Overwhelmed attendees, like last year’s Indian Idol finalist Amit Sana, accompanied by his entire family, waited eagerly to greet her at the completion of the interview. At the end of the interview, Mangeshkar mentioned that on this day, she missed her late co-artistes Kishore Kumar, R D Burman and Mohammed Rafi.

'I don't want to be a wholesale movie singer'

Arthur J Pais in New York

September 05, 2006 16:32 IST
If someone were to put a gun to Sonu Nigam's head and ask him to choose just one thing what would the singer, actor, disc jockey and concert star do?

"It is a tough question," Nigam says. After a pause, he answers, "I think I will do the concerts and forget my pop albub, my movie songs and my interest in acting."

Concerts never fail to give me the biggest high."

He has sung enough movie songs in the past six years, he feels, to fill over a dozen concerts each month.

He hastens to add that he is not choosing concerts over pop albums and movie songs because he is travelling across North America performing in nearly a dozen cities now.

"Any artist who is performing before a large, live audience knows the thrill is incomparable," says the 32-year-old singer whose recent hits include the numbers from successful films Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Krrish (Koi Tumsa Nahin), Fanaa (Mere Haath Mein) and Bunty Aur Babli (Chup Chup Ke).

"Performing in a concert takes me to a very different world. You feel like a dictator when you perform at a concert," he says chuckling. "For you have to control thousands of people. In India, I have performed before over 80,000 people."

"You have to be a dictator, you have to be a performer," he continues, "and you have to be a hypnotist, and at the same you are mesmerising the audience, you should also be very, very humble."

"The listeners won't care how well your recorded song in Kal Ho Naa Ho or Fanaa sounded. What the listener wants you to sound as fresh and as melodious you can be. In fact, they expect you to sound better than in a recording syu"

The title song from Kal Ho Naa Ho fetched him numerous awards, including the National Award. "People have begun taking me more seriously than ever," he says. I tell him that Manna Dey had predicted five years ago that he expected, among all the newer singers, that Sonu Nigam would reach great heights.

"His blessing means a lot to me," the singer says. "And it also reminds me that one should never take success to one's head in this profession because luck and destiny play very important roles in one's success. But to continue to improve one's voice and remain faithful to one's calling is very important."

The North American concerts are significant to him, he said, because he was returning to give almost solo performances after a gap of nearly five-and-a-half years.

"The show is called Simply Sonu for very good reasons," he says. "I am going to be like a child before the audience, giving in to their requests. If they want the Veer-Zaara (Do Pal) song, I am ready for them. If they want Suraj Hua Maddham from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, I am ready for it. And I am even ready if they want me to sing any song, especially the songs of my idol, Mohammad Rafi."

Three-and-a-half years ago, Nigam was in America, performing for the A R Rahman show, opening it with the title song of Saathiya.

"But that was hardly my show," he says chuckling. "A lot has happened in the last three years, and my fans are eager to hear live my songs from such films as Parineeta (Piyu Bole and Soona Man Ka Angan), Paheli (Dheere Jalana), Main Hoon Naa. There are so many beautiful songs that I am going to sing for the very first time in a concert in America and Canada."

He recalls that when he sang live for the first time -- in New Delhi -- the Anu Malik composition Sandese Aate Hai from Border, he had no idea how big the song had turned out to be.

"There was so much of applause and demand that I sing it again," he says, of his first big hit, "I was too happy to oblige. Soon I got to know it was one of the most popular songs of its time."

1997 was a watershed year for the singer, and it should not be a surprise to anyone that many of his concerts feature his two famous songs in that year.

"On one hand, I had Sandese Aate Hai," he recalls. "And on the other hand, Ye Dil Diwana in Pardes was a huge hit. The second song proved that I could sing lively, hip numbers, that I was a versatile singer."

The break in Border came after nearly a decade of struggle in Mumbai, after he had sung a handful of songs for veteran composer Usha Khanna, whose career was on the decline, and a few numbers for Amar-Utpal, whose career was going nowhere.

