Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 23, 2020)

The Jadoo started with Koi… Mil Gaya in 2003. With a mentally challenged boy and his friendship with a blue-tinted alien who arrived six years before James Cameron’s Avatar, Rakesh Roshan rewrote box-office history. And encouraged by the success of this film, he took another leap of faith… Unveiled on June 23, 2006, Krrish took off from where Koi… Mil Gaya had ended, with Rohit and Nisha’s son inheriting his father’s super powers that enable him to scale mountains and fly through the air to streak past a stallion. Seven years later, when working on the post-production of Krrish 3, Rakesh ji confided that his actor-son Hrithik had actually run with the horse for his introduction scene. “It took us a day-and-a-half to shoot. I have to thank Tony (action director Tony Ching Siu Tung) for making Hrithik fly believably,” he smiled. For his son, who had grown up emulating superheroes, the film was a dream come true.

However, the bigger challenge was the scene in Singapore, where Hrithik leaps with the fountain spray, 20 floors up. “That shot called for perfect timing. Hrithik sitting on the fountain head had to jump as soon as the jet sprouted. But either the water was slow or Hrithik missed his cue. It took us all day to get that shot,” Rakesh ji recounted, revealing that they’d discarded 50-60 masks before settling for the one Krrish picks up when a fire breaks out in the circus to hide his identity. Then, with his coat flaring like a cape, he walks into the flames to pull off daring rescues.

While daredevil action sequences and mind-boggling visual effects are a part of every superhero film, this one being mainstream Bollywood, it was left to Rakesh ji’s brother and Hrithik’s uncle Rajesh Roshan to weave songs into the narrative. The composer admits it wasn’t easy, but because the story had a strong emotional core and his brother has always inspired him while giving him a free hand, he could come up with the romantic “Aao Sunaun Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani” with Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Niigam. The duo also collaborated on another starry-eyed Hrithik-Priyanka Chopra duet, “Koi Tumsa Nahin”, while Shreya frolicked musically with Udit Narayan to “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.”

The romance even crossed borders, with Rajesh ji roping in Pakistani singer Rafaqat Ali Khan—son of Nazakat Ali Khan, the nephew of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and the cousin of Shafaqat Ali Khan—and Alka Yagnik for “Main Hoon Woh Asmaan.” On the surface a happy song, it had deeper emotions simmering beneath, evident in lines like “Paas mere tu ho na agar toh kitna tadapta hai mera dil, main hoon teri nazar, mera intezaar tu, ho kar bhi hum judaa hote judaa nahi”. “The pain of loss makes a song unforgettable,” Rajesh ji asserts.

Kunal Ganjawala’s “Dil Na Diya”, which plays out in the Big Top before the fire breaks out, amidst music, dance and bobbing hearts, also has some profound lines by Javed Akhtar: “Tune chand pe bhi jamaye kadam, dariya mein bhi ghar hai banaya, tere jadoo ne ek rote huye insaan ko hai hasna sikhaya”. The melody continued in Krrish 3 seven years later, pitting the superhero against super villain Kaal, whose henchman, a shape-shifting female mutant, Kaya, loses her heart to Krrish and tries to seduce him with the dreamy, “Dil Tu Hi Bataa”.

“We opted for Alisha Chinai and the little-known Assamese singer, Zubeen Garg, over bigger names and worked on the song continuously for two months. At one point, we got stuck with the lyrics. One day, while Rakesh ji, Sameer (lyricist) and I were brainstorming, Duggu (Hrithik) walked in and came up with the words, ‘The heart always beats, but why is it that I didn’t hear these beats till now.’ He spoke in English, but Sameer ji picked them up and presented us with 'Dil Tu Hi Bata, Kahan Tha Chhupa, Kyun Aaj Suni, Teri Dhadkan Pehli Baar'. The rest is musical history,” Rajesh ji narrates, admitting that he was waiting to see what his brother would do with the song. “When I saw how beautifully he’d picturised it, I had tears in my eyes.”

