Waqar Zaka is a famous Pakistani television host and cryptocurrency trader. He is best known for hosting the reality television game show “Living on the Edge” (2004).
Wiki/Biography
Waqar was born on Thursday, July 17, 1993 (45 years old; as of 2023), date of birth verified by Waqar Zaka in a chat with StarsUnfolded. He was born in Tehran, Iran. His zodiac sign is Cancer. He completed his education from BVS Parsi High School. Later, he joined Adamjee Government Science College, Karachi to complete his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and then joined NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi to complete his pre-engineering course. He studied at the New York Film Academy in the United States and received a Master of Arts (MFA) in Filmmaking.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′11″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family, caste and wife
Waqar was born into a Sunni Muslim family. His father, Father Zakhar-ud-Din, worked for the United Nations. Waqar’s father is basically from Jaipur, India. His mother’s name is Samia Asim. Waqar has three sisters. As in 2019, Waqar is not married yet.
Waqar Xhaka and his father
Waqar Xhaka and his mother
Waqar Zaka with his parents and sister
Profession
as a singer and actor
At the age of 15, he composed the song “Nahi Parha Mein Ne Poora Saal”, which became an instant hit. He appeared in the Pakistani TV movie Phuppi Ka Ladka Ya Khala Ka Ladka (2011). He plays the role of Samir in the show.
As a VJ and presenter
After completing a filmmaking course in New York, he started his career as a presenter and television presenter for Pakistani television channel ARY Digital. He is the host of a television program based on live calls and discussions. In 2004, he proposed the idea of producing a dare game show to the producers of ARY Digital, but was initially rejected. Zaka recorded some adventurous videos and aired them on the ARY channel. His idea was appreciated by the audience and he subsequently launched the TV game reality show “Living on the Edge”. The show became an instant sensation after it aired on ARY Music.
Waqar Zaka Living on the edge
In 2006, he launched another TV show, “XPOSED”, which was based on exposing underground activities and undercover criminal activities in Pakistan. Although the show was short-lived, it left a huge impact on Pakistani media.
Waqar Zaka in XPOSED
Xhaka said in an interview,
I bring new ideas to the industry. From Living on the Edge to Xpose, my shows have since been copied by local and international media. This is not what I said and Hindustan Times admitted it. “
In 2006, he was promoted to Vice President of ARY Digital. He launched his reality TV show “Desi Kurriyan” in 2017. The show is conceptualized by Obaid Khan and Jerjess Seja. The show became a huge hit as its concept focused on the urban lifestyle of Pakistani women. Later he said in an interview,
I didn’t want to play Desi Kuriyan, it hurt my image a lot. People will accuse me of promoting values that go against our culture through my show. They were even upset that I was the only male presenter among the 12 contestants. “
Waqar Zaka by Desi Kurriyan
In 2008, he appeared on ARY Digital’s morning LIVE show, in which Zhaka often challenged those who claimed to have supernatural powers and bring forth elves or ghosts. In 2014, he launched another television show called “King of Street Magic.” The show provides a platform for aspiring conspiracy theorists, magicians, and paranormal investigators. The show was later banned by the Pakistani government for pandering to sensitive and controversial content.
Waqar Zaka in “King of Street Magic”
In 2015, he appeared in the show “Line Pe Ajao” during the ICC Cricket World Cup. He said in an interview,
When all the TV channels were focused on the game, I would be in the crowd talking to them and capturing their revenge against the opposing team. Imagine what it would be like to be in the stands of a Pakistan vs India cricket match and having the match live streamed to mobile users. “
In 2019, he hosted the teen reality TV show “Champions”, which aired on BOL Entertainment.
as a politician
In 2013, he contested for the Pakistan National Assembly seat in Karachi’s NA-253 constituency in the Pakistani general election. He received only 31 votes out of 211,768 total votes cast. In April 2019, he announced the launch of a political movement in Pakistan called “Tehreek-e-Tech” aimed at repaying Pakistan’s debt. In an interview with Samaa TV program “Naya Din”, he said,
Since I am an engineering graduate from NED University, I started realizing that technology is the only way to repay Pakistan’s debt,” he told SAMAA TV’s morning show Naya Din.
as a philanthropist
Waqar is one of Pakistan’s most popular philanthropists. He has long been committed to the welfare of Muslim communities around the world. He helps the Rohingya people (an Islamic Indo-Aryan ethnic group mainly living in Rakhine State, Myanmar) living in Sittwe, Myanmar. The community has long faced discrimination and brutal treatment by some extremist groups in Myanmar. So, Zhaka went there and helped them with the help of the Pakistani government. He goes where major NGOs fail to reach. He made a documentary about the people who lived there and uploaded it to Facebook under the slogan “NAIKEE KAR, FACEBOOK PAR DAAL.”
Waqar Zaka and children in Myanmar
He also visited Muslims under attack in Syria. He helps families living in Syria’s war-torn city of Aleppo relocate to Türkiye and provides them with appropriate accommodation. The main aim of his foundation ‘Waqar Zaka Foundation’ is to personally reach out to the needy and help them with the donations they collect.
