with Zaara: Keeping Up With the Ali's

New voices and new sounds from the Asian Network.

It’s Zaara Azira’s final show on BBC Asian Network Represents.

After spending August sharing stories about her dual heritage, Bollywood obsession and life as a young British Pakistani woman, Zaara turns the spotlight onto the people who helped make her who she is.

From growing up in an all-women household and learning about love, confidence and culture from the women around her, to childhood dance routines with her cousin, memories of her nani and her mum’s legendary presence on the dance floor, Zaara reflects on the relationships that have shaped her.

There’s plenty of Bollywood along the way, with tracks that bring back memories of childhood, family car journeys, weddings and endless dancing. She also shares some of the funniest and most chaotic moments from growing up in a big South Asian family: where aunties aren't always technically aunties, cousins become siblings, and every celebration eventually ends up around a dessert table.

As she says goodbye to Asian Network Represents, Zaara celebrates the family, culture and community that gave her a place to belong, while looking back at the journey that took her from a nervous university radio student to behind the microphone at BBC Asian Network.

Produced in Birmingham by Solis Productions for BBC Asian Network.