Delhi always treats me with a lot of love. It excites me with the kind of people I get to meet here,” says Rahul Vaidya, who was recently in the city to shoot for his upcoming video. Sharing an anecdote from his recent visit, when he was stranded and the shoot was stalled, he says, “A couple spotted us and offered us their house for an outfit change.”

Amazed at the hospitality of Delhiites, Rahul says, “Dilli ke gharon ka culture hai to welcome guests warmly, I have witnessed it. This couple made tea for us and was so helpful. Hospitality is embedded in Delhi’s culture. It was my good fortune that I met them and got to experience their love, firsthand. Money can be earned, and one can do a lot of things, but fandom is something money cannot buy. I feel blessed.”

Another thing that Rahul finds fascinating about the city is Dilli ka khana. “Mujhe Khan Market aur Connaught Place ke restaurants mein jaa kar khana bahut pasand hai. There is no particular dish that I crave, but I love Delhi food, all in all,” he says.

When in the capital, the one thing that Rahul always does is visit his friends. “I meet only two of them in a day because Dilli mein sab bahut dur hai, and if I meet everyone in one day, I will end up spending time on the roads only,” he adds.

Rahul, who recently gave a live performance in the capital, says, “After a big lull, live performances are back in full force. People are all out now, bhuchaal sa aa gaya hai.”

When we ask him to pick between performing live on stage and playback singing, he has a clear favourite, as he says, “As an artiste, there is no better feeling than being able to perform on stage and owning it for those two hours. Recording at a studio is a technical process, devoid of engagement with people.”

With indie music, artistes enjoy their creative liberty, feels the Naughty Balam singer. “It gives me the power to not compromise on my creative thoughts.” Talking about how more singers in India are producing and making music independently, he says, “In the west, indie music is the way to do it. We are now catching up with this trend. It satisfies creative aspirations, and that’s why singers are opting for it now.”

After his stints in Bigg Boss 14 and Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, Rahul doesn’t want to participate in any reality shows for now. He reveals that he was offered the current season of Naagin, but he had to turn down the offer. “I am committed to my music right now and have to travel frequently for it, and as an actor, you can’t do that,” he shares, adding, “I am not aiming to become an actor, but if there is an interesting short-form project that comes my way, I would consider it.”