Waqar Zaka’s charity work for Syria
He launched the #BhaiJaan campaign to help victims of cyber crime, acid attacks and sexual harassment.
Waqar Xhaka’s campaign
As a social media influencer
In 2010, he proposed the concept of “selfie video” in Pakistan. He uploads travel vlogs on his Facebook account. He inspires people to work for the welfare of needy people across the globe. He became the first Pakistani to produce content for Korean app “LINE” and Chinese app “Zapya”. Of this achievement, he said:
Thank Allah after becoming the first Pakistani to produce content for Korean app LINE. The first Pakistani showbiz celebrity to be hired by a Chinese company to create content on social media. Appear at Zapya Headquarters. Download Kuai Ya and I will start many contests for all of you. “
In 2016, he became one of the most famous Pakistani celebrities on Snapchat. He uploads snaps on Snapchat related to sexual awareness, Islamic concepts and other infotainment topics.
Stills from Waqar live video
as an entrepreneur
He was associated with the cryptocurrencies Onecoin and Bitconnect in 2017 but was defrauded by the company. Therefore, he decided to launch his own coin called “Ouicoin”. He did a private crowdfunding through his Snapchat account. In 2018, he founded “TenUp Nation”, a company based on blockchain technology, aiming to use profits to benefit the people.
Waqar Zaka and his TenUp Nation team
dispute
- In 2017, Zhaka made headlines for molesting a girl in Karachi. Later, a local man “Junaid” (the girl’s boyfriend) got into an argument with Zhaka. The matter was later mediated between the parties. Waqar told StarsUnfolded that Junaid was a drug dealer and the gang beat him up when he exposed them on ARY MUSIK’s show ‘XPOSED’.
- In 2018, he was arrested by Karachi police for hiding alcohol in his car. Waqar denied the claims, saying:
I had no idea what was going on or what was on the news. What did I do? What substances did I take? Word got around that non-local alcohol was found in my car. Please read the FIR filed with the police. If you can’t read, find someone who can. “If you have shisha in your home or in your car – whether you use it or not – you will be detained by the police. Because I had shisha in my car, so I didn’t even use it, the police detained me and told me I would be submitted FIR.” The court later found that no alcohol or hookah was found in the car and dismissed the case.
- In 2019, Waqar was once again in the news for his Facebook posts. He posted,
Allah, please forgive me for posting something that destroys the minds of young people; I feel very sad about the harshness in Living on the Edge. I hope all contestants who faced my wrath will also forgive me. Allah, please help me create content that will actually help those in need. ”
Awards
1997: Wins the BBC Asia Award and becomes Pakistan’s youngest pop duo
2015: British Pakistan Achievement Award for using social media to help people in war zones
2017: Shaheen Gold Medal by Nazriya Pakistan Committee for social and humanitarian work in war-torn areas of Syria and Myanmar (presented by Abdul Qadeer Khan)
Waqar Xhaka wins award for his charity work
Favorites
Singer: Honey Singh and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Rock band: Noori
Food: Seafood and Biryani
Song: Raat Jagey by Noori
Adventure Sports: Skydiving and Scuba Diving
Punchline: Expect the unexpected!
Facts/Trivia
- Waqar revealed in an interview that when he was in his final year of graduation, he saw an advertisement for ARY Digital’s VJ hunt. He went to audition but wasn’t allowed in the door. He then gave 200 PKR (Pakistani Rupees) to the caretaker. The caretaker then allowed him through the gate, but based on his appearance, Xhaka was rejected at the audition.
- It is understood that the format of the TV game reality show “Living on the Edge” is copied from the Indian TV game reality show MTV Roadies. But according to Waqar, it was originally his idea. He said the producers of MTV Roadies sent him an email giving them permission to copy the format of his show.
- He revealed in an interview that he was the original choice to host “Jeeto Pakistan” (2014), a show similar to Aamir Liaquat’s “Inaam Ghar” (2014). Zhaka said,
I can’t copy Aamir Liaquat, it’s not my style. “
- Xhaka was rumored to be dating Sanam Cheng (Pakistani actress) and he said:
This is the worst gossip I have ever heard. I have never even met Sanam and social media is creating these baseless rumors. I’m single and not dating anyone. It’s important for me to clarify this because ‘her respect is being destroyed’. “
- He has participated in various events such as Tomorrow Land and Ultra Music Festival; because he is an EDM (electronic dance music) lover.
Waqar Zaka at an event for Tomorrowland
- He owns a 4×4 AWD SUV car.
Waqar Xhaka and his car
- He is often seen smoking hookah.
Waqar Zaka Smoking Hukka
- His friends and fans call him “Wak Zak.”
- His hobbies include traveling and hanging out with friends.
Waqar Xhaka and friends
- He is an avid animal lover.
Waqar Zaka and goat
- He is a big fan of popular Indian rapper and singer Honey Singh.
Waqar Zaka and Honey Singh
- His anti-India sentiment posts on his social media accounts often face backlash from many; especially from India.
Waqar Zaka on Instagram
- Waqar Zaka said he owns residential properties in Damc Hills, Dubai, Los Angeles and Islamabad.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education