How did Naina (Khoobsurat) happen?
Naina actually came to me as a surprise. I was a part of the song making process as my brother Amaal had composed the track. While the lyrics and the tune were being worked upon, I played guitars and lent my rough vocals for it. (Khoobsurat producer) Rhea Kapoor, director Shashanka Ghosh and singer Sona Mohapatra came to our studio for the jam session. The track was to be completed in under 48 hours since the music release was just two days away and everything had to be done at lightning speed. The vocals I'd lent for the track were retained. Shashanka and Rhea found them apt for leading man Fawad Khan. So, we recorded, got it mixed and mastered, and even performed an acoustic version at the music launch in a span of two days.

How did you get into music?
I grew up in a musical atmosphere at home. My dada Shri Sardar Malik used to teach music to his students and I would sit next to him, just listening and absorbing the music. While the students were doing their riyaaz, I used to hum and sing along. My dada noticed this and after hearing my voice, he decided to teach and guide me.Thus began my musical journey.Music was a natural thing for me. No one forced me to take it up seriously. I had made up my mind by age six that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Tell us about your equation with Salman Khan.
Words cannot describe the relationship I share with bhai. He has literally seen me grow up in front of him. At all the major junctures of my life, I have always gone to meet him and take his advice, love and blessings. He has always guided me and has been my pillar of strength. This year, when I completed the recording of my debut self-titled album, I went to get his feedback and ask him whether he would come for its launch. He fell in love with the song Love You Till The End, originally an EDM (electronic dance music) track composed by my brother Amaal. He asked him to convert it into a romantic Bollywood song and thus was born Tumko Toh Aana Hi Tha from Jai Ho. During the making of the film, he said he wanted me to feature in the track and asked me to start my dance classes and workouts to look fit onscreen. He introduced me as an adult playback singer in Jai Ho, which is the biggest debut any singer in Bollywood could dream of. He was there beside me throughout my album's launch. I cherish all the moments I spend with him, be it on his farm or the music and jam sessions between his shooting schedules. He is a gem of a person, and there can be no one like him.

What do you enjoy singing?
I love dabbling in various genres and languages. I've been lucky to have gotten a chance to sing in various genres like pop and RnB for my debut album, romantic songs in Jai Ho (Tumko Toh Aana Hi Tha) and Khoobsurat, sufi-jazz in Ungli (Auliya) and rock songs in Kannada film Siddhartha, the launch film of superstar Rajkumar's grandson Vinay Rajkumar. I have recorded three songs for it.

Would you act in movies?
Emoting songs onscreen comes naturally to me since we do emote in the studio behind the mike as well. But acting in a full-length Bollywood film is a completely different ball-game. Though I'm getting a lot of acting offers, I'd like to enter only when I'm ready. My first love will always be music.

Current and future plans?
I just did live shows across Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Guwahati, Pune and Kolkata. I judged several college events this year at which I was a contestant just two years back. It was a different high altogether. I've recorded songs for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and am working on some exciting projects with Himesh Reshammiya, slated to release in 2015.

Do you have a girlfriend?
I'm really enjoying all the girl attention right now... but I am single at the moment. There's no one I'm serious about, but let's see what the future holds.