Asim Azhar has entered a new creative chapter with the release of his first fully independent album, Asim Ali, which dropped on November 23rd. The project marks a turning point in his career, both musically and personally, as the singer chooses to honour his original name and the unwavering love of his mother.
Announced on his birthday through a heartfelt Instagram post, Azhar described Asim Ali as a body of work shaped during his most vulnerable and honest moments. He revealed that many of the songs were never originally intended for release, as he once believed he had to follow a particular sound to stay relevant. This album, he says, represents the truest form of his identity as an artist.
Throughout his announcement, Azhar repeatedly highlighted the central role his mother, Pakistani actress Gull e Rana, has played in his musical journey. He shared that she has always been the first listener of every song he has created. Whether returning home late at night or finishing a recording session, she has consistently been the one he turns to before anyone else.
The singer said that Asim Ali was also first played for her, underscoring the emotional significance behind each track. In a video included with the announcement, she even teases him with affection, noting his equal passion for music and cricket. The interplay offers a rare glimpse into the warmth that has shaped Azhar’s evolution.
Calling the album a “rebirth,” Azhar expressed that this project feels like his first real introduction to listeners. He explained that audiences knew him as Asim Azhar, the pop sensation who rose to fame in the 2010s with hits like Jo Tu Na Mila, Habibi, and his Coke Studio collaboration with Noori. But Asim Ali, he says, finally presents the person behind the artist.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRUdyifjTmQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The release has been met with an enthusiastic response from fans, with the album reportedly breaking pre-save records for a Pakistani project even before launch. Critics have also noted its creative shift, with Dawn describing it as an expression of personal liberation and a love letter to the roots that shaped him.
After years of major-label success, chart-topping singles and international recognition, Azhar now steps into complete artistic ownership. Asim Ali, he says, is a tribute to his beginnings, his identity, and the mother whose support has remained constant through every stage of his life.
