Music director-composer Mithoon, an introvert, admits performing on stage isn’t easy despite a 20-year career. “I’ve never been much of a stage artiste. I’ve been making music for 20 years but never been comfortable on stage,” he says.

“Only recently have I developed a specific sound for my band, and I’m not competing with any artiste. When the audience sees an artiste live, it’s an intimate experience, that’s the vision I want to give them.”

When asked if India’s booming live music scene influenced him, Mithoon says, “No. It’s more of an internal journey of being prepared that happened to coincide with the boom, but I’m happy live music is being celebrated in the country.”

He adds, “The audience understands, and many introverts present in the audience enjoy the music along with me. What they appreciate is honesty. It’s ‘main jaisa hoon, aapka hoon.”

Mithoon says he and wife, singer Palak Muchhal, keep work talk out of their home. “She’s a busy professional herself. We do riyaz together and discuss some musicality, but we keep work sanctified.” 

Calling himself her biggest critic, he adds, “Since the time she sang the female version of ‘Meri Aashiqui Tum Hi Ho’ (Aashiqui 2), I’ve always believed in her potential and have been demanding of the level I expect from her,” Mithoon says.

Praising her, he adds, “There’s an unsaid legacy led by Lata ji (Mangeshkar), Kavita ji (Krishnamurthy), Alka ji (Yagnik), Shreya (Ghoshal), Palak belongs there on her own merit, she is the torchbearer of the music industry’s legacy.”

Meanwhile, brother-in law Palaash is currently making news for taking the legal route to deal with a cheating and financial fraud case initiated by former fiancee and cricketer Smriti Mandhana’s friend, Vidnyan Mane. Mithoon however chooses to steer clear of the controversial subject.