Barely three years in the industry and Palak Muchhal already has a roster of songs to her credit -from Meri Aashiqui Tum Hi Ho to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo now. The singer talks about her latest song Hua Hain Aaj Pehli Baar and her journey in Bollywood so far. Excerpts:

What was last year like?
I started my playback career in 2012 and last year has so far been the most productive. The year 2015 started with Baatein Ye Kabhi Na (Khamoshiyan). Later, I sang in Gabbar Is Back, Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The year ended with Prem Ratan Dhan Payo in which I had four songs. It has been a really gratifying experience and I want to keep working hard and entertaining the audience.

How did Hua Hain Aaj Pehli Baar happen?
(Composer) Amaal Mallik and I go a long way back. I sang his very first song for a television series. For Hua Hain Aaj Pehli Baar from Sanam Re, he called me and said that the female singer has very few lines but he couldn't imagine anyone else's voice. Being a romantic song, Amaal requested me to infuse a little bit of nakhra in my voice. Sanam Re is a musical film and it is always special to sing in one since there is a lot of focus on the music. I am really glad to be a part of Sanam Re.

Tell us about your equation with Salman Khan.
Salman sir is the biggest support I have in this industry. He is the most amazing person I have ever met. He is a man with a golden heart and I consider him my godfather. I don't think I would have been in Bollywood without him. Whether it is a personal or a professional decision, I always take his advice. He always supported me and ensures that I am a part of his films. Whenever I sing for his films, I give my 1000%.

Your brother Palash is also into music.
He is a music composer and I am a singer so we have very different careers. We don't even discuss music at home, but we are always there whenever we need some help. He is doing well in his career and it's an emotional feeling to see him grow on his own feet. Also, like any siblings, we have our own share of fights and arguments but we share a very strong bond.

Palash and I have been doing concerts across the world for the last 15 years for young heart patients. We donate the entire earnings towards their operations. So far, we have collected 3.36 crore rupees and 845 heart patients have been operated on. There are 412 remaining. Their blessings are the biggest award for me and I will continue to do this work for my life. I have been getting so much love that I have tasted success without much struggle. Earlier, I was able to help only one patient from one concert but now that my songs are getting popular, I am able to help almost 10 to 15 people.

How has your journey been so far?
The journey has been exciting so far. I feel like I am living my dream. I come from a Marwari family and didn't have any connections in Bollywood. My family has always supported me. I started training when I was four years old. My mother didn't leave any stone unturned to train me. I even learnt Urdu so I could get my pronunciations right. I always thought that it would take me more than a decade to establish myself in the industry but I was lucky that as soon as I reached Mumbai, I met Salman sir because of whom I didn't have to struggle much.

A lot of actresses have started doing playback singing.
It's a good thing because earlier, we have seen singers who have also acted. I love Salman Khan's singing. He has a raw voice and is very passionate about singing. We did a duet Jumme Ki Raat (Kick) which was a different version from the film. I also love Shraddha Kapoor as a singer. She has a wonderful voice. I feel she should sing more often.

What's in the pipeline?
I am excited for 2016 as I am working with composers like Himesh Reshammiya, Amaal Mallik, Jeet Gannguli and Pritam.