His is a voice that truly transcends boundaries. At a time when Indo-Pak ties have hit a new low in the wake of the Uri attack last year, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has proved that music knows no barriers. His new single - Times Music's Saware, a duet with Anupama Raag, which features Vartika Singh (Winner Miss Grand International 2015 2nd Runner-Up) and actor Kunal Kemmu - is already a rage. In an exclusive interview with BT, the Sufi maestro fields some tough questions about art, politics and patriotism. Excerpts...

Do you think the recently-released single is a modest but a great way to ease the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan?
Dono mulkon ki purani music ek hi hai, which is classical. It's not possible to separate the two countries suddenly. We are connected by emotions. There should be peace and dialogue between us and we should value and respect each other's jazbaa. Citizens of both the countries want to live peacefully. Like music, I feel sports should also be allowed between India and Pakistan. Such initiatives will resolve differences to a great extent.

Interestingly, the video of the song features you singing for an Indian soldier...
The song was recorded in June; our bilateral ties worsened later. Back then, we didn't foresee such a situation. A soldier, irrespective of his nationality, is someone's son, brother, husband, father and beloved. Soldiers don't have personal enmity towards each other, but are fighting for their countries with unparalleled passion and patriotism. We have to respect each other.

What's the response to the song back home?
People in Pakistan have also appreciated the song. God willing, it will become a hit there, too. The lead pair, Vartika Singh and Kunal Kemmu, has done a great job. Vartika has exceeded expectations. She was completely involved in the project and has enacted the emotional scenes beautifully in the video.

Do you feel that art should not be mixed with politics?
We should respect the country we represent. When it's about the country, we (artistes) are nothing; we are not above the country. We should condemn terrorism no matter where it takes place, be it in Pakistan, India or any other country, because it's a heinous crime. We love India and any act of terrorism or dehshatgardi should be condemned. I have done that myself.

Are artistes across the border scared that if they condone attacks by Pakistan in India, they'll face flak for it back home?
Pakistan toh dehshatgardi se poore saal guzra hai. Hum sui ke daane par baithe hue hain. What can we say about the situation? Hum toh iss cheez mein ghire hue hain.

Bollywood luminaries were vociferous in condemning the terror attacks in Pakistan. At the same time, they also supported the decision to ban artistes from across the border from working in the Indian film industry. But most Pakistani counterparts have remained tight-lipped on the terror attacks on India...
See, nobody asked me about it (Uri terror attack). I had mentioned right in the beginning that art is not related to terrorism. I had condemned terrorism on my microblogging page. I can't comment on why other artistes didn't do the same; they should have ideally done it.


In an old video that resurfaced recently, Mahira Khan, who featured opposite Shah Rukh Khan in a recent release, was heard saying that Pakistanis should not be inspired by Bollywood...
Did she say that? I don't think she is an authority on the subject. So, whoever wants to listen to her advice, they can. Those who don't want to, should not. But I do not agree with what she has to say.

How inspired are you by Bollywood?
Why just restrict it to Bollywood? There have been artistes like Pt Ravi Shankar and Ustad Sultan Khan here. So, how can one not be inspired by India? Being a classical singer, how can one not get inspired by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi? Do you think someone who knows classical music won't be inspired by Lata Mangeshkar? If you aren't, you don't even know the ABC of music. If a person is not inspired by a singer like Noor Jehan, I don't think that person knows music.

Which Indian actors you'd now like to sing for?
(Laughs) I'm not that young and my voice is not the same anymore. If my voice was like Kishore Kumar's, it would have suited Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan. But unfortunately, that is not so.

Your song in Sultan - Jag Ghoomeya - was mired in controversy following the Salman Khan-Arijit Singh fallout...
That controversy should end now. I was in Goa when I was offered the song. I had no clue that it was earlier recorded in Arijit's voice; I learnt of it being dropped only the following day. Arijit is a brilliant singer; he understands his genre and music well.

People generally associate you with Sufi music. Do you feel like experimenting with other genres?
Not really, but I am inspired by Spanish and Arabic music. I listen to these two genres and even some good English music.

When do you plan to visit India next?
Inshallah, I will come soon. As soon as the conditions between the two countries improve, I would love to come.

You get caught in controversies each time you visit India...
Well, I have never tried to create any controversy. I am always out of the country whenever there is one.

Listen to Saware on Gaana.com: http:gaana.com/album/saware Watch the video on http:bit.ly/sawarevideo