Vasay Chaudhry
Born (1981-11-12) 12 November 1981
Alma materNational College of Arts
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, humorist, host
Years active2000–present
Spouse
Mahera Shah
(m. 2008)
AwardsSee below

Vasay Chaudhry (Punjabi, Urdu: واسع چوہدری; born on 12 November 1981) is a Pakistani screenwriter, actor, director, producer, host, and comedian. He is best known for writing sitcoms and comedy-dramas for Pakistani televisions. He is also known for writing films. He wrote Main Hoon Shahid Afridi and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani. While Mai Hoon Shahid Afridi was an average success, Jawani phir Nahe ani went on to become the highest grossing film of Pakistan cinema and broke all the previous Box office records while earning more than 490 million at the box office. He also wrote Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, which was released on 2018 Eid al-Adha and broke the all time biggest box office grosses record.It also went on to become the First Pakistani film to make 700 Million rupees worldwide. Chaudhry is also known for hosting the comedy show, Mazaaq Raat, on Dunya News since 2015.[1]

Early life and education

Chaudhry was born on 12 November 1981 and lives in Lahore.

His paternal grandfather, Chaudhary Eid Muhammad, worked in the world of movies before Partition, establishing Lahore's famed Ratan Cinema in 1945, cinema which would later be owned by Chaudhry's father.[2] Because of Partition, Chaudhary Eid Muhammad had to move to Lahore from Ambala, where he ran cinemas as he did in Dehradun as well while he used to do bookings of the shows as far as Delhi.[3] Chaudhary Eid Muhammad's son-in-law Afzal was the brother of famed villain actor Aslam Pervaiz.[4]

He completed his A-levels studies from Lahore College of Arts and Sciences. Chaudhry enrolled himself at Government College University (Lahore) for a bachelor's degree but ended up graduating from University of Punjab, Lahore. Later, he began an MBA at Lahore School of Economics but dropped the course after the first semester. He later earned an MMA (Master's in Multimedia Arts) degree at National College of Arts.[5]

He married Mahera Shah in 2008 and the couple have three daughters together.[6]

Career

Chaudhry started his career in 1998 when he did a theatre play called Desperado. He recalls, "I had just a 45-second role in it! So I started off with a role – that calling it a cameo would be a disgrace! I began to pursue theatre seriously when I went to LACAS for my A-levels where I met Zain Ahmed (actress/director Samina Ahmad's son) and acted and assisted him on his play, Blood wedding".[7] Afterwards, he went on to become head of the Dramatics Club in LACAS and directed an old Urdu play called Bari Dair Meherban Aatay Aatay for the Rafi Peer Theatre International Theatre Festival in 1999.

Chaudhry's first writing venture for television was a sitcom called Jutt and Bond in 2001, starring Fawad Khan in lead role along with Ahmad Ali Butt and Farah Tufail.[8] It was television adaptation of his theatre play of the same name performed in 2000. Chaudhry approached Younis Butt to write the series; when he refused, Chaudhry wrote the show himself.[9] He recollected the memories of Jutt and Bond while speaking to a newspaper "So, then I sat down to make the decision and thought about all the terrible dramas I have seen in my life. I thought about how bad could my writing really is, decided to give it a shot and wrote Jutt and Bond."[9]

In 2010, after establishing himself in 25-minute sitcom business, he wrote his first long TV serial Dolly ki Ayegi Baraat, which turned out to be a huge commercial and critical hit.[10] He continued writing long TV serials after success of Dolly. Chaudhry in an interview stated that he has started enjoying writing for film and TV more than sitcoms.[6] Chaudhry's most famous TV plays as a writer include Timmy G, Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat, Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat, Inspector Khojee, Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota, Yeh Shaadi Nahi Ho Sakti, telefilm Armaan and Jackson Heights (drama). He terms his Eid Special play Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota which aired on Geo TV, 2011, as one of his personal favourite work along with Inspector Khojee and Jackson Heights.[6] In cinematic work, he debuted with the script and screenplay writing for Main Hoon Shahid Afridi; it was declared a commercial hit of Pakistani cinema, 2013, and garnered accolades from critics and audience alike.[11][12][13]

Chaudhry has been seen in TV commercials from time to time, prominent ones include MCB ad and Zong. Chaudhry wrote in the Herald (Pakistan) as a film reviewer and critic for a brief period, during 2002–03.[14] Since then he has occasionally contributed towards writing on Pakistani media and cinema in Pakistan's leading newspapers like Pakistan Today, The Express Tribune[15][16] and The News.

