SUMMARY: Despite airing in a strongly Muslim country, openly bi Saleem Ali's character attracts celebrities, even politicians, to his risque late-night show.
Pakistan's conservative landscape has embraced a shockingly progressive late-night TV show hosted by drag queen Begum Nawazish Ali.
The remarkably classy character, a glamorous aristocratic widow of an army colonel, Begum ("Madame") Nawazish Ali has gained notoriety through her scandalously risque monologues and an assertive way of interacting with her guests, who include top-notch Pakistani celebrities and politicians.
Hosted by 28-year-old actor Ali Saleem, the risque entertainment has quickly become the most popular late-night TV show in the Muslim country.
"Some people compare her to Dame Edna's character on British television," Saleem told NBC's Worldblog, "but Begum Nawazish Ali is much too sophisticated to ever be that crude."
If she's not crude, she's certainly suggestive, as the character has raised eyebrows for the way she invasively questions and flirts with her male guests -- not exactly your archetypal behavior from a good Muslim woman.
However, even the country's religious leaders have appeared undisturbed, even amused, by the drag queen's manner.
"We couldn't convince Qazi Hussain Ahmed (the head of a Muslim political party) to come on the show," said Saleem. "But he was very good-natured about it. He praised the Begum and said he would rather just watch the show on television."
Ali even nonchalantly addressed his sexuality in the interview, another shocking confession from a public figure in Pakistan -- or better yet, a shocking confession from any public figure.
"I am happy to openly accept my bisexuality because it does justice to the man in me and the woman in me," said Saleem, adding that the Begum has "only received love, adoration and respect, never anything evenly remotely negative."
Saleem told Worldblog, "I want to be the voice of the youth and for all of Pakistan. The idea was always to break barriers and preconceived notions, of gender, identity, celebrity and politics and to bring people closer."
