J&K is brimming with talent. Ishfaq-ul-Hassan gets you four of the stars
Ruman Hamdani
Forget reel life Farhan Qureshi’s character played by R Madhavan in 3 idiots, meet its real life Kashmiri incarnation Ruman Hamdani who started as an engineer and ended up as a filmmaker of an international repute. Hamdani, 27, became the first Kashmiri filmmaker whose Kashmiri musical tribute video featured in the official anthem of Game of Thrones (GOT). “My family wanted me to be a civil engineer. I was interested in films. Last year, we thought of paying tribute to GOT. Some days ago, I got a call from HBO seeking permission to use it in the official fan anthem,” he told DNA.
Iqra Ahmad
From a linguist to a fashion designer, Iqra Ahmad, 27, has redefined the fashion scene of Kashmir by starting one of its first Kashmiri label ‘Palav’ (clothes). Coming from a family of lawyers, Ahmad quit an internship with the Red Cross to start her own label online. Three years on, she is now starting her first store in Srinagar after a roaring online success of Palav. “I wanted to become a fashion designer but there was no scope for it. I completed my masters in Linguistics and decided to start Palav,” she said. Today, she employees six people and is getting orders from all over the world.
Also Read: To the Valley, with love
Junaid Bhat
When 31-year-old Junaid Ullah Bhat completed his MBA, he decided not to apply for a job but join his family business. Life, however, had other things in store as he had to leave the industrial plant of his grandfather because of family problems. Bhat, however, did not give up and decided to set up his own unit. He sought help from his father. “I took Rs 45 lakh from my father and put some more money to start a food processing plant. It did well and last year, I made my unit fully automatic. I am now starting my second unit in Chandigarh. I plan to diversify,” he said.
Rafia Rahim
Rafia Rahim, aka RJ Rafia, has become a household name in Kashmir and outside for her broadcasting skills. Rafia has a humble background with her father working as a carpenter in the Charar-e-Sharif town of central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Rafia had to struggle to live her dreams. She, however, did not give up and continued to work hard. “I did my Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism and worked in both print and electronic media in Delhi and Bengaluru before coming back to Kashmir to work as an RJ. “Whatever I am today, it is because of my father,” she said.
Also Read: Youth need jobs, training & safety
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "J&K-talent")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}