Ali Saleem

Ali Saleem is a Pakistani television host, actor, scriptwriter, and impressionist. He is widely recognized for his alter-ego, Begum Nawazish Ali, which has become his primary persona. Throughout his career, he has appeared on various networks including Aaj TV, Dawn News, and Geo TV.

Early life and education

Saleem was born in Islamabad to a father who served as a colonel in the Pakistan Army. His mother previously held a position as a government official. From a young age, he expressed a desire to be a woman. During his teenage years, he performed a play for Yasmeen Ismail at the Arts Council. He wore a burqa and delivered a monologue that revealed his inner identity to the audience. People often approached him in disbelief because he could impersonate a woman much older than himself. Saleem believes this early exposure to an older audience caused him to mature quickly.

He received his early education at Cadet College Hasan Abdal. Later, he attended Froebel's International School to complete his A-Levels.

Career

His breakthrough in the entertainment industry began with impressions of Benazir Bhutto. He imitated the former Prime Minister through her specific mannerisms and clothing styles. These performances became so popular that Bhutto herself requested he impersonate her during Zohaib Hassan's dholki. Although Nazia Hassan warned him against imitating the leader, the performance resulted in laughter and appreciation from the Prime Minister. Following this success, Saleem moved to Karachi due to his parents' divorce. There, he met political satire writer Imran Aslam, who encouraged him to bring his talents to television.

Saleem made his television debut on the show Hum Sub Umeed Se Hain. This program featured various people impersonating election candidates during a period of political humor. Through this act, he earned the nicknames BB or Bibi. He eventually realized that simple impressions were not enough to sustain a long-term career. His friend, an orthopedic surgeon named Omar Adil, suggested he develop a cross-dressed character to host a talk show. This suggestion led to the creation of Begum Nawazish Ali in 2005.

The character of Begum Nawazish Ali wears a sari and interviews influential guests. Saleem uses the persona to ask provocative questions to business tycoons, religious leaders, and actors. The name for the character was inspired by a neighbor of Dr. Adil who was the wife of a colonel. This persona allowed Saleem to explore taboo topics like sex that are usually off-limits in Pakistan. Because he performed as a woman, he often avoided the direct backlash that other presenters faced. However, his critical stance toward the military-backed government led former President Pervez Musharraf to oppose the show. This opposition caused a temporary closure of the program.

Saleem later took the show across the border to India. He filmed 26 episodes of a follow-up series titled Begum on the channel 9X. In 2016, he joined Dawn News for The Late, Late Show with Ali Saleem. Unlike his previous work, he hosted this program as himself. His first episode featured guests such as Mehwish Hayat and Humayun Saeed. The show concluded its run after nineteen episodes on 5 June 2016.

His film career includes a role in the 2011 movie Love Mein Ghum. He also made a cameo appearance in the 2019 film Baaji using his Begum Nawazish Ali character. In March 2023, reports surfaced that a biopic about his life is currently in development. Indian actress Mallika Sherawat is reportedly being considered for the lead role.

Personal life

Saleem identifies as a bisexual man. He has used various labels to describe himself, including gay, Khusra, and transgender. In 2011, he faced legal difficulties involving his mother, Farzana Saleem. According to reports, she contacted the police in Islamabad alleging that he had tortured her. She was hospitalized with a broken nose and other injuries during the incident. Saleem informed media personnel that the conflict stemmed from a dispute regarding family property.