The best Ali Zafar songs are Channo, Jhoom, Rockstar, Sajania, Yar Dadhi Ishq, Ae Dil Kisi Ki Yaad Mein, Voh Dekhnay Mein, Palat Meri Jaan and Tu Hi Hai. Together they cover his pop debut, his Coke Studio years and his Bollywood work, and most of them are still easy to find on YouTube and music apps.
Ali Zafar was born in Lahore on 18 May 1980. He started as a sketch artist and TV actor before his first album, Huqa Pani, came out in 2003. Indian audiences later knew him as the actor from Tere Bin Laden (2010), Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011), London, Paris, New York (2012) and Dear Zindagi (2016). Through all of it, music stayed his main job.
Here are nine songs that explain why his voice still has a loyal following on both sides of the border.
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Quick facts about Ali Zafar
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 May 1980, Lahore |
| Studio albums | Huqa Pani (2003), Masty (2006), Jhoom (2011), Roshni (2025) |
| Breakout song | Channo (2003) |
| Hindi film debut | Tere Bin Laden (2010) |
| Big award | Lux Style Award for Song of the Year for Rockstar |
9 Ali Zafar songs that tug at your heartstrings
1. Channo (2003)
This is the song that made Ali Zafar a household name in Pakistan. Channo was on his debut album Huqa Pani and became his breakout hit. Its easy Punjabi pop hook still works at weddings and road trips.
He brought it back on Coke Studio Pakistan season 1 in 2008, and the song was later used in the animated series Burka Avenger. If you only know one Ali Zafar track, it is probably this one.
2. Jhoom (2011)
Jhoom is the title track of his third studio album, released in February 2011 by YRF Music. It is a slow, soulful song built around a simple idea: losing yourself in love.
Fans still play it on repeat, and the tune has had a second life in India. It was recreated as Dil Jhoom for the 2024 Hindi film Crakk.
3. Sajania (2006)
Sajania is from Masty, his second album, released in December 2006. It has the bright, guitar-led sound of mid-2000s Pakistani pop, which is why people who grew up in that era call it a nostalgia song.
He also performed Sajania at the 6th Lux Style Awards in 2007. The album carried a remix of the track as well.
4. Yar Dadhi Ishq (Coke Studio, 2009)
Ali Zafar’s take on Yar Dadhi Ishq Atish Laai Ae is one of his most loved Coke Studio performances. He sang it as a tribute to folk singer Muhammad Juman, and it appeared on Coke Studio Pakistan season 2.
The studio version was later added to his album Jhoom. It shows a side of him that his pop hits do not: a singer comfortable with Sufi poetry and long, slow builds.
5. Rockstar (Coke Studio, 2015)
Rockstar is a cheeky, upbeat song about a man who thinks he is a star. Ali Zafar performed it on Coke Studio Pakistan season 8 in 2015.
It won Song of the Year at the 15th Lux Style Awards. The song shows his range: a few seasons after the soft Jhoom, he was doing playful rock-pop with full energy.
6. Ae Dil Kisi Ki Yaad Mein (Coke Studio, 2015)
This is a cover of a 1960s film song first sung by Saleem Raza. Ali Zafar performed it on Coke Studio Pakistan season 8 with Sara Haider, as a tribute to the original singer.
It is the song to play when you are missing someone. The arrangement stays gentle and lets the old melody do the work.
7. Voh Dekhnay Mein
Voh Dekhnay Mein is one of the songs fans name first when they talk about his voice. It is a soft romantic number that sits close to a ghazal, and his vocals carry the whole track.
It regularly shows up on lists of his best romantic songs, along with Dekha and Dastaan-e-Ishq.
8. Palat Meri Jaan
Palat Meri Jaan is a slower, emotional song about asking a loved one to come back. It is one of the tracks that people discover late and then cannot stop playing.
Like Voh Dekhnay Mein, it features on most fan lists of his romantic songs, and it pairs well with Jhoom on a late-night playlist.
9. Tu Hi Hai (2016)
Tu Hi Hai is Ali Zafar’s song from Dear Zindagi (2016), the Gauri Shinde film with Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan. He also acted in the film as Rumi, a musician Alia’s character dates.
The song is quiet and warm, and it remains his best known Hindi film track for many Indian listeners. For more film music and star news, see our Bollywood section.
What Ali Zafar has released lately
He has kept working steadily since his Bollywood run. In 2025 he released Roshni, a 12-track album that mixes acoustic pop and deep house, on his own label Lightingale.
He has also sung anthems for the Pakistan Super League, including Khul Ke Khel in 2024 and X Dekho in 2025, and done several film songs in Pakistan in 2025 and 2026. In 2024 he performed at a Riyadh Season concert in Saudi Arabia.
In 2026 he was named a judge on the first season of Pakistan’s Got Talent, alongside Mehwish Hayat and Tabish Hashmi. For more lists like this one, browse our listicles.
Frequently asked questions
Which is Ali Zafar’s most famous song?
Channo, from his 2003 debut album Huqa Pani, is his biggest early hit. Jhoom (2011) and Rockstar (2015) are close behind.
Which Bollywood films has Ali Zafar sung and acted in?
He acted in Tere Bin Laden, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, London, Paris, New York, Chashme Baddoor, Total Siyapaa, Kill Dil and Dear Zindagi. He also composed the music for London, Paris, New York and Total Siyapaa.
Which Coke Studio songs did Ali Zafar sing?
His best known Coke Studio Pakistan performances are Channo and Rangeen (season 1), Yar Dadhi Ishq (season 2), and Rockstar and Ae Dil Kisi Ki Yaad Mein (season 8).
Does Ali Zafar have a new album?
Yes. His album Roshni was released in 2025 on his label Lightingale.
Sources: Wikipedia: Ali Zafar, Wikipedia: Ali Zafar discography, Wikipedia: Jhoom (album).
