In a recent conversation at the National School of Drama in Delhi, Piyush Mishra shared that it’s been 16 years since Gulaal came out, yet every time he visits college campuses, there’s one constant request and it’s for the song Aarambh Hai Prachand. Excerpts:

Sharing an interesting observation, Piyush revealed how people keep telling him ‘Gen Z haath se nikal gayi(hai). Sahitya ke baare mein kuch jaante nahi hain yeh’. To this, he commented, “Arey bhaiya! Ye Gen Z hai jisne Aarambh Hai Prachand hit karwayi hai. Aaj sabse zyada jo Aarambh Hai Prachand bajta hai woh campus mein bajta hai. Students aate hain aur do songs ki demand hoti hai – Ik Bagal Mein Chaand Hoga and Aarambh Hai Prachand.”

Piyush said that he doesn’t feel like creating anymore. He said, “Ballimaran (his band) has expanded so much with tours across cities. So, I’m like, now I don’t want to create anymore,” adding with a laugh, “Lekin biwi ki kitni tareef karunga? Bachchon se kitna baat kar lunga? Teen din ke andar mere andar ka woh keeda aa jata hai aur kehta hai – kya kar rahe ho yaar tum? Just after three-four days, I feel like I should write something new, I should create something. Lekin likhne mein maza nahi aata, create karne mein maza aata hai. Band mein maza aata hai – it’s a live audience. Jab tak main apni energy wahan nikaal nahi leta, mujhe neend nahi aati.”

Piyush, who is now in his 60s, told the audience, “I think if by the age of 50 you have earned everything be it money, status or love then only after 50 are you inclined towards spiritualism. But if you have not found all this in your life by 50, then even after 50, you keep looking for these things in life.”