His fame gradually spread from upper class salons, and with some prompting from an orthopedic surgeon, Mr. Saleem soon found himself as South Asia’s first cross-dressing television host.
Since then, the happy widow hasn’t stopped winking.
How Pakistan is Reacting
An Islamic society warming up to a transvestite? This has never happened before. A cross-dressing star would have been unthinkable, even suicidal, few years back. But the fascinated nation has responded warmly to the irrepressible queen who describes her role as “an expression of me as a woman.” The widow is “a socialite, very sweet yet bitchy.”
His stardom skyrocketed after got off after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf liberated the broadcasting media in 2003. The numerous infotainment channels that followed after that exuded fresh air in a straight-laced society. Entertainment-starved viewers lapped up anything and everything – including Begum Nawazish Ali. Although his popularity hints at a certain churning in Pakistan, it would be unwise to read too much into the phenomenon. Only 35 percent of the nation receives cable and satellite television. Outside the cities, satellite reach is barely 27 percent.
People’s Queen?
Meanwhile the TV hostess has started taking herself a bit too seriously. She interprets her saucy chat show as a medium “to inspire and educate people to do some good in society.” Her mission is nothing less than assisting thousands of seemingly macho man of Pakistan to open their closets and experiment with their feminine selves.
Despite these noble intentions, not everyone is happy. The country’s military leadership is thought to be upset with the attention she commands. There is also an online campaign raging against this madam who many believe symbolizes opposition to the “very values that this society holds dear.” Concerned that “what is vice today may be virtue tomorrow”, petitioners have informed her television channel that “Begum Nawazish Ali must pack ‘its’ bag.”
The lady refuses to be moved. ”It’s very easy for ten people to sit in a drawing room and criticize others,” she says. “We are too jealous of anybody who is even slightly better than ourselves.” Bitchy, bitchy.
Sources:
Aaj TV - Late Night Show With Begum Nawazish Ali
Interview: A Fictitious Diva
San Francisco Chronicle - Pakistan's Late-Night, Cross Dressing TV Star
Interview: Ali Saleem - 'I Get to Have the Best of Both Worlds
Wikipedia - Begum Nawazish Ali
Pakistan Private TV Channels
Article comments
1 - Roger Choate
Fascinating story, Mayank. It's eye-opening to read about a cross-dresser TV star in an Islamic nation. One doesn't immediate make those kind of associations, but maybe that's because the Western mind cannot always grasps the dynamics of cultures like Pakistan...?
2 - K Khan
No one should be suprised by this. We have lot of talent artist in our country. This is the other side of Pakistan you never hear in your anti-Islamic obsessed TV/electronic media . Only thing they show is bearded man ready to kill american. Let me just remind you that our people are as normal you folks are. We watch all sort of shows from all over the world in our cable TV. I grew up watching Bonanz and star trek. Thanks for publishing this article.
3 - L. Khan
He/She isn't the "sister" you might think "she" is... not after "she" impregnated a girl and became a bastard-daddy. LOL
It is all an act to get popular. Welcome to the fascinating world of Pakistani TV.
4 - Tehman Lall
Good article Mayank. And good you're showing this liberal side of Pakistan aswell. For the concerned, I might add that there is an increasing portion of homosexuals atleast in the major cities of Pakistan. And these exist in almost all segments of the society. Some have access to a comparatively liberal and accepting social outlet, where others live in constant denial and criticism.
Let me also say that where there are some who object to homosexuality 'exhibitionism', there are others across the society who take all services and 'sundry' from eunichs.
Perhaps an interview titled 'Life of a Eunich in Pakistan'...??
5 - shahzee
want to have a social contact with ali saleem
6 - shahzee
If any one has a personal contact number of ali saleem . Actually i want to share some ideas with him. I am also like him. i ama male age 23, my real name is something else.Actually i want to do modeling just like ali saleem. I also want to make a platform for many people who are like ali saleem and me. I will make a platform so that boys can dress up like begum nawazish ali and i will be there too as well. And we will make money outta it. If any one is intersted with this idea please contact me, lets make good use of ourself.