"Teri Mitti jaise gaane sadi mein ek baar bante hain. Agar upar wale ki blessing hogi toh dobara aisi cheez fir se jaroor aayegi," says singer-composer B Praak, who made his Bollywood debut with this track in Akshay Kumar-starrer Kesari (2019). Ever since their first collaboration, they’ve created magic each time they’ve come together. Praak crooned the single Filhall, starring Kumar and Nupur Sanon, which went on to become a hit, and later sung Maana Dil in Good Newwz (2019). Up next, he’s working with the actor in Bachchan Pandey, but what he’s most excited about is the sequel to Filhall, which has been shot recently in Delhi and Mumbai. In a candid chat, Praak tells us how his life took a new turn upon meeting Kumar and how they’ve rocked as a team.

Akshay paaji meri zindagi mein bhagwaan ka roop lekar aaye hain. I can’t express what I feel for him. Whatever I’ll say to thank him, it’ll be less. He’s my main man. He loves me, jokes around... mazaak mazaak mein gaana bhi bana dete hain, shoot bhi ho jata hai. His love for the Punjabi community is unmatched. I can’t believe I have someone like him in my life. It’s all blessings of people and Akshay paaji’s love that we’ve become popular today.

B Praak is nothing without his team and Akshay paaji. For all this success, I want to credit my team — Jaani paaji (lyricist), Arvindr Khaira (music video director) and Azeem Dhayani (music supervisor) — and Akshay sir. Bas yeh log mere liye sab kuch hain.

Filhall got so much love, and now its sequel is coming. I’m at loss for words when I’ve to express that I owe this life to Akshay paaji. And my whole team, for writing this song and directing this video.

I never thought of it. In fact, no one in the team did. We made the song, it became so popular and created a record of reaching the fastest 100 million in India, all organic. But then, whatever Akshay paaji touches, turns gold. It was he who sometime back asked me, ‘Aage kya karna hai? Iska sequel banate hain’. So, it was his idea that the story should continue.

Oh yes! Since the first song became a hit, the sequel has to be bigger. It all depends on how audiences would like it, but I’m sure the way they’ve showered us with their love, blessings and respect, they’ll make Filhall 2 even bigger.

I’ve not seen a more chill guy than Akshay paaji. He’s so calm and easy-going. He gives as many shots as we need. In fact, sometimes, he himself would say, ‘Let’s do another take, this one hasn’t come out nice’.