Seven years have passed since Krrish 3. Rakesh ji has locked the script of Krrish 4. Once the Coronavirus pandemic is behind us, superhero Hrithik will fly again. And Rajesh ji will find more heart-to-heart connections.

Samarth Goyal (BOMBAY TIMES; November 16, 2019)

Music composer Anu Malik’s long-awaited explanation on sexual harassment allegations, were greeted with fiery rebuttals by musicians who has accused him of sexual misconduct. Sona Mohapatra tweeted her eight-point reply, saying, “Anu Malik finally wrote back to all of us last evening. My response to him, next to his letter. In case mine is too long to read, have also attached a shorter, crisper one. #India @IndiaMeToo.”

Earlier on Thursday, Malik broke his year-long silence, posting a lengthy explanation, saying that he is wrongly accused. “It has been over a year that I’ve been accused of something that I haven’t done. I’ve been silent all this while as I was waiting for the truth to surface on its own. But I realise that my silence on the matter has been misconstrued as my weakness,” he wrote, adding the allegations have taken a toll on his and his family’s mental health and has left him “traumatised, tarnishing my career.”

Sona questioned Malik, who throughout his post, defended himself by saying that he wouldn’t commit “the acts he is accused of”, since he is a father of “ two daughters”. “Being a father of two daughters doesn’t prove anything. Clearly it hasn’t held your libido back. History has shown us that multiple times in multiple real live stories. ‘Some’ Men will just be that .. .The show must go on. Without you. Don’t jeopardise the hard work of so many people & the dreams of so many contestants just for your personal glory & ambitions,” she wrote.

Sona concluded the response by accepting Malik’s challenge of taking the legal route. Singer Neha Bhasin has also accepted Malik’s challenge, saying, “My intention has never been to spoil anyone’s career. But I think that’s inconsequential to me standing up to someone who has wronged women. As far as him going to court is concerned, that is his legal right and mine as well, to defend. So I’m not afraid to do that. Also, I want to be with Sona and join alliances with all women who have been wronged to bring justice to the table.”
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Singer Sona Mohapatra came out strongly against composer Anu Malik's open letter defending himself against allegations of sexual molestation
MID-DAY (November 16, 2019)

Singer Sona Mohapatra on Friday came out strongly against composer Anu Malik's open letter defending himself against allegations of sexual molestation, which were first levelled against him by Mohapatra in 2018. Thereafter, singers Neha Bhasin and Shweta Pandit had also accused Malik of sexual harassment.

On Thursday evening, Malik in his open letter on social media claimed that he feels "cornered" and "suffocated". The composer shared that he is going through a "dark phase", is "traumatised" and wants justice.

Responding to Malik in a long Instagram post, Mohapatra suggested that the composer should go for sex-rehab. Countering Malik's charge that her allegations were "false and unverified", the singer said the only truth in the matter was that "many more women" of the music industry had come out to level harassment charges against Malik.

Mohapatra wrote: "The only 'truths' that have surfaced after I called you out last year is that many more women have told their stories of sexual harassment, assault experiences with you. @shwetapandit7 told of her trauma of how you scarred her at a young age of 15. Danica D'Souza, Ex Indian Idol Producer told of how you harassed crew & contestants alike. Caralisa Monteiro spoke up too. Neha Bhasin spoke up a fortnight ago about her own story with you & many more who aren't known did too & in detail. Alisha Chinai corroborated the pattern & spoke her truth too. None of these women are connected or have anything to gain by speaking up about the predatory behaviour of one powerful, rich, perverted man."

The singer also highlighted the effect of his sexual misconduct on the mental health of the victims. She wrote: 'Unverified' allegations you say? These are multiple testimonies of independent sane women speaking coherently & they have a common story. What about the 'mental health' of all these people who have gone through this traumatic experience because of you? Did you care about them over these years? What about the mental health of the good India & all the victims & their families when they see you flaunting yourself on TV & Encouraging others like you?"

