What makes the king of remixes DJ Aqeel Ali and wife Farah Khan rock as a couple? Here’s the inside story
Guess who’s Hrithik Roshan, Fardeen and Zayed Khan’s competition? Nope, not AB junior or King Khan, but the trio’s five-year-old nephew Azaan Ali, who according to mum Farah Khan has already begun displaying his histrionic skills!
“Every morning he stands in front of the mirror, practising various faces. And you should see the poses he does for the camera!” reveals Farah proudly. Dad DJ Aqeel Ali, though, is dreaming of another future for his son. “He’s definitely going to be the next Michael Schumacher,” he says confidently.
Back from Davos, Switzerland, where Aqeel had the likes of Vijay Mallya, the Ambanis, the Godrejs and Bill Clinton rockin’ to his tunes, one would think Mumbai’s celeb DJ is ready to take a break. But tonight, he flies off to London to spin music for Lakshmi Mittal and gang, then it’s off to Calcutta for a Valentines’ do and after that, he will perform at one of restaurateur/actor Vikram Chatwal’s wedding functions.
“I always tell Aqeel he’s a better husband than a father ‘cause he hardly gets time with the kids,” says Farah teasingly. “But that’s only on weekends. Rest of the week, I spend lots of time with my family,” protests Aqeel.
Besides the parties and his record label Power Play Music with Yash Raj, the DJ is in the process of re-opening the nightclub Poison in Bandra. The club was shut down due to some licensing problems. “We’re sorting things out. We should open in fifteen days or so,” he informs.
And while he has the swish set shaking their booty, she’s got them going bling bling with her jewellery creations. “I’m going to open a store of my own this year. Also, I am planning something big this year, but I don’t want to talk about it right now,” says the jewellery designer.
After eight years of marriage, that Farah is still as smitten by her husband is evident. “Aqeel has become a brand. He’s the first DJ to appeal to the mass audience by playing Hindi music. He has so many fans. At the New Year’s party, I was mobbed by them just for being his wife,” she says.
As far as the whole remix debate is concerned, the remix king says, “At a party you rather listen to a sad song in a modern style. Besides, now that royalty and credits are given to the original composer, no one’s really after remixes anymore.”
