After an eleven-year break, Pakistan Idol is making a comeback with a new panel of judges: music legend Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, former Strings member Bilal Maqsood, vocalist Zeb Bangash, and actor Fawad Khan.
An adaptation of the British musical talent show Pop Idol, Pakistan Idol first aired in 2014 on Geo TV, drawing thousands of participants and viewers from across the country. The original judging panel included Junoon’s Ali Azmat, actor Bushra Ansari, and singer Hadiqa Kiani. Lahore’s Zamad Baig won the season.
The show jumpstarted several music careers. “It advertises you,” said Waqas Ali Vicky, a contestant from Season One, in an interview with The Express Tribune’s Lifestyle desk. “You get musically groomed when you join the show.”
Rose Marie, one of the finalists, praised the platform: “Every artist wants a boost in their career, and Pakistan Idol gives them a stage where the entire country can watch and appreciate them. The scale of it in Pakistan was amazing, and the management was great too.”
The show encouraged young artists to experiment with musical genres. “All of us boys came into Pakistan Idol as raw talent,” Vicky explained. “We learned how to dress, how to carry ourselves. People were there to guide us, and we all focused solely on music. Everyone had different styles, so we learned from each other.”