Last year, after Mohapatra's allegations first cropped up, Malik had to step down as judge of Sony TV's singing reality show "Indian Idol" Season 10. The controversy was reignited this year when the channel invited him back and Malik resumed his position as judge on Season 11 of the show.

Sona claimed that the composer is a "predator" and has no right to enjoy such a position on national television.

She further wrote on Instagram: "You have no right to be platformed on National TV till you make amends. 1.3 billion people exist in India. Not everyone needs to make crores on TV to survive or be 'judge' to young people whose safety they jeopardise. You aren't a role model. You could always take a break, go to a sex-rehab or counselling or somewhere to reflect on how to behave better. Ask your kids to do a hard days job & earn a salary. They are adults now. I started working at 22. Open a biriyani shop. Stay away from the public eye? Show remorse? Say sorry? If you did, this would not have happened. There you go! You answered your own Q. Show off shamelessly on TV & we be quiet?"

In his open letter, Malik had mentioned that "being a father of two daughters, I can't imagine committing the acts that I am accused of, let alone do it".

To which Sona countered: "Having two daughters has no link to being a predator," responded Sona. For those who had earlier accused her of trying to jeopardise "Indian Idol", a show that promotes bidding musical talent, she said: The show must go on. Without you. Don't jeopardise the hard work of so many & the dreams of so many contestants just for you. STEP DOWN."

Earlier on Thursday, the composer had claimed in his letter that the allegations against him are "false and unverified". He also alleged that these allegations have affected his and his family's mental health.

In the letter that Malik had shared on Twitter, he wrote: "It has been over a year that I have been accused of something that I haven't done. I have been silent all this while as I was waiting for the truth to surface on its own. But I realise that my silence on the matter has been misconstrued as my weakness."

"Ever since the false and unverified allegations were levelled against me, it has not only ruined my reputation, but affected me and my family's mental health, left us traumatised, and tarnished my career. I feel helpless, like I am being cornered and suffocated."

The 59-year-old composer, who is a father of two, also questioned why these allegations were not spoken about earlier.

"It's disgraceful that at this age, at this stage in my life I have to watch the most slanderous words and horrifying incidents being associated with my name."

"Why wasn't this spoken about before? Why do these allegations resurface only when I am back on television, which is currently my only source of livelihood?"

Malik had also threatened that he would take legal action to "safeguard" himself. "Fighting a battle on social media is an endless process, at the end of which nobody wins. If this keeps on continuing, I will have no option but to knock on the doors of the courts to safeguard myself," he tweeted.

He concluded his open letter saying: "I would like to thank all my well-wishers who have been with me and my family through this dark phase. I don't know how much more slander and dirt my family and I can take. The show must go on. But behind this happy face, I'm in pain. I'm in a dark space. And justice is all I want."

Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 12, 2019)

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi remembers feeling a little concerned when she got behind the microphone after 13 years. Her worst fears were realised when she discovered that she had “literally experienced a voice block”. She says, “I’ve been singing on stage ever since I was a child. But when I stopped singing about a decade ago, I lost my core.” Luckily, Suchitra’s guru, Ravi Jule, was there to encourage her. “He told me, ‘Tum Suchitra Krishanamoorthi ki awaaz bhool gayi ho, main nahin bhula’ (You may have forgotten Suchitra Krishanamoorthi’s voice, but I haven’t).” A little help from him and a nudge from friend and music veteran Atul Churamani helped the the pop singer—remembered for her 1990s prime-time hits such as “Dole Dole” and “Dum Tara”—add a new single, “Sawan Barse,” to her repertoire last November. Despite mixed reviews, it has 2.3 million Youtube views and Suchitra is clearly on a comeback trail.

She’s not the only one. Several artistes from the ’90s ‘Indipop boom’ are trying to make their way back into public memory. Alisha Chinai, who straddled the ’80s and the ‘90s with her catchy, foot-tapping hits, “Zooby Zooby” and “Made in India”, uploaded an English track called “Wild Heart”.

