Vasay Chaudhry

Vasay Chaudhry (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 world wide. Chaudhry is also known for hosting the comedy show, Mazaaq Raat, on Dunya News since 2015.[1] His name is sometimes misspelled as Wasay, Wassay, Wesay or Vassay in print and electronic media.

Vasay Chaudhry
Born (1981-11-12) 12 November 1981
Lahore, Pakistan
Alma materNational College of Arts
OccupationActor, writer, humorist, host
Years active2000–present
Spouse(s)Mahera Shah
AwardsSee below

Biography

Chaudhry was born on 12 November 1981 and lives in Lahore. 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.[2] He married Mahera Shah in 2008 and the couple have three daughters together.[3]

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".[4] 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.

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.[5] 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.[6] 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."[6]

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.[7] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[8][9][10]

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.[11] Since then he has occasionally contributed towards writing on Pakistani media and cinema in Pakistan's leading newspapers like Pakistan Today, The Express Tribune[12][13] and The News.

Mantra

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."[14]

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".[6] 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."[15]

Reception

Chaudhry has been praised in the Pakistani press as a writer uniquely in touch and comfortable with Punjabi culture.[16] 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."[17]

Television

Writing

Chaudhry has contributed as a writer in various TV shows:

ShowYearChannelNotes
Jutt and Bond[18]2001Indus TV, Channel GSitcom, 102 Episodes
Motor Chalay Pum Pum[19][20]2001Pakistan Television CorporationSitcom, contributed writing
Yaraana Purana[4]2002Sitcom, contributed writing
Jallywood[21]2004Sitcom, 7 episodes
Rubber Band (TV Series)[22]2005-8ARY DigitalSitcom, 176 Episodes
Urban Desi[21]2006-7Aaj TVSitcom, Co-writing with Ali Kazmi, 65 Episodes
Inspector Khojee[23]2006Pakistan Television CorporationSitcom, 52 Episodes
Yes Sir[23]2009A-Plus Entertainment13 Episodes
Timmy G[24]2010–12ARY DigitalSitcom, 116 Episodes
Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota[3]2011Geo TVEid special long play
Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat[25]2010Geo TVTelenovela 17 Episodes, Chaudhry's First long TV series
Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat[25]2011Geo TVTelenovela 16 Episodes
Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat[25]2012Geo TVTelenovela 19 Episodes
Yeh Shaadi Nahi Ho Sakti[26]2013ARY DigitalTelenovela 27 Episodes
Armaan[27]2013Geo TV, PTVTelefilm
Abhi Toh Mein Jawaan hoon[28]2013Geo TV, PTVTelefilm
Jackson Heights[29]2014–15Urdu 1Telenovela
Bad Times2014A-Plus Entertainment
Hum Awards[30]2013–16Hum TVScript writing and hosting of the show
Dolly ki Aa Gai Baraat[31]2012Geo TVTelefilm
ARY Film Awards2016ARY DigitalScript writing and hosting of the show

Acting
ShowCharacterChannelYearNotes
Cafe Chill[32]Geo TV2004
Tamasha Ghar (Hari Bhari)[33]PTV2005
Rubber Band (TV Series)[34][35]Ali ToorARY Digital2005–2008
Jallywood2004
Inspector Khojee[2]HimselfPTV2006
Urban DesiAAJ TV2006–07
Yaasu Panju Har[36]ARY Digital2009
Na jaane kyun[37]HaiderPTV2010
Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota[38]IfranGeo TV2011
Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat[39]Bobby DGeo TV2012
Timmy G[2]Timmy GARY Digital2009–13
Silvatain[40]MikaalARY Digital2013
Armaan[41][42]DannyPTV & Geo TV2013
Kahani Raima Aur Manahil Ki[43][44]WahajHum TV2014
Pyarey Afzal[45][46]Dr. SibtainARY Digital2014
NazdeekiyanFaiqAry Digital2014
Ishq for Sale[47]ShehenshahHum TV2015
Mann Mayal[48]IftiHum TV2016
Love u jatta Film 2019

Hosting
YearProgramChannelNotes
2005–2006Bekaar Singh Dey NaalChannel G
2013–2015Hum AwardsHUM TV[49][50][51]
2015–presentMazaaq RaatDunya TVReplaced Noman Ijaz
2016Lux Style AwardsGeo TVChaudhry wrote and hosted a segment with Fawad Khan and Ahmad Ali Butt[52]

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
Film Year Role Writer Actor Notes Ref.
Main Hoon Shahid Afridi 2013 – Yes No [57][58]
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2015 Sheikh Yes Yes (Film debut as an actor) [59][60]
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 2018 Yes Yes [61][62]

Theater
Darama Year Role Notes Ref.
Jutt and Bond 2000
Oop Singh 2004–2005
Inspector Khojee[2]

Awards and nominations
Year Category Film/Drama Role Awards Result Ref.
2005 Best Sitcom Drama Writer 1st Indus Drama Awards Nominated
2011 Best Writer Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat writer 10th Lux Style Awards Nominated [63][64]
2013 Best Supporting Actor Armaan actor Tarang Housefull Awards Won [65]
2014 Best Dialogue Writer Award Main Hoon Shahid Afridi writer 1st ARY Film Awards Won [66][67]
2016 Best Dialogue Writer Award Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer 2nd ARY Film Awards Won [68][69]
2016 Best Screenplay Writer Award Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer 2nd ARY Film Awards Won [70]
2016 Best Story Award Jawani Phir Nahi Ani writer 2nd ARY Film Awards Won [70]
2016 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Award Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor 2nd ARY Film Awards Nominated [71]
2016 Best Star Debut Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor 2nd ARY Film Awards Nominated [72]
2016 Best Supporting Actor Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor Lux Style Awards Nominated [73]

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