"There were many good songs I had sung for many films," he says with a sigh, "but they were later 'dubbed' by established singers whose voice was retained in the films and on the tapes."

In spite of many setbacks, he got couple of mild hits like Accha Sila Diya Tune Mere Pyar Ka in Sanam Bewafa but nothing would match the success of his song in Border.

"I had sung a few minor songs for Anu Malik before Border," he continues. "But when he decided to give me a major break in Border, everything began to change for me."

A few years later, he would sing Saatrangi Re for A R Rahman in Dil Se. Among his favourite numbers for Rahman is Mera Rang De Basanti from The Legend of Bhagat Singh. "There is hardly a concert where that number is not featured," he says.

Nigam says one of his strongest supporters is his father, the singer Agam Kumar. "I think I must have been four years old when I first performed before a live audience, thanks to the concerts my father used to organise," he says.

Before he got his singing breaks, Nigam also acted in several films as a child artist but hardly anyone remembers him in films like Kaamchor.

"As a singer, there were not many opportunities 20 years ago," he says. "A professional singer had to find place in the movies to be successful. But when television began booming, people like me got many opportunities to show our talent."

Helping him to get a good foothold in the industry was the television show SaReGaMaPa. He hosted some 200 episodes of the show that brought him in contact with many top composers and singers in Mumbai.

He never really felt discouraged during his struggling days, he says. "I knew I had to wait for the right opportunity at the right time, and it came with Border".

Soon there were hit songs in films like Taal, Refugee and Pukar. And it looked like every composer wanted to use him. Along with Udit Narayan, and to a lesser extent Sukhvindra Singh, he became one of the hottest singers in the country.

Nigam married Madhurima Mishra four years ago, He met her the first time in 1995 when she attended a concert featuring him in Kolkata and went up to him to get his autograph.

"I don't want to be a wholesale movie singer," he says, adding that he has enjoyed enormously producing the pop albums, Mausam, Sapnay Ki Baat, Kismat and Deewana. He has also had fun hosting the television show Kisme Kitna Dum Hai and being a judge on Indian Idol.

"I know there will be many awkward situations when I say 'no,'" he says. "But I am hoping I will be able to strike a balance between movie singing, and my other interests."

Interview

Sonu Nigam is now an actor. He seems to love acting as much as his singing now.

Recently he even cancelled a recording to accommodate his shooting schedule. This at a time, when he has set a record for singing 36 songs in a day, remixes, but nevertheless a feat by itself. Excerpts from an interview with the singer turned star.:

Why was the necessity to shift stance form singing to acting?
In case you are not aware, I have been an actor before. I have acted as a child artiste in many films playing young Rakesh Roshan, Sunny Deol, Mithun Chakraborthy among others. So I had acted before. It was not as if I had not faced the camera ever.

No, our question is why did you shift, when you were doing so well?
See, I have not shifted. I am still singing. I have been besieged with offers ever since I have been doing TVS Sa Re Ga Ma. I was originally supposed to be acting in Shekhar Kapur's film Tararumpumpum. But ever since he shifted base to Hollywood, the film never worked out. Meanwhile I had been singing. My singing got noticed, I got good offers to sing and TVS Sa Re Ga Ma happened leading to me getting acting offers again.

How did you feel taking on a risk like this at a time in your career?
Though singing has always been my passion and ambition, I like undertaking new ventures. My exposure in video albums and hosting the Sa Re Ga Ma show on the small screen, had already brought me into lime-light. As it is, casting new faces became a trend in 2000. Many new comers like Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan conquered the show. So I know that I am on a tough ground. I was the best when it came to music videos. I am reasonably well off as a singer. But here, I will be compared with the best even though I am just starting off. People like Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar and recently Hrithik and Abhishek have done well. I will be pitted against them, voluntarily or involuntarily.