The Band of Boys, the five-piece-boy-band that is down to four, also came up a number, “Dil Sar Fira”, a few months ago and is giving final touches to the music video of their next, “O Chori”. Baba Sehgal --whose bare-chested ‘Jatissmo’ in music videos pumped up hits like “Dil Dhadke” and “Manjula”— has been the most prolific, having written, composed and produced videos for at least 80 songs in the last three years. The songs have been about everything, from chicken fried rice to Donald Trump.


On a rebound
Trying to break into the market as an Indipop artiste must have been hard enough the first time. Trying to do it again, in an industry where no one buys music any longer, can be just as challenging. Luckily, our popstars are prepared for this reality. “I am producing music under my own label and hosting it on my social media channels, since no one has bought my music in the last 10 years,” says Baba. His new songs sometimes feature in jingles and TVCs, thanks to product positioning (foods company would pass up a chance to ‘borrow’ a Baba Sehgal creation extolling the virtues of vada pav?). Even his Tweets rhyme: One MB is 1000 KB/ Weekend ka kya plan hai, baby? And he knows the rules of the game: “You have to be active to survive.”

Baba struck gold on YouTube when he returned to the scene three years ago with his cringe pop single “Going To The Gym (317k views), followed by “Chicken Fried Rice” (737k views) and “Aloo Ka Paratha” (829k views) making him an overnight internet sensation. But a comeback today cannot be sustained if one rests on one’s laurels, he reasons. “Stepping out of your comfort zone gives you reach and lets you connect with audiences who may or may not listen to your music. Sometimes, you have to do something that’s not what your audience expects you to do.” Two years ago, Baba made a video of him singing and played the djembe (an African-origin drum) to “Rashke Qamar”. “A tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and got 2.7 mn views.”


Reality bites
Sherrin Varghese, a member of Band of Boys, who also services the ad-film industry and performs live gigs on the side, opines that the music industry has made it virtually impossible for independent artists to thrive on their own. “Today, if I release a song on my own, I have to spend Rs 25 lakh just be on the shelf, and it would still get the 3 am slot, because Bollywood has bulk bought the adspace. What you see on TV are only 30-second promos and not the entire song any more. In the ’90s, songs were aired meritoriously and callers demanded them,” he sighs.

Even Alisha is not entirely oblivious of this shift in economics in the music industry. “Streaming brings in revenue only once you cross a certain number (of views) and a lot of it is available for free, so the revenue is much less now. Everyone is feeling the pinch, even in the West,” she avers. And while the singer is well aware that “there is no market for English music in India”, she asserts that social media is so big now that you don’t really need a music label and you can put out what you feel like. Her recent upload “Wild Heart” is a number synonymous with her own personality and was composed in 1990 as a demo (when she was living in New York). It lay in her wardrobe till she decided to upload it, along with a lyrics video, on YouTube. “It’s a showcase of your work — to make yourself visible again”, says Alisha who pins her absence in the last few years on personal issues.

That “Made in India” is still the largest-selling Indipop album and has 58 million views on YouTube is reassuring but it also raises the bar for Alisha. “I may have had monster hits such as 'Kajra Re', 'Kaante Nahin Kat Te', 'Sexy Sexy', 'Tinka Tinka' and others, but playback singing was just a second option for me. I was always essentially a pop artiste,” says the singer who plans to do tours later this year once she has a decent collection of new music.

Even Suchitra backs the commercial viability of live gigs. “Digital doesn’t have a reliable revenue model yet to sustain an artist so one has to turn to live performances,” she says. The singer has been performing along with her guru and solo as well. She plans to do more tours this year. “Kaveri will be going to college soon, so I plan to get myself even more busy,” she says. Her daughter released her own single, “Did You Know” two years ago.

Keeping up with the times
What’s hip today will be vintage tomorrow, and the musical preferences couldn’t be more fickle than it is today. “The consumption is so voracious today that even the best song in the world would only last for a month,” says Sherrin, admitting that their new compositions account for existing fans and contemporary listening tastes.

