This year promises a lot of travel for Neeti Mohan. The singer has already been part of two of AR Rahman's concerts this month and is already gearing up for her next with the composer. “We have one in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) this weekend. It's such an honour to share the stage with Rahman; I've done two world tours and about 60 concerts with him. I'm also excited about performing with Amit Trivedi at a concert, and the US tour with Vishal-Shekhar,“ begins an excited Neeti. In a chat with us, the exu berant singer tells us how she's happy that her songs in Sanam Teri Kasam have been received well and reveals what helps her build a good rapport with composers.

Tell us about the songs you've sung in Sanam Teri Kasam.
Recording for the album was actually an interesting experience. I'd sung these songs really long ago and that too, in different months. So, I had no idea they were all part of the same film. While Kheech Meri Photo is a fun number, Haal E-Dil is melodic. Ek Number is a kind of fusion of R&B and Hip Hop. While Himesh (Reshammiya), who's composed the album, infused some rap, he made me write as well. This has been a very creative journey.

You've collaborated with Himesh on many albums. What kind of equation do the two of you share?
The first time I worked with Himesh was for Kick; I'd sung Tu Hi Tu for him. What I really like about him is that he gives me a different kind of song every time - semi classical, peppy, slow numbers. He understands the uniqueness of a person's voice and taps it well. I believe that it's music that connects two musicians. For two people to work well together, they need to bond over that song. I share a good equation with all the composers I've worked with; each one has guided me and taught me how to approach a song differently.

Is there any genre you'd like to experiment with?
I'm lucky to have done almost all kinds of songs -Jiya Re (Jab Tak Hai Jaan) was high on energy, Tune Maari Entriyaan (Gunday) was a dance number, Tumhe Apna Banane Ka (Hate Story 3) was a seductive romantic song and I even got to explore jazz in Bombay Velvet. But as a trained vocalist, I'd love to sing bhajans!

Does it bother you when the movies for which you've sung don't do well at the box office? For instance, songs of Bombay Velvet were appreciated, but the film didn't meet commercial expectations.
It was a period musical drama, and we'd done a lot of research for it. Amit (Trivedi, composer) and I attended workshops, saw documentaries and recorded most of the songs live. In fact, that was the first time that I'd read the script of a film! I enjoyed the whole process of working on the movie. Of course you feel disappointed when the reach of your movie isn't as big as you expect it to be, but the experiences make you richer. I got so much of love from people for the songs, especially Dhadaam Dhadaam.

Singles have made a comeback. Are you planning one any time soon?
Doing a single is liberating. It helps you express yourself better without any restrictions. I had actually composed, sung and co-wrote Udne De with dad (Brij Mohan Sharma) and Manoj Yadav last year. It was my dedication to Nirbhaya and I had released the number online. My sisters (Mukti Mohan, Shakti Mohan and Kriti Mohan) had also worked on this number. I've done singles before, and will plan more soon.

How important is it to have classical training if one wants to attempt playback singing?
I learnt Hindustani and it has helped me a lot. Our music is technically sound and it helps you learn other forms faster. I had to learn jazz and Western for movies, and I found it very easy.

Are reality shows still a good platform for aspiring singers?
Both my sisters and I are products of reality shows - I was one of the winners of Popstars, Shakti won Dance India Dance and Mukti, Zara Nachke Dikha. I would probably not have made it here if not for reality shows. It helps you connect with and learn from the right people.