HIGH-PITCHED, NOT NASAL: Himesh Reshammiya on stage

What has been your schedule like these last few months?

I finished an 18-city tour of the US in July-August, where I sang in the biggest of auditoriums — Air Canada Centre in Toronto and Gibson Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Then I performed at Wembley Arena, drawing more people than the biggest rock stars do. We followed it up with three more concerts in Nottingham, Bolton and Glasgow. And now this (concert) in Calcutta where there was a one-lakh audience… I just have to meet my fans. This one-to-one connection is very important.

Your shows happen on consecutive nights. On the rare days you are in Mumbai, you are up till dawn with music sittings. Aren’t you worried about a breakdown?

I am 31. My hobby is my profession, so I don’t get tired. If it wasn’t, perhaps I would have.

Composer, singer and now actor. Why are you a man in a hurry?

Maine kya galti kar diye hai ke aap mujhe man in a hurry keh rahe hain? I have cut down on work. I am concentrating on Aap kaa Surroor, The Movie. It’s a dramatic thriller. We are shooting from January. The promos will come from April. It will be shot in 18 countries.

Do you expect it to be a hit?

Release ke din dekha jayega… I believe in figures.

Why do other singers see you as a threat?

I am not competing with anyone. I have got a style of my own. I don’t think anyone is competing against me.

Then why has Sonu Nigam spoken out against you?

Sonu is the best singer of India. I don’t have anything against him.

Does it hurt to face criticism?

(After a pause) Yes, it does. I am human.

Are you partial to yourself when you compose? Why are most Himesh hits sung by you?

The voice is contributing to the composition in my 36 hits.

People love you or hate you. Why is that so?

I can’t say. I believe in destiny and god, and god has been very kind that 99 per cent people love me. There is this one per cent who don’t and I’ll try to win them over, inshallah.

Why are you singled out for criticism because of your nasal notes?

I don’t know. RD Burman, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab, Mukeshji… sab ko main bahut respect karta hoon. Log mujhe nasal kehte hain to main yeh kahunga ki thik hai. This has won me awards and critical acclaim. I don’t have a problem with it. It’s not nasal, basically it’s a high-pitched voice. I have also sung in low pitch — Kitna Pyar in Banaras, Zara jhoom, Humko deewana kar gaye... I am singing in all the three octaves. Main ab react karna chhod chuka hoon. Main kuch kahunga to naya controversy ban jayegi.

Who are your musical inspirations?

I love the work of RD Burman, Shankar-Jaikishen, Laxmikant Pyarelal… My dad has trained me in classical music. I simplified it for the common man to understand and made it modern so the youngster can identify with it. I tried pure classical in Banaras. It was critically acclaimed but commercially it was not successful. Tere Naam with semi-classical music was a big hit. I have tried Sufi-rock in modern style with all my new songs — Aashique, Surroor... All were big hits. The basic tune has to be raga-based, orchestrated in a contemporary way.

You rule the disc floors. Are you a regular at discs?

I party with my friends sometimes, maybe once a month. It gives me an overall view of what they like. It’s very important to be in touch with the young audience because they are the buying crowd.