atif said.
He recalled how every new song brought uncertainty about what would come next.
"After one song, you are like, okay, what next? And after the second, you think, this is it, people don't like me," he said.
According to Atif, the pressure increased after the release of his album as his popularity grew and the responsibility of maintaining his success became greater. He also acknowledged the impact of his work in Bollywood on his career.
‘Allah takes you where He wants you to be’
Reflecting on the factors behind his success, Atif rejected the idea that his stardom could simply be attributed to hard work.
"A lot of people attribute it to hard work, but there was no hard work. Allah takes you where He wants you to be," he said.
The singer said he views stardom and success as something beyond his own control.
Atif has no plans to quit music
Addressing whether he could eventually leave music, Atif said he has never seriously considered quitting.
"I have never thought of leaving or quitting music," he said.
However, he acknowledged that artists can go through periods when they struggle to create.
Atif described creative blocks as an important part of an artist's journey, saying there are times when an artist can feel empty and unable to write or produce new work.
"You have to go through a certain phase and era as an artist where you experience a creative block," he said.
But he added that such periods eventually pass, allowing artists to rediscover their creativity.
"There comes a time when you see the glass is full. You just sit quietly, thank Allah, and enjoy it," Atif said.
The singer continues to perform for audiences in Pakistan and internationally, maintaining a career that has made him one of the most recognisable Pakistani voices around the world.
