Anmol Malik likes to talk dime a dozen and loves sprinkling her conversation with bits of songs she's either written and composed or sung. The daughter of Bollywood music composer Anu Malik opens up to Bombay Times about how her dad's music studio was the place she'd be most at home in. Excerpts:

Your version of Old School Girl in Tanu Weds Manu Returns has a jazz feel to it. How did the song happen?
When I was studying in Warwick University, England, I was part of a jazz music band, and we would hold concerts every Friday. I like jazz, primarily because of (British singer) Norah Jones. Even my dad (Anu Malik) is a fan of the genre. I'm blessed to have had the chance to sing it in a commercial way. I'd sent my covers to Krishikaji (Krishika Lulla, the producer of Tanu Weds Manu Returns), who took it to director Aanand L Rai. I honestly didn't expect to hear back from them. But they called me up to say they've zeroed in on me to sing a western version of the song. Composer Krsna Solo and lyricist Raj Shekhar have created a beautiful song. They were so encouraging throughout the recording session.

Have you always wanted to be a part of the music industry? After all, you began your career when you were barely seven...

I've actually been recording much before that. I was always on the set with my dad. I'm the most comfortable in a recording studio. The first time I wanted to sing was in 1997, after seeing Celine Dion render My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. Later, I sang Mujhe Maaf Karna with Aditya Narayan for Biwi No. 1. I still remember that big bar of chocolate that (producer) Vashu Bhagnaniji gave me after I finished singing.

Was singing at such a young age stressful?
No, not at all. My parents didn't push me into this field. In fact, I saw my dad's studio as an escape from school. I was in high school when I recorded Talli (Ugly Aur Pagli). Producer Rangita Nandy had wanted a scratch of a song for the purpose of choreography. So, I went to the studio in my uniform, with my school bag and water bottle, learnt the song on the set and recorded it. I never thought I would taste success of that kind at 16! I realised the song was so big only after I went back to Warwick and heard students from India making their foreigner friends listen to it. My friends dragged me to a pub one night. When the doors opened, I heard my song playing. It was surreal.

You also write songs. How did the single, Graduation, happen?
I've been composing and writing romantic numbers since I was 10. This was the first time I'd written a non-commercial number. Graduation was a personal song I'd written for my graduating group. In fact, the video is made up of pictures of my friends. Aamir Khan sir heard the song and spoke about it on his social media page. Then, all of a sudden, it was everywhere. Every song has its own destiny.

You have a flair for western music...

My interest in western music stemmed from a bizarre need to be different, so I could have an identity of my own. One of my biggest regrets is that I am not classically trained. I have enough knowledge of ragas though, which I learnt from my father and dadaji Sardar Malik.

ANMOLL'S PICKS
Favourite artistes: Mariah Carey, Norah Jones
Favourite bands: Third Eye Blind, The Beatles, Coldplay
Dad's number I'd like to remix: Title track of Main Hoon Na and a house version of Sau Dard (Jaan-e-Mann)
Genres I want to experiment with: Rock and Sufi