Tulsi Kumar is one of the voices behind Bollywood's leading ladies like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha and Asin. It was her father Gulshan Kumar who made her realise that she has a beautiful voice and got her to start training to become a singer when she was just seven.

Says Tulsi, “Whatever I am today, I owe it to my father. When I used to hum songs while watching TV as a kid, papa liked my tonal quality and got me to start training in light classical music at Suresh Wadkarji's academy. When I see myself today after entering the industry, I feel it's papa's blessings and I'm living his dream.“

On the 30th anniversary of T-Series, a special concert has been conceptualised for Gulshan Kumar and Tulsi has chosen this platform to thank him for his love and guidance. A first of its kind, the song Mere Papa is her dedication to her father, who always considered her his favourite child. When the singer decided on making a special number for her father, her brother Bhushan Kumar asked Manoj Muntashir to pen the lyrics. Soon, composer Jeet Gannguli too came on board. Says Tulsi, “Mere Papa is very close to my heart. It is bhai's (Bhushan), my sister Khushali's and my dedication to our father on a day when we're celebrating his successful journey in the field of music.“ She adds, “Jeetda and Manojji understood my emotions attached with this song and created such a heartrending melody that touched me the moment I heard it. Every father and child will relate to this song.“

Mere Papa will be performed live at a concert on September 22.