Which are the movies that you are currently doing?
Currently I am doing Raj Kumar Kohli's Jaani Dushman. I am also doing a Raj Babbar movie and a few other movies, which I wouldn't like to unveil so soon. I am simply enjoying each and every movie that I am doing presently. I would not jump into doing too many films now.

How do you feel, facing the camera as an actor?
I am nervous but at the same time happy. I at times feel the loss of confidence, when all the arc lights are more on me. But Raj Kumar Kohli has enabled me to become camera friendly by regularly boosting up my confidence, and I am at ease while mouthing my dialogues.

We heard you did a very risky shot in this film Jaani Dushman...
Yeah, one of the shots I did was a great dare devilry. I am not a swimmer. In the movie there is a particular fight and a chase scene here I and Akki (Akshay Kumar), are in speed boats. I was all alone riding my boat with an average speed of 15 to 20, whereas Akki zoomed in full speed. A helicopter which was hovering above me cajoled me to go faster and finish the scene but I was mentally unprepared. They were talking with each other about my fear on their walkie-talkies. I had a handset with me and I could hear their conversations. That made me very aggressive. I set the boat on a high speed and only manoeuvred the steering wheel. I matched the speed with Akki, as the unit was taken aback, all were wondering whether I will injure myself or crash land. Thank God everything went right.

Is this your first film?
As for facing the camera, yes it's my first film as hero. Otherwise, I have first signed Ramesh Taurani's three films and then Devgan's to be directed by Akashdeep. But they haven't started as yet.

Interview

Sonu Nigam is now an actor. He seems to love acting as much as his singing now.

Recently he even cancelled a recording to accommodate his shooting schedule. This at a time, when he has set a record for singing 36 songs in a day, remixes, but nevertheless a feat by itself. Excerpts from an interview with the singer turned star.:

Why was the necessity to shift stance form singing to acting?
In case you are not aware, I have been an actor before. I have acted as a child artiste in many films playing young Rakesh Roshan, Sunny Deol, Mithun Chakraborthy among others. So I had acted before. It was not as if I had not faced the camera ever.

No, our question is why did you shift, when you were doing so well?
See, I have not shifted. I am still singing. I have been besieged with offers ever since I have been doing TVS Sa Re Ga Ma. I was originally supposed to be acting in Shekhar Kapur's film Tararumpumpum. But ever since he shifted base to Hollywood, the film never worked out. Meanwhile I had been singing. My singing got noticed, I got good offers to sing and TVS Sa Re Ga Ma happened leading to me getting acting offers again.

How did you feel taking on a risk like this at a time in your career?
Though singing has always been my passion and ambition, I like undertaking new ventures. My exposure in video albums and hosting the Sa Re Ga Ma show on the small screen, had already brought me into lime-light. As it is, casting new faces became a trend in 2000. Many new comers like Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan conquered the show. So I know that I am on a tough ground. I was the best when it came to music videos. I am reasonably well off as a singer. But here, I will be compared with the best even though I am just starting off. People like Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar and recently Hrithik and Abhishek have done well. I will be pitted against them, voluntarily or involuntarily.

Which are the movies that you are currently doing?
Currently I am doing Raj Kumar Kohli's Jaani Dushman. I am also doing a Raj Babbar movie and a few other movies, which I wouldn't like to unveil so soon. I am simply enjoying each and every movie that I am doing presently. I would not jump into doing too many films now.

How do you feel, facing the camera as an actor?
I am nervous but at the same time happy. I at times feel the loss of confidence, when all the arc lights are more on me. But Raj Kumar Kohli has enabled me to become camera friendly by regularly boosting up my confidence, and I am at ease while mouthing my dialogues.

