I might be doing a film by the end of this year, or the beginning of next,” said Atif Aslam, following in the footsteps of his “very dear friend” Fawad Khan. Before he went up on stage for MTV Bollyland, in association with t2, on May 2, we spoke to the handsome singer at ITC Sonar.
You have been performing in Calcutta often....
Yeah! Great associations. Great people. Great audience. Not just that, whenever I am here, I make sure I buy some saris for my wife (Sara Bharwana). The gur sandesh is famous here, so I try to get it for home.
Which song would you dedicate to your fans here?
Hmmm…the hospitality is amazing, so I would choose Tu jaane na. That’s the kind of song that comes to my mind.
Did you get a chance to see the city?
I’ve never actually got the time. It is sad. We just come here, perform and leave. One day I would love to take a tour of the city. I remember going to a nice biryani place in town. Arsalan, probably.
MTV Bollyland, in association with t2, is a different format. Tell us about it...
It is actually what we practise on stage, which is why it is going to be a different experience for me because I’m not used to EDM music but apparently the audience loves it. The most requested for song on stage is either Gulabi aankhein jo teri dekhi or a mash-up of old songs.
Listeners associate you with romantic numbers. Would you ever venture out and try a different genre?
My new single, Zindagi aa raha, is not romantic. It is very peppy. It is very EDM. The main reason I did it is because I wanted to break out. I enjoyed the song and the composition.
Might we hear an item number by you?
You never know! (Smiles) It completely depends on the composition. I am very particular about lyrics. As long as it is subtle, I will do it.
Who inspires you?
Jeff Buckley, Chris Cornell and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I remember the record that inspired me to sort of get into music professionally. It was Peter Gabriel, Michael Brooks and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khansaab’s collaboration (Mustt mustt). It’s beautiful!
Who are you listening to now?
I am listening to Jeff Buckley. He is never out of my playlist. Mojo Pin is one of my favourite songs by him. So Real is another fave track. I am listening to Abidaji’s (Parveen) Dost from Coke Studio. I am working on the Coke Studio set for the next season, so I am hearing out all those compositions.
A song that keeps you awake?
Dhinka chika...(starts humming). All these item numbers keep me awake.
Will you ever consider acting?
You never know, I might be doing a film by the end of this year, or the beginning of next (smiles). I have not signed anything yet. There are quite a few offers. I have been rejecting them for the past three-four years now. I think this year there will be something concrete.
Do you meet and bond with your friends Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar?
Fawad (Khan) is a very dear friend. They are not colleagues. They are friends. They started off with their singing career back in Pakistan but later became actors. We meet quite often whenever we get time and bond really well.
The TV channel Zindagi airing Pakistani shows has become a rage in India...
(Cuts in) I believe the shows offer a different content altogether from what people see in India. Which is probably why it has got that niche and has a fan following. It is not just the scripts that are different. Bollywood is all about commercialism, so probably the channel is not so commercial and taps on different subjects, which is why it has become popular. The actors are pretty good as well.
Are you watching IPL 8?
I love cricket but I’m not following it these days.... I used to love it when Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram used to play. That was my era! Virat Kohli is my favourite too.
Your message for t2 fans?
I love all of you! Thank you for supporting my music.
Her songs are party favourites but she doesn’t like to go clubbing. Since Baby doll, there has not been a dull patch in singer Kanika Kapoor’s career. A t2 chat at Novotel before she took the stage for MTV Bollyland in Nicco Park Big Lawns.
What have you heard about Calcutta?
I think it’s a mixed crowd here. I come from Lucknow, so I feel Calcutta has a similar environment in music. Earlier, I went around the city as I have some friends who are now married and living in Calcutta.
How do you react when people say that you are the voice of Sunny Leonne?
Somebody just asked me if we (Sunny and Kanika) are like married! (Laughs) I’m actually not the voice of Sunny Leone as I have just sung two songs (Baby doll and Desi look) for her. Rest are for Deepika Padukone (Lovely), Jacqueline Fernandez (Chittiyaan kalaiyaan), Sonakshi Sinha, Priyanka Chopra and others.
You have seen phenomenal success in the last one year. Isn’t it a dream-come-true phase?
It’s going really well. I always wanted to do this. I am a perfectionist. I grew up in Lucknow. I trained under Pandit Ganesh Prasad Mishraji from the Benaras gharana who taught me with his heart for almost 12 years. I am out-and-out classically trained. Now there is an ocean of Indian and international work coming up. I have sung for Kapil Sharma’s film directed by Abbas-Mustan, Main Aur Charles, The Legend of Michael Mishra and another film under Balaji Motion Pictures. I also have a song coming up with Raghav Sachar and then I will present my single.
What’s your success mantra?
My voice is a mixture. For example, Chittiyaan kalaiyaan starts with a folk voice and the antara is very soft and sweet. It is like Ila Arun and Alka Yagnik together in one song.
Your songs are party favourites. Do you like partying?
I am not a party animal. I can be a bit boring. I am not a clubbing person. But sometimes it’s fun! I like Balam pichkari. It kind of gets me. Among my songs, it has to be Chittiyaan kalaiyaan.
You were a model in London. Does fashion come naturally to you?
It’s natural. I lived in London for 16 years, so I was exposed to the fashion world and was very close to a lot of fashion people from Milan and Paris. I used to attend fashion shows, parties and sit in the front row.
In India, I have got many offers to act. If Shah Rukh Khan gives me an offer to play the lead instead of Kajol, then I will do it (smiles)!
SNAPCHAT
Dedicate a song to Calcutta: Desi look.
Listening to: My new songs which are coming up. I am hooked to my song from All Is Well which is coming up in the next four weeks.
Dream collaboration: Drake. I love his kind of work.
Fave singer: Lata Mangeshkar.
Fave song: Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai. This song reminds me about Calcutta people too.
A song that keeps you awake: Abhi mujh mein kahin from Agneepath.
First album you bought: Made In India by Alisha Chinai.
Actresses you want to sing for: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rekha.
Fashion fix: Rock chic! I only wear things that I am comfortable in. I like Sonam Kapoor’s style; I follow her on Instagram.
Comfort food: Aloo-kachori.
Atif and Kanika pictures: Anindya Shankar Ray
What are your fave Atif Aslam and Kanika Kapoor songs?Tell t2@abp.in
