"A mob was gathering outside."
Pakistani singer and actor Farhan Saeed recently talked about how he narrowly escaped a mob attack in India years ago.
Appearing on the comedy talk show Hasna Mana Hai, Farhan opened up about the incident that occurred during his musical tour as part of the ‘Aman Ki Asha’ initiative.
He said: “I went to India with my musical band during the Aman Ki Asha initiative.
“We were performing in Delhi, and while singing ‘Aadat’, I suddenly began singing Pakistan’s famous national song ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’.
“After that, I added ‘Jaan Jaan Hindustan’ and the concert turned into a huge hit.
“Around 25 to 30,000 people in the crowd started singing ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ and ‘Jaan Jaan Hindustan’ together.”
Farhan described the atmosphere as charged with excitement, saying the audience’s energy was overwhelming and the organisers were delighted with the performance.
However, two days later, during their next concert in Kolkata, the situation took a tense and unexpected turn.
He recalled: “Two days later, we had a concert in Kolkata. Just as we were finishing our last song, one of the organisers quietly came to us and whispered in our ears to immediately get into the car after the performance.
“We didn’t even get a chance to understand what was happening.
“As soon as we got into the car, we were told that a mob was gathering outside.
“They were angry over me singing ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ in Delhi.”
The singer said he and his team left the venue immediately, escaping what could have been a dangerous confrontation.
Farhan added that although the experience was frightening, it remains one of the most unforgettable moments of his musical career.
Reflecting on his journey with Jal the Band, Farhan shared that the group’s split was a natural evolution rather than a fallout.
He said: “When I joined the band, I was just 19 years old. During our first tour to America, I wasn’t even allowed to perform at some places because I wasn’t 21 yet.
“I was with Jal for ten years – from 19 to 29 – but as you grow as an individual, your priorities change.”
He explained that during his years with the band, he avoided acting projects to focus entirely on music.
However, after leaving, he explored new opportunities that worked out well.
Farhan continued: “Whenever a band splits up in Pakistan, people make a big deal out of it because we’re emotional people.
“Even Strings parted ways after 32 years, and after so long, you can’t really say a band has ‘broken up’; they just begin to work individually. It’s not like a marriage.
“Even a marriage can end, so when people separate professionally, it’s just part of life.”
The singer emphasised that there are currently no plans for Jal the Band to reunite.
However, he did not completely rule out the possibility in the future.
Farhan Saeed’s account offers a glimpse into the complexities of being an artist representing Pakistan in India.
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