After spending close to three decades in the music industry, singer Daler Mehndi isn’t interested to be part of the rat race of getting more followers, likes or views. He wants to explore different rhythms, and let his work do all the talking. “I don’t believe in buying fake million views or followers. I don’t have many followers on Instagram, but I feel proud to say that they are genuine,” says Mehndi, who turns 54 today.

The singer feels that a musician’s work speaks more than any promotion. “It has to be genuine. Koi story, zyada promotion ya gimmick ki baat nahin hai. Maine kabhi bad words use nahi kiye hain to make my songs catchy. I’m very happy that I’m working with my full honesty,” he adds.

Mehendi, who started his career in the music industry in 1995, feels proud that his past work continues to get love. “Bollywood stars have a whole team behind them to make them popular, but Daler Mehndi has reached all across the world without any team. Recently, a BTS member also talked about singing my songs while growing up,” he says, adding that he’d love to collaborate with the global sensation.

Now, the singer, best remembered for hits such as Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Tunak Tunak Tun and Na Na Na Na Na Re, has chalked a rough plan about the sounds he wants to explore in the next 20 years. He has come out with a Rajasthani song, released a ghazal on his birthday and will release a Gujarati track.

“I had always thought that I’d explore new areas. I plan to recreate ghazals from my compositions which I used to sing in the 1980s,” he says.

Asked if there’s other song from his hit tracklist which he’d like to recreate, and he quips, “Mere gaane koi recreate nahi kar paa raha hai toh mein khud hi karunga bahut jaldi.”