put on the backburner . However , I am planning to release my single sometime around this year . Preferably , it should hit the stands ahead of the festive season and I ’ m going to appear in my first music video shot ever .
Earlier , you had expressed your desire to collaborate with the Mozart of Madras A . R . Rahman …
Oh yes , if only God willing ( smiles ). Let me keep my fingers crossed ! But now am even greedier . You may add two more international names on the list — Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias .
Tell us something about your recently concluded World Tour — Generation Next of yours .
Well , that was a thrilling experience and a very fulfilling one . A series of concerts was jointly organized by our international promoter Farhath Hussain and the leading event management company of Cineyug . Mainly , it was mainly a US tour and I could visit seven places touching down from Dallas , Houston , New Jersey , Washington DC , Boston , Los Angeles to San Francisco .
Practically , all my shows were housefull . The amount of appreciation and fan-adulation I got from these places was simply amazing . The brand of Aashiqui 2 has reached the skies it seems . It ’ s nothing new that mainstream Bollywood music is popular world-wide . But when you witness a dense crowd of mixed populace ranging from Chinese , Africans , Brits , Americans , Indians , Pakistanis to Bangladeshis swinging to your music , then it feels surreal and commendable . The ambience was super cool and tapping the pulse of a live audience is always liberating from a claustrophobic studio .
It was really surprising to get an encore of Tu Jo Hai from the Emraan Hashmi flick Mr . X as it was yet to release then . But the song was already a craze over there .
My upcoming trip from July 22 till August 10 will see me travelling from Chicago , New York , Toronto , Leicester , London to Holland .
You have also sung in regional languages like Tamil , Kannada and Telugu which are literally tough on the tongue . So for you as a musician , language is no barrier ...
I have studied at a school where Sanskrit was a compulsory subject till class 10 . And Sanskrit by default is the mother language of most Indian vernaculars . So I guess if you are conversant in the root language , you can smoothly pick up other provincial lingos . Same applies in my case . Although comprehending the meaning of the word was cumbersome at times , I managed to pull it off with credence .
Given a chance , would you seriously consider acting offers as you do possess a pleasant personality and may look good onscreen as well ?
No way ! Acting is a different ballgame altogether . It ’ s a distinct art from music-direction . Not many people would remember that my elder brother ( Ankur ) and I had chipped in as music-composers in Aashiqui 2 . But that was a small cameo and we both portrayed a character which is so routinely part of our regular lives . But if someone asks me to serenade a heroine , sing and dance with her , emote in love-scenes and do stunts and action sequences like a seasoned pro , then sorry , that isn ’ t my cup of tea !
It is almost impossible to find friends in a competitive industry like showbiz , more so in times of distress . But you did bump into an angel like eminent filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia in your worst possible hour . What do you have to say ?
Well in your question lies the answer hidden . And you ’ ve said it yourself . I completely agree that seldom would you come across real buddies to rally around you with a show of strength and solidarity in the moment of peril and grief . But that ’ s what Tishubhaiyya did . It requires a lot of heart to come out in the open and support a guy who is put on the wrong side of the law . ( Incidentally , in May 2014 , Tiwari was detained on charges of alleged harassment , complained by his girlfriend ). He is now more like a family to me and I can call him 24X7 . These relations you see , are beyond any professional parameters . I have a great personal equation with director Mohit Suri too . Even my close bonding with lyricist Sandeep Nath ( of Sunn Raha Hai fame ) is at a brotherly level .
You have also signed up a film with him …
Yes , Tishuji has given me work when I was mentally in shambles . It is his forthcoming project titled Yaara . He is not only a talented director but a wonderful person as well . The film is a tentative 2015 release .
Can you shed some light on your upcoming musical duties in Airlift and Rocky Handsome ?
The song in Airlift ( an upcoming action-thriller starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur ) is of interesting genre — a dance number in a nutshell . While Rocky Handsome ( featuring John Abraham and Shruti Haasan as lead pair ) is a very emotional film and close to my heart . Right now , it is too early to either discuss or declare these songs in detail . But both films are slated for release this year only .
You have already playbacked for actor Ranbir Kapoor in Roy . Which other hero would you want to lip-sync your dulcet numbers ?
Of course the big three — the shaandaar ( magnificent ) Khans . Though I have sung the Dil Darbadar track in Aamir Khan ’ s PK which only emerged in the background but hasn ’ t directly sung for him . Besides , King Khan SRK and Salmanbhai are on my wish-list .
Had you not been a musician what would you be ?
I wouldn ’ t be on this planet only . I think I was born to be a musician and in my head , I can ’ t think of any other vocation to describe myself .
The Score Magazine
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