Baba agrees that songs have become ‘perishable’ and constantly producing new stuff is the answer: “Inspiration can come from anywhere.” His latest brainwave was triggered by a guy’s challenge in reaching his girlfriend’s apartment. The lyrics go, “Tera Flat Hain In Pachchas Mala, Open Karunga Tere Dil Ka Taala, Tere Pyar Ka Banunga Mein Caretaker, Chahe Lift Mein Aa Jaye Alligator. (Chorus) Elevator Mein Aligator, I’m Your Lover, Not Your Hater”.

Even Suchitra has stuck her neck out to try out something she never thought she’d ever consider — recording a cover. “I never did it when I was a solo artist. But now I am inspired by artists like Vidya Vox who have millions of subscribers on YouTube. There are artists who have made careers just singing covers alone,” she reasons.

Surviving social media
One aspect that the popstars weren’t prepared for was the brutality of social media and the onslaught of anonymous trolls. Among the initial comments to Suchitra’s comeback music video “Sawan Barse” was a particularly hurtful one which said ‘tera sawan baras gaya’ or some such nonsense. Given the accessible and democratic nature of social media, being open to judgement and criticism is something our former popstars have to be prepared for. Baba, for one, has developed a thick skin over the years. “When I was a social-media newbie three years ago, there would be trolls roundly abusing me. Now I still get trolled, but I’ve also acquired followers who abuse my trolls back,” he smiles, adding that one of his videos received over a thousand abusive comments. “As long as they are getting traction, it’s fine. Being abused is fine too — it means that they are being noticed. Even big stars get trolled.”

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 20, 2018)

A few days ago, singer Sona Mohapatra accused composer Anu Malik of sexual harassment and soon after that, singer Shweta Pandit also accused him of sexually harassing her when she was 15 years old.

In a long note shared on Twitter, Shweta wrote, “It was the year 2000 when I was launched as a lead singer with Mohabbatein and was trying to get other good songs to follow up with the success of that soundtrack and the welcome it gave me in the music industry. He was recording a song with Sunidhi Chauhan and Shaan for Awara Paagal Deewana, when my mother and I walked into the monitor room. He told me to wait in the cabin inside… It was just him and me there. He then asked me to sing a few lines for a voice test. I sang it well and he said he will give me a song with Sunidhi and Shaan, but first give me a kiss now.” (sic) Anu Malik has called her allegations ‘ridiculous’ and his lawyer, Zulfiquar Memon, has issued a statement: “The allegations made against my client are emphatically denied as completely false and baseless. My client respects the #MeToo movement, but to use this movement to start a character assassination mission is obnoxious.”

Shweta, who is the grand niece of Pandit Jasraj, was in Rome for a concert, when BT contacted her. She said, “This is the whole issue. These men in power constantly think that they can get away with anything. First, it was Alisha Chinai, then Sona Mohapatra and now me. How can these allegations be baseless? Are we all mad? We were asked to keep shut at that time, because they told us that how can you go against the people who give you work? Can you imagine how numb I went when he asked me to kiss him? I was so depressed that I didn’t want to work in the industry.” She adds, “I wanted to share this so that I can warn other girls who are working with him. Truth is like fire and it spreads. All these years, we have dealt with such situations and it’s usually the women who are told to calm down. In our country, when women are sexually harassed, why are they asked to shut up? People say ‘Hota hai, jaane do’. It has taken me a great deal to open up now and speak about it. The reason why I don’t have a single song with him in my entire career is now out in the public. He asked me to sing something without any music, as he wanted to hear my voice. I remember I sang the title song of Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega as a voice test for him. I sang it well, so he said, ‘I will give you this song with Sunidhi and Shaan, but first give me a kiss now.” Obviously, I had to walk out. In fact, before this happened, I was a big fan of his music. I wanted to sing for him. These powerful men don’t understand that such harassment destroys lives. All these years, I had to struggle and deal with it. At least, the #MeToo movement is empowering women to talk about it. We are entitled to a work environment where such things don’t happen.”