We heard you did a very risky shot in this film Jaani Dushman...
Yeah, one of the shots I did was a great dare devilry. I am not a swimmer. In the movie there is a particular fight and a chase scene here I and Akki (Akshay Kumar), are in speed boats. I was all alone riding my boat with an average speed of 15 to 20, whereas Akki zoomed in full speed. A helicopter which was hovering above me cajoled me to go faster and finish the scene but I was mentally unprepared. They were talking with each other about my fear on their walkie-talkies. I had a handset with me and I could hear their conversations. That made me very aggressive. I set the boat on a high speed and only manoeuvred the steering wheel. I matched the speed with Akki, as the unit was taken aback, all were wondering whether I will injure myself or crash land. Thank God everything went right.

Is this your first film?
As for facing the camera, yes it's my first film as hero. Otherwise, I have first signed Ramesh Taurani's three films and then Devgan's to be directed by Akashdeep. But they haven't started as yet.

'I'll be very asli'

Okay, so Hrithik Roshan is the newest heart-throb of India's PYTs. Hero Number 1, if you will. Guess who is Darling Number Two, the second-most-sought-after Bollywood boy? Chocolate-faced-singer-turned-anchorperson- turning-actor Sonu Nigam, that's who. Girls and women, single or otherwise, adore him as much as they swoon over the H(e)-man. For millions of Indian television viewers, Sonu is a familiar figure, thanks to the smashing success of his song show Sa Re Ga Ma.

"I've got 27 offers," he told Suresh Parekh in an interview at the Silver Palace Hotel in Rajkot. For a guy who does not have a single release to his name yet, that is an awesome record. Over to the versatile gent...

Is it true that it is not just females, but film-makers too, who chase you these days?

Yes, that's true. I've received some offers. In fact, I've received 27 film offers. But, to be very frank, I'll be doing only three films. Besides, I also need a lot of time to ponder my acting career.

Why is that?

Since boyhood, I'd always wanted to be a singer. I can't metamorphose into an actor overnight. I need three-four months to make up my mind. Right now, I'm not sure about acting. My singing career is shaping up very well. Maybe, the next three-four months will clear the picture.

And the Tips music company has already signed you on for a movie?

Yes, I've signed two movies, but I've not committed dates to anyone else so far. But I told Tips that, if I do their movie, it will be my first film.

Who is going to direct it?

I wouldn't like to go into details since everything is in the pipeline.

Raj Kanwar?

No. That will be my second film.

Have you set yourself any guidelines for signing films?

I have to, because I believe in quality, not quantity. If you have followed my career so far, then you will know that I've always sung good songs and done quality programmes like Sa Re Ga Ma. So, if I eventually do films, I will definitely look at the banner, director and, above all, the storyline. That should explain why I chose only three out of the 27 films I have been offered.

You have established yourself as a playback singer. Would Sonu, the singer, sing for Sonu, the actor?

Yes, he would I will be singing most of the songs, perhaps all the songs. That's very obvious.

Who will be the music director?

I'm not sure. I don't have any information.

As Sa Re Ga Ma's anchor, yours was a long and busy journey. And now, suddenly, you have decided to move away from it all.

I know Sa Re Ga Ma has done wonders for my career. I achieved fame, status, money, satisfaction and what have you. To be very frank, from the day Sa Re Ga Ma started, I'd prayed to God everyday. It was a challenge for me and I did well. I'm happy with my own performance and its outcome.

Why do you think you were successful? Was it money that inspired you?

Money? Certainly not. Because I was not doing it for the sake of money. I left the programme because I was fed up. I was doing it for the last five years. And this is the sort of programme where you have to say only nice things. So I've to praise everyone in each episode. I did that by changing a few words, but I was saying the same thing in the end. My heart was not in it after a while, that's why I decided to take a break. And, anyway, five years is not a small period.

You have the typical chocolate-boy looks. You should do well as far as the romantic scenes are concerned. But how comfortable will you be in action/stunt scenes?

That's a good question. But, again, I'd say that I myself don't know. I don't have enough self-confidence right now.

Singing and acting. Which of the two are you more comfortable with?

Right now, singing. But I will try my best in the movie too.

