Face-Off/Aqeel Ali

Quite the International Khiladi. But why do NRIs like him so much?

quot;Maybe they like my music.quot; And he has fairly eclectic tastes. From techno to Hindi film bhangra, it is all music to his ears.

So which are the most happening parties he has been to?

quot;I have deejayed at two parties in Dubai which have been really great. Dubai is a great place to party.quot;

Fine, but since most of us are not that lucky, ie travel abroadjust to a party, where should we go?

quot;Discos have become really stale in this city. House parties are the best.quot;

And what makes a party happen?

Check out the Aqeel formula: quot;You need three things: good ambience, good music and the right crowd.quot; How simple.

But is It8217;s Happening going do more than parties?

quot;We will be doing children parties and fashion shows too.quot; His business partner Sandeep Motiani8217;s wife, Tina, knows how to choreograph shows, so between the three of them they can make any event happen!

What does he think of theme parties?

quot;I like them but cannot figure out why they do not work here. I wish people had more theme parties.quot; And he hopes his company will make that happen, particularly for children.

But isn8217;t he launching his company at an odd time 8212; now is a particularly dull time for events.

quot;The main season is from October. So if we launch now, by that time everyone would have heard of us.quot; Sounds like this 26-year-old has his businessstrategy in order.

And is he much of a party person?

Aqeel is a complete night owl. He likes to go out every night. quot;I enjoy bowling and snooker as well as partying.quot; You can catch him at the Cyclone playing a frame of pool. quot;I do not normally sleep till 3.00 am!quot;

But when he first got engaged wasn8217;t there talk of this night bird and his fiance getting into TV production?

That8217;s still on the cards. Farah and he have their own TV production company Amazing Video, so this Khan son-in-law will be in the entertainment business in every which way. Their first show: a celebrity-based programme for Doordarshan. The bonus: He enjoys working with Farah.

In fact, didn8217;t he meet Farah through work?

quot;I first met Farah when I was deejaying at a party in Breach Candy.quot; Then they kept bumping into each other and eventually began to date. quot;And two years later we got married.quot;

So is Farah involved in his latest project?

The two of them cannot be separated 8212; Farah will behandling the publicity for It8217;s Happening.

Hmmm8230; would he like to own his own night club some day?

Surely. Aqeel would like to manage his own place and says there is something in the offing. But no more on the subject.

What is life like being a deejay 8212; a job that means keeping people awake when they should be sleeping?

This party animal does not like having a set routine. quot;Besides you earn more money working at parties.quot; And he counters the side effects of late nights by working out. Not on the gym though. quot;I prefer to work up a sweat on the dance floor.quot;