Reacting to lyricist Sameer’s tweet (posted on Thursday) in which he supported Anu Malik, she said, “It is all lies. It’s a boys club supporting each other.”
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Lyricist Sameer Anjaan defends Anu Malik, recalling Shweta Pandit’s visit to his studio over a decade ago
Soumya Vajpayee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 20, 2018)

A day after Shweta Pandit accused Anu Malik of sexual harassment, lyricist Sameer Anjaan took to Twitter to support him. When BT reached out to Sameer, he said that he was present at the recording studio when Shweta and her mother visited Anu Malik.

Recalling the incident, Sameer said, “I knew Shweta’s entire family and she would often request me to arrange a meeting with Anu ji. The day she came to his studio with her mother, I was there as we were working on a song. When Anu ji asked her to sing, she requested if they could go to another room. But Anu ji said, it’s better if everyone in the studio listens, too. After listening to her sing, he said, ‘Beta, I like your voice, but we have singers at the moment. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I will call you’.”

Sameer added, “I’m amazed with the allegations that she has levelled on Anu ji after 15 years! Just imagine, she was a 15-year-old girl back then, who came to the studio with her mom. How would anyone have the audacity to take her to another room in front of her mother? And even if we assume that he did, being a teenager, the first thing anyone would do is tell her mother immediately. What made her keep the truth under wraps for 15 years? She belongs to a musical family, so how could she accuse a senior musician like him? I have known Anu ji for many years. He respects the people he works with. If she is so sure, instead of speaking to the media without any evidence, she should go to the court.”

She may have been MIA for a while, but Alisha Chinai hopes to be third time lucky with her music
Deepali Singh (DNA; September 8, 2017)

She was the original baby doll, way before Sunny Leone burst onto the screen with her seductive moves. While Alisha Chinai is self-admittedly not the greatest singer, she does have a voice texture and style which remains unparalled in B-Town till today. A couple of years ago, the singer took a sabbatical from playback singing, to give her full attention to her father who was suffering from cancer. She spends a lot of time at her place in Alibaug. “I’m up in my ivory tower there, meeting nobody but my three dogs and staff. I have made friends with myself, and I’m in a happy place,” she tells us. She is now on social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, but that’s more to know what’s going on than to connect with her fans. “It doesn’t come naturally to me,” she admits, “But I realise that one can’t be so insular. I want to keep the vibe going,” says the singer. Here, she talks about her plans of putting out her own songs, her aversion to playback and why Made In India still remains an anthem...

You seem to be pretty active on Twitter.
It’s on and off. It’s just curiosity to know what exactly is going on in the world. I just want to touch base. There was a whole phase where I didn’t want to know. I had gone into my little cocoon. Now, I’m in a social mood. I’m in a different space now, so I want to check out what’s going on, where the music is going, where the people are going. It’s not only about music when you’re on these social platforms. There are so many other things to learn about art or food.

Who do you follow?
I joined Twitter some time ago. I followed a couple of international news sites, The Real Donald Trump, etc and of course, all the biggest pop stars of the world or people in the music business. Quite honestly, I only follow a handful of people from here. And Facebook is ridiculous, everyone wants to be my friend and I don’t even know most of these people! So, I now have two accounts, one for my personal friends and another for fans and public. Don’t be surprised if I close shop and disappear again!

Even after all these years, your voice still sounds fresh...
That’s because I don’t over sing. I don’t believe in quantity. Plus, I don’t have a voice that can fit into every mould. So in that sense, I don’t really have a ‘playback’ voice. Of course, when it was Kajra Re, it worked like magic. Aishwarya (Rai Bachchan) looked like she was actually singing that song. It was a marriage made in heaven. Or when you see Priyanka (Chopra) sing Tinka Tinka. The song is a classic!