How do you see your transition from singing to acting?

I'm asking myself how well I'm doing. Should I act or not? But, again, I'd say that, in the next two-three months, the confusion will clear.

This seems to be the era of Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan and the Khans. Does this give you sleepless nights?

I won't be able to answer this question because I've not concentrated 100 per cent on my film career.

When is the work on your first movie going to start?

Not before November.

Are you planning to enroll in any institute for a course in acting?

I know I still have three-four months. I've not decided about it. But yes, I'll discuss the finer points with the experts in the film industry.

As an actor, what would your top priority be?

Doing good things in a good way -- that has always been my top priority and will continue to be so in future as well. Not only as an actor but as a singer, anchor and human being. I came to Bombay as a playback singer. I'd like to believe that God has helped me land some great assignments. When I decided to try my hand at anchoring television shows, I got the chance to work for a very good programme. And now, I'm going to do a movie. I hope God will again help me.

What, according to you, was the best aspect of Sa Re Ga Ma?

Perhaps the face-to-face meeting of the newcomers with the legends of the Indian film industry. I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of meeting for many of them. I also took pride that I met with and talked to so many legends during my five year stint. Each show is a memory.

Are you keen on singing the Western type of songs? Or is it the classical segment which interests you?

Classical singing is the best thing, perhaps the ultimate. But I do believe that, if you sing even Western songs with good technique and style, it is very appealing. The connoisseurs too will like it. A good example is my song, Deewana mera... from my album, Jaan.

As a singer, what is your strongest point?

Versatility. See, if you look at songs like What is your mobile number? and Zindagi maut na ban jaaye sambhaalo yaaro, Bijuriya bijuriya and Ye phoolo ki dukaan per gori ka makaan, you will notice that they are quite different from each other. But I think I was at ease in all those songs.

Is this the secret of your success?

No. The secret of my success is God. Success doesn't come through talent only, it comes through God.

If you had not became a singer, what would you be?

A scientist.

Any marriage plans?

In coming four-five years (laughs).

Who is the most beautiful heroine you have seen so far?

I think we have plenty of beautiful heroines. But I like Aishwarya Rai, Marilyn Monroe and Tabu, for her expressions.

Would you like to work with Aishwarya Rai and Tabu?

Yes, why not?

Who is your all-time favourite actor?

Amitabh Bachchan. I'm a great fan of Sanjeev Kumar and Dilip Kumar too.

Would you choose any of them as your role model?

No. I think that is not fair. I'd try to be natural, myself. Even in the Sa Re Ga Ma show, I was very natural. Let me tell you that, in my acting career, I'll be very asli.

In the last couple of years things have dramatically changed for Sonu Nigam. There was a time one recalls when he used to complain that music directors and the music companies were not interested in promoting songs sung by him. But things have dramatically changed in the last couple of years. And it all started with Border where his song(song along with Roop Kumar Rathore) Sandese Aate Hain became very popular and was all over the music channels. Having conquered the uncertain Bollywood music industry, Nigam set his eyes on the Indi-pop scene. He started out with Tu, the music of which was produced by Biddu. The album was a moderate success. But with Deewana, Sonu Nigam has a winner in his hands.

As one can make out from the title of the album, Deewana has everything to do with love. The eight songs in the album convey the sundry moods of love --from Izhaar(confession) to Judai(separation). All the eight songs have been penned by Faiz Anwar, the music of which has been composed by Sajid-Wajid.

The album opens with Aab Mujhe Raat Din, a romantic number which has been picturised on Deewakar Pundir in the music video by Anubhav Sinha. The song has already become a rage. At times it is being telecast simultaneously on Channel V and MTV. What makes the song different from the other love ballads doing the rounds of the music channels is that it has been sung with a lot of feeling. Quite unlike Nigam, who has been reduced to singing devotional songs and Rafi clones by Bollywood film industry. The song is simply music to ears, if one can put it that way.

