Twenty seven-year-old Lucknowi boy, Amit Mishra, is currently riding high on the success of Bulleya from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The trained instrumentalist has hits like Manma Emotion Jaage (Dilwale) and Sau Tarah Ke (Dishoom) to his credit. In a chat with BT, he reveals what prompted him to become a singer and how participating in a reality show helped him hone his skills.

You have finally arrived with Bulleya. How does this new-found recognition feel?
It feels great to know that people are finally taking note of me. My earlier two hits were also with Pritam da (composer). It's always a pleasure to work with him. To add to this, the track has been picturised on Ranbir Kapoor. I couldn't have asked for more.

How do you react when your songs are compared to that of other singers?
If people are comparing Bulleya with tracks that have been sung by Shafqat Amanat Ali or Rabbi Shergill, I would like to tell them, please listen to it once again. The notes and vibes of a composition may sound similar but the chord progression is different. When people compare me with other artistes, I use a lot of musical jargon to silence them. That's my weapon (laughs).

You had participated in a reality show earlier. Did that help you hone your skills?
I'm glad it was not a filmy but a band reality show. Thanks to it, my technical interest grew and I was drawn towards live concerts. It also made me confident in front of the camera.

Did you always aspire to become a singer?
I was a part of the assembly choir in school and learnt instruments like tabla, drums, keyboards and guitar along with classical music. I took up singing because vocals help you learn new words, grammar and pronunciation. My parents were supportive when I wanted to pursue it full time and decided to move to Mumbai. Their only concern was how I would sustain in a city where I knew no one. But I've been lucky enough to meet the best people here.