New Delhi: Noted poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar attended a party hosted by MeToo accused Pakistani actor and singer Ali Zafar after the three-day annual Faiz Festival held in Lahore, in commemoration of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
In 2018, Zafar was accused of sexual harassment by his co-actor Meesha Shafi. However, the actor-singer had “categorically” denied her claims. Following a public showdown between the two and subsequent filings of defamation cases, the Lahore High Court in 2022 permitted Shafi’s case to proceed.
Tweeting about the party with a video on Monday, Ali Zafar wrote: “The universe brings the opportunity to sing one of my favourite love songs written by the legendary @Javedakhtarjadu sahab in front of him for the love of my life @AyeshaFazli”.
In the video shared by Zafar, Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s grandson Adeel Hashmi was seen sitting in the front row accompanied by Javed Akhtar and Ayesha Fazli among others.
Speaking to ThePrint over phone, Ali said that it “was a small, intimate affair” which included the delegates from India such as Javed Akhtar and “a few from Amritsar”. “Javed Sahab recited a few lines from his work in Silsila and I carried it ahead. He also recited his renditions and a few of his nazms.”He added that the party was held after the event.
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The MeToo case against Ali Zafar
Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar’s legal battles had been the talk of the town and were one of the most high-profile cases that came to light during the global movement. As soon as Shafi made her claim public in 2018, she met with massive outrage and relentless social media shaming.
After Shafi’s allegations, many other survivors spoke up about similar instances of unwanted behaviour by the actor singer. Shafi and eight other women went on to file a sexual harassment case against him, following which Zafar launched a criminal defamation suit against her and other women who had spoken against him.
Soon after Shafi’s allegations, Zafar released his movie Teefa in Trouble in 2018, which had a successful run collecting over 50 crores in the box office, breaking box office records for the year.
Shafi was found guilty in the FIA cybercrime FIR and has been not been showing up in court that has caused several adjournments over years in Zafar’s defamation case against her.
During a recent talk show appearance, the singer said: “That one tweet by Meesha ruined my future projects. It has been 5 years and here I am, still waiting for the verdict which is pending because she [Meesha] does not show up at the court. Everything I have stated is facts, not my opinions.”
In 2019, Zafar made insinuating remarks against Shafi, forcing her to initiate a civil defamation complaint against him.
“[T]he truth is I was targeted for personal gains. I don’t know whether by doing this she wanted to become another Malala and get fame abroad,” Zafar had said.
The Faiz Festival organised from 17-19 February 2023 saw an Indian delegation headed by Javed Akhtar who also launched his book there. Actors Danish Hussain and Atul Tiwari were among others present in the cultural festival.