I never intended to be a Bollywood singer. For, my musical journey began as a tabla player when I started learning to play from my guru, Ustad Bundu Khan Sahab in Delhi.
Although he taught me for 10 long years, unfortunately, an accident severely affected my left hand and forced me to quit playing. I sank into a deep depression as I could see my future falling apart. But a friend suggested that I take up singing instead. And as luck would have it, I met another guru, Shri Vinod Kumar Mudgal, who belongs to the Patiala gharana. The experience of learning under him was quite enriching and it changed my perspective towards life.
In 2003 when I decided to try my luck in Bollywood, I found myself standing at yet another crucial juncture. I left Delhi with just Rs 500 in my pocket given to me by my wife. She was the only person who believed in me when nobody in my family had confidence in me. In Mumbai, I used to walk 25km from Borivali to Andheri every day in search of work and even slept on roadsides.
My luck turned in 2008 when I got a call from Neeraj Pandey, the director of A Wednesday starring Naseeruddin Shah, who gave me my first song, Bulle Shah. To me, my debut is more than just a turning point. For, I lost my mother to cancer just a few days before I landed this first break. So, every time I remember the first milestone in my journey, it always reminds me of my personal loss.
By 2009, I had bagged two super-hit songs, including O Pardesi from Dev. D. But the tough times returned to haunt me. Despite delivering hits, work was tough to come by. And to add to my misery, my elder brother was hospitalised with serious health problems. I desperately needed money for his treatment. Though I managed to land two ad jingles, it wasn’t enough to save him.
Life has taught me to believe that light cannot exist without darkness. In 2011, I was blessed with a daughter, who I affectionately call Saibo. Although she’s just four years old, I feel that she is really mature for her age as she talks just like my mother. In a way, I feel that my mother is back with me. I am happier now and have a more positive outlook to life.
If a film is remembered for its music, that’s a big compliment to the artiste. My songs — Gal Mitthi Mitthi in Aisha in 2010 and Saibo in Shor in the City (2011) — were superhits. Even though the films didn’t fare well, people remember the songs.
(As told to Anupma Mishra)
