Arijit Singh has a home in Mumbai, yet he chooses to stay in his hometown Jiaganj in West Bengal. His children go to school there and the singer-composer travels to Mumbai for work as and when it is required. A recipient of several awards, including a National Award for Binte Dil (Padmaavat, 2019), Arijit has never been the one to chase fame; in fact, he has often been labelled as a reclusive singer.

In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, Arijit says, “I feel it’s important to be reclusive — it makes one strong, focused and the distractions are fewer. If I meet someone, it should elevate my life. So, I let life decide who I am going to meet instead of making a plan with someone. But yes, I do think of some of my friends, who may be far away, but are still close to my heart. ” Excerpts...

The singer has a plethora of tracks to his credit, but what does he look at before saying a yes to a song, we ask. “A song needs to have good lyrics, which are thought-provoking and the melody has to be appealing. The production needs to be decent and I also check if I will be able to complete the song on time. I believe that the composition, lyrics and music are the pillars of any song. All three are equally important,” he replies.

Among Arijit’s most popular numbers are Aayat (Bajirao Mastani), Binte Dil (Padmaavat), Shayad (Love Aaj Kal), Laal Ishq (Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela). So, was there a song that he managed to render in one take?

Arijit says, “No song has been a one take for me. It has taken me a minimum of one hour to a maximum of eight hours. Kalank’s title track and Muskurahat from Gangubai Kathiawadi had the most takes. Compilation and editing take a few days. In fact, our discussions are never long, they are always to the point and I abide by whatever the composer requires.”

Talking about his process when it comes to Bollywood songs, Arijit explains, “Rabindranath Tagore has said, ‘It is difficult to be simple’. If I get something right with all my heart, no matter how difficult it is, I would be able to put it in a simple manner. So I try to get the song as a whole, identify minute details in the art and try to perfect it until it’s done. This can go wrong if I don’t let go and surrender to the art. I let my art do its job, I am just a machine.”

It’s the art that matters to Arijit far more than the commercial aspects. He says, “Superhits are not my concern. People should believe in a song and that’s what matters the most. Muskurahat is a song that overall took three months to be ready. Every time Sanjay ji (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) gives me a composition to sing, I have no clue how to go about it, but eventually, it turns out well. It’s a blessing to learn from him.”

Arijit, who has been doing live concerts for the past several years, enjoys the thrill of being on stage each time. “A live performance is work for me and work is my religion. I love the awareness one needs to have on stage during a live performance. I am excited about my upcoming multi-city tour as it will be an opportunity for me to focus on my music and train further in it,” he signs off.