He parties with Shahrukh Khan and works out with Salman; Amitabh Bachchan is a fan of his music and Ranveer Singh and Parineeti Chopra refer to him as their buddy. Ali Zafar has proven to all those who cry foul at the treatment of local actors in Bollywood that a Pakistani can make it to the A-list. From his debut in the experimental and critically acclaimed Tere Bin Laden to his upcoming big banner extravaganza Kill Dil, Ali’s career graph has been steadily rising and the boy from Lahore has firmly cemented his position as one of Bollywood’s promising young actors.

How does he make it look so easy and effortless while most aspirants to the B-town label from Pakistan (with the obvious exception of Fawad Khan) have struggled to land decent roles?

"I’ve always been very careful about how I conduct myself and make sure that I give everyone I am working with a lovely experience of being around a Pakistani," remarks Ali as we settle down for a conversation in the living room of his Lahore residence. I have had ample time to observe my surroundings as I waited for Ali to arrive (in Lahore for only a short period in between a whirlwind promotional campaign for Kill Dil, the actor understandably had a host of other engagements to attend to) and am surprised by how ‘normal’ they were; devoid of any of the trappings one would expect from a celebrity home.

No expansive halls, fancy chandeliers or enormous self-portraits – the cozy and tasteful space has the lived-in feel of a happy family home. Lots and lots of cookbooks fill the bookshelves, kiddie toys lay strewn on the floor while the walls are dotted with some interesting artwork here and there. The only giveaway that the occupant of the house might be less than ordinary is a shelf along one unobtrusive wall that is packed with awards and trophies.

Ali’s 4-year-old son does a fine job of keeping me entertained (he’s making purple cotton candy with a playmate and is proudly showing off his creations) until his father walks in, and its easy to see where the house gets its unpretentious air – Ali may be a celebrity but I can still see hints of the sweet and popular boy I went to school with lurking beneath the surface. He didn’t know me back then, being a class or two junior, but he was the sort of kid everyone in school knew of, whether they were his classmates, teachers or those much senior. Some people are born to be stars and Ali clearly is one of those.

As Ali talks about creating a good impression in India, I bring up the question of competition- Fawad Khan to be precise. Does Fawad’s phenomenal rise post Khoobsurat make him feel threatened?  Ali laughs good-naturedly in response.

"I would be extremely selfish if I felt threatened by Fawad. I think he’s extremely talented and I supported him and his film whole-heartedly on social media. My way of thinking is collective, not individual. The more people from Pakistan work in India, the better it is for me and for everyone in the long run."

I press him some more: where it took Ali five years to make his mark in India, Fawad managed to do it with one movie – surely that’s enough to give anyone sleepless nights?

"You’re right, Fawad did get the ideal launch," Ali agrees. "When I started out five years ago, no one would have thought it possible that a guy from Pakistan could land a lead role in such a commercial, big-budget film. And while I would never be so presumptuous as to take credit for his success, I do believe that I created a precedent with my behaviour and by setting the right example. It was a chain reaction – people enjoyed working with one Pakistani and they thought hey, this isn’t bad at all, we can do this again."

While it’s true that male actors and musicians from Pakistan have done relatively well in India, whether it’s Ali, Fawad, Atif Aslam or Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, female actors who’ve crossed the border have failed to achieve the same degree of success. Meera is known to be the butt of jokes at high profile parties in Bollywood and even Humaima Malick, who impressed in Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol, was reduced to a two-bit role in her Bollywood debut. What’s the X factor that’s eluding the girls? As someone who’s navigated the tricky waters of stardom in Bollywood, I ask for Ali’s opinion.

"I think it boils down to how you carry yourself," he says thoughtfully. "Each word that a person speaks, each sentence they craft and every project that they choose is a reflection of who they are and ultimately, it colours the world’s perception of them. I’ve been very careful about how I portray myself onscreen. For example, it’s specifically written in my contract that I won’t kiss onscreen. It’s just something I won’t be comfortable with."

Yet there was that steamy scene with Aditi Rao in London, Paris, New York which, while it may not have involved actual lip-locking, was bold enough to raise eyebrows back home. The film did reasonably well, Ali’s performance got good reviews and nowhere was he vilified the way Meera or Humaima have been for similar portrayals.

He concedes to the double standards. "Women in cinema, especially in Bollywood, have a much tougher time of it. Good or bad, the roles reserved for them are all about glamour. Newcomers really don’t have the standing to refuse roles that objectify them, as there are experienced actresses ready to fill their shoes the minute they say no. I honestly believe we need to stop being so judgmental and dismissive of our female counterparts. Give them a chance; they are just doing their job at the end of the day."

It would be easy to mistake Ali’s confidence and magnanimity for conceit if you were to hear him talk but face-to-face, his earnestness is apparent. This isn’t someone who likes to spout clichés about being an ambassador for his nation or working for the collective good – this is a person who actually believes in these ideals. As if to prove this point, Ali shares details of one of his pet ongoing projects.

"I’m constructing a state-of-the-art studio in Lahore to produce music. I’m working with a very well-known international company and together we are making a serious investment in Pakistan. I feel that I’m at a stage in my career where I have the power to bring about positive change and I am very keen to do so."

For someone who is so invested in the future of the arts in Pakistan, I ask him why he hasn’t shown any interest in working in Lollywood. What better time than now, with films like Waar and Na Maloom Afraad spelling good times ahead for the local cinema?

"I would love to be a part of this new-age cinema but I have to do it on my own terms," he explains. "Nothing appealing has come my way in the last five years. I was offered the lead in O21 but I wasn’t sure about the concept then and I declined. I’m working on two of my own pays to scripts at the moment. Both are going to be pure entertainment – that’s what the cinema-going public watch."

Fresh off the high of working on the biggest commercial project of his career, how will Ali reconcile to the anti-climax of returning to Lollywood? Kill Dil, backed by one of the most coveted production houses in India, Yash Raj Films, has allowed Ali not only the chance to break away from his chocolate boy image but also given him his first real taste of what the glitz and glamour of a big banner project feels like.

"That’s mainly the reason I haven’t signed another project yet; whatever I do now has to be bigger and better than Kill Dil. In a way, I feel this is what makes it the perfect time to focus on my own projects in my own country. Right now, I have the standing in the industry to bring in my own vision and the know-how to create a good product. I know it’s going to be a difficult task, especially for a perfectionist like me, given the lack of infrastructure here. But I am willing to take on the challenge for my country."

Will a return to Pakistan also mark a return to music? Ali’s gone on record to wax lyrical about his passion for singing and his spiritual connection to music, yet it’s been years since we’ve heard a new tune out of him.

"Four years to be exact," he agrees. "Yes, music has been ignored for too long and I am itching to get back into the studio. But I want to come up with a unique concept and not do something commercial or something that’s currently in fashion. I’ve been known for my happy-go-lucky and dancey tunes, but Coke Studio showed the world a different side of Ali Zafar. I want to continue in that vein," he declares.

For someone who’s found his niche in the glitzy world of Bollywood so effortlessly, we have no doubt that Ali will get his groove back in the studio with equal ease. If the tracks he’s sung on the OST of Kill Dil are anything to go by, the Channo boy hasn’t lost his magic touch. He’s just grown up, immensely.