Chaudhry in one interview explained the reason for writing as "only to bring the people's attention to the various character types that exist amidst us. It is important to be a responsible role model but for most people, it is easier to pick ideas off the internet and ape them."[17]

Chaudhry believes in self-censorship but insists "My target has always been to entertain people; I am not into "artistic stuff" as far as my work is concerned, at least not now. Even when I was doing theatre, I wasn't into it. I suppose it's because I am influenced by entertainment films of the 80s and 90s".[9] He regards Anwar Maqsood and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi as his gurus in comedy writing and laments the lack of fresh ideas and wit in majority of current comedies. Being a strong believer in originality he was quoted saying "It's mostly foreign concepts that we are picking up and then trying to localize and obviously failing. We need to learn to improvise rather than copy ideas."[18]

Reception

Chaudhry has been praised in the Pakistani press as a writer uniquely in touch and comfortable with Punjabi culture.[19] He is a firm believer of "self-censorship" and calls himself old school when it comes to the views regarding a writer's moral responsibility towards his audiences. He credits this to his training in a pre-cable TV world and asserts that he "refrains from [writing] obnoxious jokes."[20]

Television

Writing

Chaudhry has contributed as a writer in various TV shows:

YearShowChannelNotes
2001Jutt and Bond[21]Indus TV, Channel GSitcom, 102 Episodes
2001Motor Chalay Pum Pum[22][23]Pakistan Television CorporationSitcom, contributed writing
2002Yaraana Purana[7]Sitcom, contributed writing
2004Jallywood[24]Sitcom, 7 episodes
2005–8Rubber Band (TV Series)[25]ARY DigitalSitcom, 176 Episodes
2006–7Urban Desi[24]Aaj TVSitcom, Co-writing with Ali Kazmi, 65 Episodes
2006Inspector Khojee[26]Pakistan Television CorporationSitcom, 52 Episodes
2009Yes Sir[26]A-Plus Entertainment13 Episodes
2010–12Timmy GARY DigitalSitcom, 116 Episodes
2011Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota[6]Geo TVEid special long play
2010Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat[27]Geo TVTelenovela 17 Episodes, Chaudhry's First long TV series
2011Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat[27]Geo TVTelenovela 16 Episodes
2012Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat[27]Geo TVTelenovela 19 Episodes
2013Yeh Shaadi Nahi Ho Sakti[28]ARY DigitalTelenovela 27 Episodes
2013Armaan[29]Geo TV, PTVTelefilm
2013Abhi Tou Main Jawan Hoon[30]Geo TV, PTVTelefilm
2014–15Jackson Heights[31]Urdu 1Telenovela
2014Bad TimesA-Plus Entertainment
2013–16Hum Awards[32]Hum TVScript writing and hosting of the show
2012Dolly ki Aa Gai Baraat[33]Geo TVTelefilm
2016ARY Film AwardsARY DigitalScript writing and hosting of the show

Acting

YearShowCharacterChannelNotes
2004Cafe Chill[34]Geo TV
2005Tamasha Ghar (Hari Bhari)[35]PTV
2005–2008Rubber Band (TV Series)[36][37]Ali ToorARY Digital
2004Jallywood
2006Inspector Khojee[5]HimselfPTV
2006–07Urban DesiAAJ TV
2009Yaasu Panju Har[38]ARY Digital
2010Na jaane kyun[39]HaiderPTV
2011Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota[40]IfranGeo TV
2012Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat[41]Bobby DGeo TV
2009–13Timmy G[5]Timmy GARY Digital
2013Silvatain[42]MikaalARY Digital
2013Armaan[43][44]DannyPTV & Geo TV
2014Kahani Raima Aur Manahil Ki[45][46]WahajHum TV
2014Pyarey Afzal[47][48]Dr. SibtainARY Digital
2014NazdeekiyanFaiqAry Digital
2015Ishq for Sale[49]ShehenshahHum TV
2016Mann Mayal[50]IftiHum TV
2019Love u JattaFilm
2021Absolutely KnotHaseen KhalidTelefilm

Hosting

YearProgramChannelNotes
2005–2006Bekaar Singh Dey NaalChannel G
2013–2015Hum AwardsHUM TV[51][52][53]
2015–2023Mazaaq RaatDunya NewsReplaced Noman Ijaz
2016Lux Style AwardsGeo TVChaudhry wrote and hosted a segment with Fawad Khan and Ahmad Ali Butt[54]
2021Ghabrana Mana HaiARYA 13 episode interview show which was hosted and scripted by Vasay Chaudhry

Direction

YearProgramChannel
2004Jallywood

Production

YearProgramChannel
2009Yes SirAdaptation of the British showYes Prime Minister

Guest appearances

Filmography

Key
Film are currently on Cinema
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Writer Actor Notes Ref.
2013 Main Hoon Shahid Afridi Yes No [59][60]
2015 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani Sheikh Yes Yes (Film debut as an actor) [61][62]
2018 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 Yes Yes [63][64]
2022 London Nahi Jaunga Harry No Yes [65][66]

Theater

Year Drama Role Notes Ref.
2000 Jutt and Bond
2004–2005 Oop Singh
2006 Inspector Khojee[5]

Awards and nominations

Year Film/Drama Role Awards Category Result Ref.
2005 1st Indus Drama Awards Best Sitcom Drama Writer Nominated
2011 Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat writer 10th Lux Style Awards Best Writer Nominated [67][68]
2013 Armaan actor Tarang Housefull Awards Best Supporting Actor Won [69]
2014 Main Hoon Shahid Afridi writer 1st ARY Film Awards Best Dialogue Writer Award Won [70][71]
2016 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer 2nd ARY Film Awards Best Dialogue Writer Award Won [72][73]
2016 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer 2nd ARY Film Awards Best Screenplay Writer Award Won [74]
2016 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer 2nd ARY Film Awards Best Story Award Won [74]
2016 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor 2nd ARY Film Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Award Nominated [75]
2016 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor 2nd ARY Film Awards Best Star Debut Nominated [76]
2016 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor Lux Style Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [77]

References

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