His YouTube channel has over 115,000 subscribers; his fan-following on Facebook reaches three million and he has well over 150,000 followers, albeit on Twitter.

Ehtesham Idrees, popularly known as Sham Idrees, is a musician, actor and YouTube sensation who has been producing music out of Ottawa, Canada for several years now.

Some of his popular songs include ‘London2Paris’, ‘Raja Rani’, ‘Tu Bewafa’ and ‘Sohni Kuri’. His popular remix of ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ has aired on many Pakistani TV channels.

But it was his short comic videos that have made him a household name. Dawn caught up with the Internet star in Islamabad and spoke to him about his career and his decision to produce nasheed – religious chants or hymns popular in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Q: Tell us about your journey in music? You also ventured into producing nasheed. How did that happen?

A: I was always fond of acting and singing, from a very young age. I started playing music just for fun and wasn’t serious about it until as late as 2012. That was when my work started getting appreciated and I ventured into it seriously. This was around November 2013, which is when I started my YouTube channel.

When my fan base increased, I felt it was my social responsibility to clear people’s misconceptions about Islam. I wanted to tell them that Islam is a beautiful and positive religion, and unlike what the western media portrays from time to time, Islam preaches the message of peace. This is why I started making nasheed. The response was amazing.

Q: How did you start putting videos on YouTube?

A: I had a car accident back in 2012 and while I was recuperating from my injuries, I didn’t have much to do. So I started writing songs and poetry, again, just for fun. The video journey started in the summer of 2014, and I began with a unique series of videos called ‘Desi Marriage Problems’. These videos went viral and people just kept asking for more. I found it funny because I’m not married myself, but I continue to write content on this series. People have always asked me how I got these ideas. The secret is that I have five older brothers and all of them are married. That’s where I get my ideas from.

Q: Apart from music and videos, what other projects are you working on?

A: I’ve been offered a role in a Punjabi Bollywood movie. There are also several drama projects on the table. A UK tour is also being planned. Besides, I have a number of businesses back in Canada. Social media and business keeps me occupied.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016