Akhil Sachdeva, the voice behind the soulful Humsafar from last year’s hit Badrinath Ki Dulhania, always knew that music was his calling. t2 caught up with the Delhi boy for a chat on his recent trip to Calcutta.

How does it feel to come back to Calcutta?

Great! This is the fourth show in the last three months.

Congratulations on winning the IIFA award for best music direction for Badrinath Ki Dulhania...

I didn’t want to go in the beginning because I’ve just delivered one song, but people insisted that I do. I think everyone around me knew I was going to win! I was surprised to see people in Thailand are fans of Humsafar. 

When is the next song out?

My next one is releasing at the end of July. It’s a big single that’s being released by T-Series. I will feature in it and once it picks up, it might get into a T-Series film. It’s special for me because this is the first song I haven’t written and composed. It was written around 40 years back by a legend in Pakistan and I am the first Indian to do a re-creation of the song. 

You started your career in 2010 with your Sufi rock band Nasha. Was music something that you always wanted to do?

Nasha was one of India’s first Sufi rock bands but I still feel that I am a young kid! (Laughs) In school and college, I always knew that I wasn’t going to be living the regular life. I am a second-year dropout but I always believed in my talent. I played cricket and represented Delhi in the Under-16 team, so I thought cricket was my forte. But I didn’t follow it up because somewhere deep down, music was waiting for me. 

I just did music because it used to bring a smile to my face and people always told me, ‘Agar tum besura bhi gaate ho, you touch people’s hearts’. The day I picked up the guitar and played it, I chose music and music chose me. 

Are you the only singer at home? 

Oh, absolutely. Sometimes my parents feel that I am not from their family! And also because of my height. I’m 6’2” and my elder brother Nikhil is like 5’2” or something. I do different things from them as they are from a typical business background. I picked up the guitar on my own. 

So you learnt to play the guitar on your own?

Yes. I have never even gone on YouTube to learn the instrument, I’m quite technologically handicapped that way. When I was in school, my best friend taught me three chords and when I was 22, I thought I’d play these chords and sing a song. And I played it perfectly. But I do my vocal training under my guruji in Bombay. 

What does your family think about your music? 

Financially, I didn’t have a normal childhood. But I have the best family because we have a lot of love for each other. Whatever I have achieved, I have given back to my parents in the last few years. This is one reason my dad feels that I am his ‘Shah Rukh Khan’. They were wary in the beginning because I left studies, but now my parents are super proud of me. After I won my IIFA award, my dad said, ‘How much more will you make us proud?’ So I said, ‘Okay, I’ll tell Karan Johar that my dad can’t feel more proud than he is right now, so let’s stop work for a bit!’ (Laughs)

How do you compose your songs?

I challenge myself to write different kinds of songs but still keep it soulful. Like the melody has to be there, but it has to be from the soul. My compositions are more about my experiences.  

Is there an artiste you want to collaborate with?

So many! One collaboration which I’m discussing is with Rajasthani folk musician Kutle Khan. 

Who are your favourite singers?

Arijit Singh is perfection when it comes to singing. Even if I try to be like him, it will take me 10 lives. I really admire Paponda. I see a similarity between him and me because of our base-y tone. And Jagjit Singh saab. I was really saddened by his death because I had a dream that I would be in an auditorium with him on his harmonium and me on my guitar. And I am reworking one of Reshmaji’s songs for my next release. I look up to her. 

If not a singer, what would you be?

I am a foodie but I can’t cook, so I can’t be a chef. I could be a driver because I like driving, but maybe somewhere in New Zealand or Canada! (Laughs)

A celebrity you want to spot in the front row at a concert of yours?

I really want to sing for Ranbir Kapoor. I feel like he is my soul brother. My grandmother always told me that there are at least six or seven people who look, act and are exactly like you. I think Ranbir Kapoor is that for me. He was actually sitting in the first row when I got my award (at IIFA 2018) and I thought I would sing for him, but I didn’t.