Akon’s love for India and Bollywood goes a long way. As we sit down for a tête-à-tête with the Senegalese-American singer ahead of his performance at the Cherry Blossom Music Festival in Shillong (Meghalaya) on Friday night, he says that he’s “set to mark” his “Bollywood comeback”.

He adds, “Since I was on a musical hiatus for the last few years, I didn’t think of anything in the music space. But, I have been following India’s music scene very closely and I miss Bollywood. There is a lot of Bollywood work that will happen in 2025. I am already in touch with some of my friends in the industry, and I am looking forward to announcing the project soon.”

Akon’s on-screen collab with actor Shah Rukh Khan in Ra.One (2011) continues to be talked about. So, would he be keen to associate with the project again if a sequel is made? The singer tells us, “Bollywood has always been very close to my heart, and if an opportunity to work on Chammak Challo 2.0 presents itself, I would love to grab it.”

Talking about his love for India, he adds, “Alongside the Bollywood music scene, I am so happy to see independent music thrive in India. Indian artistes are travelling the world. It’s amazing. India is my second home. I try to visit the country every year. I performed in Pune last year. I love India’s vibrance and spiritual energy.”

Ask the 51-year-old, who has a career spanning almost three decades, what keeps him relevant, and he replies, “It’s the audience. I feel blessed to have done the kind of music that’s long-lasting and I am glad it continues to resonate with the audience despite changing times. It’s a blessing.”