If Aab Mujhe Raat Din is akin to soft nothings being whispered in the beloved ears, the title track of the album is more of an open confession, announcing to the world that you are a deewana.

Other songs worth mentioning are Dil Se Dil Tak Baat Pahunchi, a ghazal which has excellent lyrics, Kuch Tum Socho and Kaun Hai Woh Ladki.

It is very rare to find an album which has more than two or three quality songs. But Deewana is an exception. It doesn't matter whether you are a Sonu Nigam fan or not, it is one album which you can enjoy from the beginning to the end.

Album - Deewana

Singer - Sonu Nigam

Sonu Nigam

"I wanted to be this successful!"

By Kavita Awasthi

Sonu Nigam is already a sensation but he still feels he has miles to go before he sleeps. Dressed casually in a t-shirt and starched tracks, Sonu sits comfortably in his huge house that has a theme for every room. His office has a jungle theme and his phone is a crocodile toy, his riyaz room is done up like a village "only my bedroom is normal to help me keep in touch with normalcy," quips Sonu. With his curly hair look and soft smile, Sonu talks on the occasion valentine and release of his latest album Yaad.


Deewana and Jaan were romantic albums, how different would Yaad be?

Yaad is different from my previous albums as there is a blend of classical and western tunes along with the normal Indian music compositions. This is my fourth pop album with T Series and it gives me immense pleasure to have had such a credible record behind me with T Series who gave me the first break in singing. Yaad has 10 songs and music by Nikhil Vinay and Ravi Pawar. We were working on the songs and lyrics for a long time now because we didn't want to repeat ourselves. More than me Bhushan (Kumar) is charged about the album. I plan to release an album a year so that I can have my fill with the playback singing and non-filmi albums too. To my surprise Deewana and Jaan were super success and still keep selling.

You have been singing similar kind of songs both in film and non-film genre. Don't you feel you could do something different at least where you call the shots?

Look it's true that I can sing like a whole lot different Sonu. But the problem is that people perhaps don't want me to sing in another way or even experiment. I tried that in Mausam my other album where I had a Sufiyana kind of song and another pure classical one, then there was Bijuriya which was an folk touch to it but the album was not as big a hit as Deewana or Jaan so I have to consider the commercial prospects of the company too before I unleash my versatility on them. I think Indian audiences need some more time to get bored of the same songs to appreciate some other variety. Bhushan wanted me to continue with romance. I will do sufi songs, ghazals and classical numbers but for now that will have to wait. Through Yaad I am merely catering to the demand of the masses. I want to Yaad to be a bigger hit than the previous ones.

People feel that there have been too many Sonu Nigam songs this year. Comment.

Well I do agree that 90 % of films released this year had at least one song sung by me or the whole album but I feel now is the time when I can sing a lot. Tomorrow some other singer will come and people would run after him. So I really don't think it's wrong that I am going overboard. I do plan to do less work in future though. I have not really portrayed my versatility so I will hang around for as long as I feel. People don't know how well I can sing and what all I can sing. Playback singing these days is not too tough. One song hardly differs from the other. Stars have their images and so stereotypical songs like for Govinda we have particular songs likewise for other stars like Shah Rukh, Hrithik, Ajay Devgan or Bobby. We don't have ghazals or classical singing at all. Film music is constrained. Playback singing is all about establishing your voice then when you suit everybody, you are in demand. I have sung for Amitabh Abhishek, Dharmendra, Sunny, Bobby, Hrithik, Shah Rukh, Govinda and so many others. I wanted to be this successful. Playback singing was my ambition not pop music even though the latter is more lucrative.

Star Interviews - BBC Online

Discovered by the late business tycoon Gulshan Kumar, this young star has now established himself as one the most popular singers in the industry. With his musical TV show already a huge success all over the globe what lies ahead for the very handsome Sonu Nigam?