Your last playback number was in 2013. What made you go off it?
Honestly, I just shut myself off. My dad was suffering from cancer. That happened in 2011 and the whole of 2012-13, it was all hospitals and chemotherapy, multitasking and managing everything. I used to shuttle back and forth from Alibaug. Two-three years went by and I just switched off. I became a bit introspective, asking myself if all this really mattered. At the end of the day, what matters is who you want to be with. My dad is very special to me and I wanted to be there for him. I can always get my career back or work back at it but this time with him is not going to come back. I thought he was almost gone then. He’s survived for six years after that, but he’s still fragile. That’s always on my mind and so, I can’t totally concentrate on my work. But I also keep my finger on the pulse because everyone is like, you can’t completely neglect your work. Even I feel the whole scene has changed now with so many singers.

So are you not interested in playback at all now?
I don’t know. There are a lot of new record companies and new talent. Too many singers are desperately putting themselves out for free. They are compromising everything so much that they’re short-changing themselves. Frankly, even big movies are not doing well, the scripts are bad. Movies run on music, and yet, the singers are the worst paid. There is no respect left because these people are short-changing themselves.

Actors, like Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha have taken to singing. What do you think of that trend?
Actresses singing is fine, at least it’s real and makes them a little more credible. Alia is gorgeous and she may not be the greatest singer, but it’s real.

What about private albums or singles?
What I’m doing now is exploring all possibilities and trying to get my finger on the pulse, as you say. I’m warming up. Now there are YouTube and so many other platforms where you can put your own songs out. So, that’s the best way to go. I’m still trying to figure out how to re-invent myself. At the moment, I’m exploring and also creating content, writing my own songs and producing them and then, hopefully by the end of this year, I should be able to put out some singles.

Have your musical influences changed over the years?
Yes, definitely they have. I listen to VH1 all the time. All these fabulous international singers and every voice is so special. They write their own music, have their own style, which makes them so distinctive. They are real artistes. Adele, of course, writes these painful ballads which make you sob. I love Attention by Charlie Puth, it’s my current hot favourite. And, of course, I love Despacito! That’s like the current anthem.

Has your approach towards your craft changed?
So, I’m not really inspired to playback for actresses at all. It just doesn’t turn me on. I could do a one-off if it’s a very, very special thing. I want to do my own songs and explore a whole new audience. I only think and write in English. So, I’m trying to warm up and figure it out. I will start small and see where it goes.

While the independent music scene seems to be doing well, there are no Indipop singers as such. Why do you think that’s happened?
We need to have that kind of quantity and quality where it takes over everything else. There has to be a complete shift from Bollywood, or at least keep a parallel interest in it. The shift will happen but it will take time. Also, the show culture here is not as it is abroad. We don’t have the infrastructure or the kind of money that funds all that.

Are you in touch with any of your contemporaries from the Indipop days?
I’m in touch with the guys I worked with in the business. I connect with them on Facebook and here and there. But if you mean the singers, then no, I’m not in touch with them.

It’s been more than 20 years to Made In India but that songs remains as fresh as ever in people’s memories...
It’s not a song, it’s an anthem! There are songs and there are songs and there is Made In India. I’m being very pompous but that’s the truth (laughs).

You presented Milind Soman in that gorgeous avatar. Are you still in touch with him?
I know, gorgeous, haan? (Smiles) Ya, I bump into him at Alibaug at the Bohemyan Blue Cafe. He keeps pulling my leg to lose weight and run in the marathon, and I’m like, shut up, I’m happy eating! (Laughs)

Have you ever thought of remixing or revamping the song?
Yes, in fact, I was planning to put up a remix this Independence Day but I didn’t like the mix. I’m going to try and do it with an international producer now. The minute I get the correct remix, which is as good as the original or even better, then it’s great. It will be for a whole new generation. Let’s see when that happens. Before that, I want to put out some of my own English singles. I’m just going to go with the flow. I’m doing music to please myself now. It’s very self-indulgent. I’m hoping it works some magic and we get another big hit. I think my time has come. Every 10 years, I have a monster hit. I hope I’m third time lucky.