Ahmed Khan recalled how he ended up casting Fame Gurukul winner Qazi Tauqeer for Afghan Jalebi, revealing that Qazi’s distinctive look made him the perfect fit for the song.
“We needed a boy for the song, and I knew Qazi. He was good-looking and had the kind of look we wanted, so I asked my assistant to call him. He came, we rehearsed with him, and I shot the song with him,” Ahmed shared.
Ahmed knew Qazi from his Fame Gurukul days, when the singer would often meet him and his brothers. Years later, while searching for a face for Afghan Jalebi, Qazi suddenly came to his mind.
“I wondered what he was doing and asked for his photos. He had long hair and this Afghan-Kashmiri look. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, ‘Sir, tell me.’ I asked him to come over, and we immediately went ahead with him,” he recalled.
Qazi’s appearance apparently caught Katrina Kaif’s attention as well. Recalling her reaction, Ahmed said, “Katrina was quite surprised. She said, ‘Such a handsome-looking boy.’”
The song was eventually shot on a set at Film City and went on to become hugely popular. Ahmed added that its success also gave Qazi renewed visibility.
“The song did well, and it benefited the boy too. So yeah, that was it,” Ahmed concluded.
