Vasay Chaudhry


Vasay Chaudhry 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. His name is sometimes misspelled as Wasay, Wassay, Wesay or Vassay in print and electronic media.

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 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 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 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.
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."
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. 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'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. 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. 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.
Chaudhry has been seen in TV commercials from time to time, prominent ones include MCB ad and Zong. Chaudhry wrote in the Herald 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.

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."
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". 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."

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 obnoxious jokes."

Television

Writing

Chaudhry has contributed as a writer in various TV shows:
ShowYearChannelNotes
Jutt and Bond2001Indus TV, Channel GSitcom, 102 Episodes
Motor Chalay Pum Pum2001Pakistan Television CorporationSitcom, contributed writing
Yaraana Purana2002Sitcom, contributed writing
Jallywood2004Sitcom, 7 episodes
Rubber Band 2005-8ARY DigitalSitcom, 176 Episodes
Urban Desi2006-7Aaj TVSitcom, Co-writing with Ali Kazmi, 65 Episodes
Inspector Khojee2006Pakistan Television CorporationSitcom, 52 Episodes
Yes Sir2009A-Plus Entertainment13 Episodes
Timmy G2010–12ARY DigitalSitcom, 116 Episodes
Kash Tu Mera Baap Na Hota2011Geo TVEid special long play
Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat2010Geo TVTelenovela 17 Episodes, Chaudhry's First long TV series
Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat2011Geo TVTelenovela 16 Episodes
Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat2012Geo TVTelenovela 19 Episodes
Yeh Shaadi Nahi Ho Sakti2013ARY DigitalTelenovela 27 Episodes
Armaan2013Geo TV, PTVTelefilm
Abhi Toh Mein Jawaan hoon2013Geo TV, PTVTelefilm
Jackson Heights2014–15Urdu 1Telenovela
Bad Times2014A-Plus Entertainment
Hum Awards2013–16Hum TVScript writing and hosting of the show
Dolly ki Aa Gai Baraat2012Geo TVTelefilm
ARY Film Awards2016ARY DigitalScript writing and hosting of the show

Acting

Hosting

Direction

Production

Guest appearances

FilmYearRoleWriterActorNotes-
Main Hoon Shahid Afridi2013–
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani2015Sheikh
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 22018Sheikh-

Theater

DaramaYearRoleNotes
Jutt and Bond2000
Oop Singh2004–2005
Inspector Khojee-

Awards and nominations

YearCategoryFilm/DramaRoleAwardsResultRef.
2005Best Sitcom Drama Writer1st Indus Drama Awards
2011Best WriterDolly Ki Ayegi Baraatwriter10th Lux Style Awards
2013Best Supporting ActorArmaanactorTarang Housefull Awards
2014Best Dialogue Writer AwardMain Hoon Shahid Afridiwriter1st ARY Film Awards
2016Best Dialogue Writer AwardJawani Phir Nahi Aniwriter2nd ARY Film Awards
2016Best Screenplay Writer AwardJawani Phir Nahi Aniwriter2nd ARY Film Awards
2016Best Story AwardJawani Phir Nahi Aniwriter2nd ARY Film Awards
2016Best Actor in a Supporting Role AwardJawani Phir Nahi Aniactor2nd ARY Film Awards
2016Best Star DebutJawani Phir Nahi Aniactor2nd ARY Film Awards
2016Best Supporting ActorJawani Phir Nahi AniactorLux Style Awards