Asim Raza

He began his career as an architect and worked with the architectural firm Arshad Shahid Abdullah (PVT) LTD before venturing into film production and direction. Having made his debut as a film maker in the mid-90s, he has worked in all visual mediums, from TV commercials to music videos, long plays and feature films.

From 1994 onwards, Raza worked on commercials and videos as a producer/director. He directed a magazine show for television based on advertising and marketing called The Big Idea. Between 1994 -1996 Raza continued making commercials for brands like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Lux, Olay, Cadbury, Mobilink, Sunsilk, Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Garnier and others. He has also worked with musicians from Pakistan such as Junoon, Junaid Jamshed, Najam Sheraz, Abrar-ul-Haq and Hadiqa Kiani.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Raza started his production company, The Vision Factory. Under this banner, he made the music video for the single "Sayonee" for the band Junoon. It stayed at no. 1 on both Channel V and MTV Asia for over eight weeks.^{[citation needed]} Raza then attended various short courses, workshops, and seminars including one at the New York Film Academy. On 4 May 1997, Asif Jamal filmed and directed the last concert of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, before his death on 17 August 1997, known as "The Pakistan 4 U Concert" aired on Channel V at Karachi Gymkhana. The concert was televised internationally, marking the first ever Pakistani music production which was broadcast beyond South Asia. The concert was made into live album named, "Swan Song-His Final Performance".^[3] Following that, Raza filmed the concert performed by Junoon at Central Park, known as "A Tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Junoon Live at Central Park".^[4] Raza also directed the 2nd Lux Style Awards ceremony in 2003 and short documentary about Kathak dance called Raqsan showcasing the talent of Pakistani classical dancer Fasih Ur Rehman. In 2008, he became an external board member on the board of studies for the communication design department at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013, Raza directed a telefilm Behadd,^[5] written by Umera Ahmed under MD Productions for Hum TV.^[6] Starring Fawad Khan, Nadia Jamil and Sajjal Ali,^[7] Behadd premiered 23 February 2013 on Hum TV.^[8] The telefilm went on to win Best Television Film award at second Hum Awards ceremony.^[9][10]

Raza marked his directional debut in the film industry with Ho Mann Jahaan,^[11] which Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui co-produced with him. Ho Mann Jahaan is a coming-of-age drama film, starring Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui, Adeel Hussain and Sonya Jehani^[12][13] The film was released on 1 January 2016. The film opened to great critical reviews and proved to be a huge commercial success at the box office.^[14] Ho Mann Jahaan was distributed by ARY Films.^[15] Raza also wrote three songs for the Film that were heavily praised by critics.^[16] In an interview with The Express Tribune Raza Said, "One should tell a story which is real, relatable and true to life, which is why I opted for a more content-driven film which would touch hearts."^[17]

Raza is married to Ayla Raza, daughter of former army chief and president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf.^[18] Also an architect by education, Ayla Raza is working for the promotion of traditional performing arts as a director at a not for profit organization, All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC), Karachi. Together they have two daughters, Maryam Raza and Zainab Raza.^[19]