Roshni (2025)

Ali Zafar’s album Roshni, released on 20 December 2025, marks a monumental return for the Pakistani pop icon after a 15-year hiatus from full-length studio projects. The 12-track album is a deeply personal journey that Zafar describes as a “celebration of light and shadow,” reflecting his artistic evolution since his previous album Jhoom (2011). Musically, the project is genre-fluid, blending acoustic pop and soulful ballads with modern Afro-influenced rhythms, Amapiano grooves, and deep-house textures.

The title track “Roshni” is a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Ayesha Fazli, whom he credits as a source of strength. The album also features several notable collaborations, including the viral hit “Zalim Nazron Se,” a modern remake of Ali Haider’s 1994 classic featuring Haider himself, and “Chal Dil Mere” with rapper Talha Anjum. Other standout tracks such as “Ruxaana,” known for its high-energy music video, and the Latin-inspired “Mamacita” (feat. Alistair Alvin) highlight Zafar’s ability to blend South Asian melodies with global sounds. By revisiting classics like Aamir Zaki’s “Mera Pyar” and incorporating poetry from Jaun Elia and Shoaib Mansoor, Roshni stands as both a nostalgic tribute to Pakistani music heritage and a bold step toward contemporary global pop.