Vasay Chaudhry

Vasay Chaudhry (Punjabi, ; 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 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 worldwide. Chaudhry is also known for hosting the comedy show, Mazaaq Raat, on Dunya News from 2015 to 2023.

Early life and education Chaudhry was born on 12 November 1981 and lives in Lahore.

His paternal grandfather, Chaudhary Eid Muhammad, worked in the world of movies before Partition, establishing Lahore's famed Ratan Cinema in 1945, cinema which would later be owned by Chaudhry's father. Because of Partition, Chaudhary Eid Muhammad had to move to Lahore from Ambala, where he ran cinemas as he did in Dehradun as well while he used to do bookings of the shows as far as Delhi. Chaudhary Eid Muhammad's son-in-law Afzal was the brother of famed villain actor Aslam Pervaiz.

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.

He married Mahera Shah in 2008 and the couple have three daughters together.

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". 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 in 1999.

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. 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. 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." 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.

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

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."

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".

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

Television

Writing Chaudhry has contributed as a writer in various TV shows:

Year Show Channel Notes 2001 Jutt and Bond Indus TV, Channel G Sitcom, 102 Episodes 2001 Motor Chalay Pum Pum Pakistan Television Corporation Sitcom, contributed writing 2002 Yaraana Purana Sitcom, 7 episodes 2005–8 Rubber Band (TV Series) ARY Digital Sitcom, 176 Episodes 2006–7 Urban Desi Pakistan Television Corporation Sitcom, 52 Episodes 2009 Yes Sir Geo TV Telenovela 17 Episodes, Chaudhry's First long TV series 2011 Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat Geo TV, PTV Telefilm 2013 Abhi Tou Main Jawan Hoon Geo TV, PTV Telefilm 2014–15 Jackson Heights Urdu 1 Telenovela 2014 Bad Times A-Plus Entertainment 2013–16 Hum Awards Hum TV Script writing and hosting of the show 2012 Dolly ki Aa Gai Baraat Geo TV Telefilm 2016 ARY Film Awards ARY Digital Script writing and hosting of the show

Acting Year Show Character Channel Notes 2004 Cafe Chill Geo TV 2005 Tamasha Ghar (Hari Bhari) PTV 2005–2008 Rubber Band (TV Series) Ali Toor ARY Digital 2004 Jallywood 2006 Inspector Khojee ARY Digital 2010 Na jaane kyun Haider PTV 2011 Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota Ifran Geo TV 2012 Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat Bobby D Geo TV 2009–13 Timmy G Mikaal ARY Digital 2013 Armaan Danny PTV & Geo TV 2014 Kahani Raima Aur Manahil Ki Wahaj Hum TV 2014 Pyarey Afzal Dr. Sibtain ARY Digital 2014 Nazdeekiyan Faiq Ary Digital 2015 Ishq for Sale Shehenshah Hum TV 2016 Mann Mayal Ifti Hum TV 2019 Love u Jatta Film 2021 Absolutely Knot Haseen Khalid Telefilm

Hosting

Direction Year Program Channel 2004 Jallywood

Production Year Program Channel 2009 Yes Sir Adaptation of the British showYes Prime Minister

Guest appearances 2011: The Morning Show with Huma Amir Shah as himself 2014: Mehman Qadardan as himself 2014: Cocktail Dawn News as himself 2014: Mazaaq Raat as himself 2015: Tonite with HSY as himself 2015: Good Morning Pakistan (Team Jawani Phir Nahi Ani-Eid Special) as himself 2015: Jeeto Pakistan (Team Jawani Phir Nahi Ani Special) as himself 2016: Salam Zindagi with Faysal Qureshi as himself 2016: Star Iftar with Sarmad Khoosat as himself 2020: Say it all with iffat omer

Filmography +KeyDenotes films that are currently in cinemasDenotes films that have not yet been released Year Film Role Writer Actor Notes 2013 Main Hoon Shahid Afridi – 2015 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani Sheikh Film debut as an actor 2018 Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 2022 London Nahi Jaunga Harry 2025 Guest Appearance

Theater