Music runs in his bloodstream. At four, Aditya had already struck a chord with the audiences, crooning alongside legends like Asha Bhonsle and his father, Udit Narayan. He takes pride in being a young achiever, but it never makes him far too content. Even after two decades in the industry and career that boasts of a variety of skills - from singing, hosting, composing - this stock of talent still displays the enthusiasm and spark of a rank newcomer. In this candid chat he lights up while talking about fulfilling his 20-year-old dream of producing his own music album Mohabbat. He also unabashedly admits that he doesn't mind being the tortoise who wins the race slowly but surely. Read on...

You have donned several hats from singing and producing music, to hosting, acting and assisting a filmmaker. Which space do you most enjoy?
I enjoy all of it and I do everything with a lot passion, else I don't do it. I am choosy about the work I take up compared to the newer generation. I have grown up seeing my father's achievements, from his first hit song to the recent Padma Bhushan honour. People often look at me as the son of someone renowned, and compare both of us, too, but I look at it as a responsibility. There will never be another Udit Narayan and I have never tried being him. He is born different. He has the ability to sit outside a music director's house for days without food or water just because he wants to sing a song. His humility is admirable.

You saw success at a really young age. Was it all too much, too early?
Yes, I started off early, so I never felt the pressure. My first song released in 1995, so in that way I've been here for two decades. Yet, I feel that I'm just starting. My parents never pressurised me to excel; in fact, they let me enjoy my music. As a child, I wasn't self-conscious nor did I have any stage or camera fear. Also, when you start so early, you don't know what you want; hence, you don't plan your life. At 18, I went to London to study music and while I was planning to do my masters, I was offered to host Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, which went on to become one of the biggest reality shows. At that age, I had girls showering me with attention, and I was getting movie offers and fan mails. I didn't know what to do with all the adulation. Again, acting was something I wanted to do, but I didn't know I would be offered a lead role so early in my career. I wasn't prepared for it, but I went ahead and did Shaapit.

It was a big disappointment, right?
I have seen one failure in life and that was Shaapit. Until then I thought that life was all candyfloss and I would get everything I wanted. After that, things changed and so did people around me. My phone stopped ringing. Thereon, I took life seriously. I thought life would be a solo horse race and I could conquer the world alone. But in reality, you need an army behind you.

So now, do you look at things with a new perspective?
2016 is the first planned year of my life, so I am super excited. I am releasing my music album Mohabbat, which has been a 20-year-old dream. I wanted to helm the whole project - compose, sing and write the story for the music videos. This album has been my most enriching experience. For 10 years, I ended up doing everything but this. I also went on a nationwide hunt and found some great talent for my band called the A Team. We have done about 150 concerts over two years. Shows are my bread and butter. I want to produce more music videos through my production company called Play Studios. I am also planning to do something to promote new talent and give them the chance they deserve. My goal is not just Bollywood music, but also creating good music and promoting new talent. I have accumulated goodwill and people can relate to me. I am fortunate that people look at me as someone who is here to do some significant work.

How was it turning assistant director for Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela after your acting debut?
I am probably the first actor in the history of cinema to be a hero and then an assistant director. I wanted to learn and I took my failure as an opportunity to do things I wouldn't be able to if I was in the race. When I first told Bhansali that I wanted to assist him¸ he didn't take me seriously. For the initial 15 days, I would go to his office, read a novel and go back home. He thought I was kidding, and then one day, he gave me heaps of work. I am glad that I started assisting him in the music department; at least it was familiar territory. I would sing scratches for the songs, and not many know that I sang in every chorus in the movie. If I did a slightly better job, I would be singing Shreya Ghoshal's part (laughs). Playback singing was never a priority for me, but after I sang Tattar tattar and Ishqyaun Dhishqyaun, it changed. Tattar tattar was a big hit and people even compared me to my father, which amused me. He got congratulated instead of me; of course, he was proud.

The music industry has seen a wave of change in the last 20 years and you've been a part of it. What do you think of the current music scene in India?
My biggest complaint is that our country doesn't have a music industry, we just have Bollywood music. Unlike everywhere in the world, where there is a distinct music industry. It is a good time to create the industry now. It was there briefly when we saw albums by Shaan, Strings and Lucky Ali. I guess that's the point when the dream of producing my own album was planted in my head. I am happy that now music, apart from Bollywood, is also being produced. How many times do I hear Sooraj dooba hai. Sooraj doobta hi rahega. So Amaal (Mallik) needs to come up with more songs. I'm not against Bollywood, that's rozi roti. This is the space where everyone can create their identity. And for that musicians also have to be suave, as today all actors are also singing. After all, it is the entertainment industry. You can't be boring; otherwise somebody more interesting will take your spot. In the West, they keep reinventing themselves. We have seen so many avatars of Madonna. That's how an artiste becomes a superstar. My other grouse is that the fraternity hasn't given me as much opportunity as far as singing is concerned.

You are juggling so many things, and probably they are confused about where your real interest lies...
Strangely, even after a hit like Tattar tattar, when I approached composers, I wasn't offered anything that excited me. I wasn't too disappointed as this isn't my priority and I have also learnt to appreciate what I have. I don't mind asking for work, but begging for work is another thing, especially when I know that I'm good at what I do. Competition is good, but success and talent are two different things. There are a lot of people who are successful, but they are not necessarily talented. There are a few musicians who really encourage me, and Arijit Singh is one of them. He makes me want to be better. I am also inspired by performers like Ranveer, Priyanka and Deepika. Before Ram-Leela, I thought I am a very hard working guy and then I met them and reality struck. They taught me how much focus and passion one needs to be genuinely successful. Today, if I want to be Ranveer Singh, I need to be better than him. Being almost as good as him won't work. If I do a film, it will be because I am really interested, and not for the fame, money and glam that come with it. However, music will always be my first love. My dad says I should be a tortoise and win the race at the end, slowly but surely.