Atif Aslam says ‘magic’ sets Coke Studio Pakistan apart from Indian version
Singer also weighs in on AI’s role in music, saying it could replicate singing but not personal nature of composition
Life And Style Desk
September 02, 2026
Photo: Atif Aslam /Instagram
Atif Aslam has once again drawn a distinction between
Coke Studio Pakistan and
Coke Studio Bharat, saying the Pakistani version has a certain “
jaadoo” (magic) that its Indian counterpart lacks.
The singer made the comments during a recent interview with
Mirchi UAE, where he discussed the differences between the two versions of the music franchise as well as the possibility of AI one day replacing artists.
Asked what sets
Coke Studio Pakistan apart from
Coke Studio Bharat, he said the compositions on both sides were strong, but argued that the rawness he associated with Pakistani music was missing from the Indian version.
According to Aslam,
Coke Studio Bharat leans more heavily towards commercialism, while the Pakistani show places greater emphasis on original compositions.
He described the process in Pakistan as almost a “do-or-die situation” for the small group of people working on a composition, while still allowing room for “personal flair.”