Rajni: Sonu, what’s it like being a heartthrob? Everywhere you go girls are crazy about you!
Sonu: Thanks for that Rajni, but I really don’t know why that is. My dad and my brother in law deal with all my fan mail - I don’t go to clubs or parties, I just do my work and come home.

Rajni: But you seem to be different from other singers as the female fan following that you have is on a par with the film stars.
Sonu: I really don’t know why Rajni. Actually I’m blushing and I don’t know what to say but I don’t think that I’m that different from other singers.

Rajni: Would you go for an arranged marriage or would you find your own partner?
Sonu: When I was younger I always said that I’d never get married and I wouldn’t want to bring children in to this world where there is so much unhappiness. But my views have changed now and I would go for a love marriage and find my own partner, someone who would respect my family and also respect other religions. I’m sorry to say that today there are so many people who only respect their own religions, but expect others to respect theirs. Also, my partner doesn’t have to be a great singer…

Rajni: ...but has to have an interest in music as music plays a large part in your life?
Sonu: Yes, definitely.

Rajni: Sonu this really surprises me because throughout the interview the impression that one gets is that you’d go for a traditional marriage instead of a love marriage.
Sonu: Rajni that’s a good question. Most people are surprised when they learn that I’d go for a love marriage.

Rajni: Do you believe in love at first sight?
Sonu: Yes.

Rajni: Have you noticed a change in attitude from filmmakers and music directors towards you now that you achieved fame and success as compared to when you started out?
Sonu: The attitude is the same but now I can ask which actor I’m singing for and I like to know about the story. When I started out I never had the guts to ask.

Rajni: Did you realise when your TV show Sa Re Ga Ma started out that it would become a huge success around the globe?
Sonu: No, I was very nervous because it was something totally different. We had entertainment shows but nothing like this as it involved a slower pace with different types of music like classical, pop etc. Above all, it involved finding new talent. But it’s a wonderful feeling to see that Sa Re Ga Ma has been appreciated.

Rajni: Presenting a show like Sa Re Ga Ma, you’ve had the chance of meeting some of the biggest names from music. What has been your most memorable highlight?
Sonu: I’ve been very lucky and God has been very kind to me, but meeting Naushad Saab was very special.

Rajni: When you sing in front of big star guests aren’t you nervous?
Sonu: Yes I’m always nervous especially when you’re singing a song by Naushad Saab knowing that he’s sitting right there watching you recite his original song.

Rajni: When you take the show on the road outside India, does it surprise you to see the response that you get?
Sonu: Yes, always. It’s wonderful to see the love that you receive from people all over the world. It really amazes me.

Listener: Sonu, I’m coming to India soon and I’d like to know how to get an audition for Sa Re Ga Ma because I really want to become a singer.
Sonu: About Sa Re Ga Ma, I’m quitting the show. In fact, I already have quit the show.

Rajni: Sonu, did I just hear what I thought I heard?
Sonu: Yes Rajni, you are the first people to know. Even in India no journalist knows this.

Rajni: This announcement is an exclusive?
Sonu: Like I said, you’re the first to know.

Rajni: What made you decide to quit? Is it because you’ve already taken the show to ultimate heights of success?
Sonu: No, it’s not that. After doing the show for nearly five years, it was becoming very difficult to manage my singing and ‘Sa Re Ga Ma at the same time. With filming schedules, all I was doing was to travel all the time and I was away from my family most of the time, plus I want to spend more time on my singing.

Rajni: Will they scrap Sa Re Ga Ma now?
Sonu: No they won’t. It’s a wonderful show and will continue to be so and I wish the whole unit all the best. It was fantastic working with all of them.

Rajni: So where does Sonu Nigam go from here?
Sonu: I know that I’m destined for something else, but I don’t know what. I know that there’s something else that I’m destined to besides singing, but at the moment I really don’t know what it is.

Interview by Rajni Sharma
Filmi Duniya, BBC Asian Network

Sonu Nigam returns to acting 

By IndiaFM News Bureau, June 5, 2007