You Can Call Me A Superstar

No he’s not rude or aggressive, simply inaccessible. Singer-anchorman Sonu Nigam is either shooting abroad or doing shows for the better part of the year. He stays in Mumbai about two days in a month. “You can contact me on my mobile through my brother-in-law like my parents do,” he says. For someone who began as a starry-eyed wannabe at the age of three, the flight to Bollywood superstardom is showing. Sonu’s first break was in Gulshan Kumar’s ’91 home production Aja Meri Jaan, where he sang O Asman Wale but it was Achcha Sila Diya (Bewafa Sanam), which was a chart-topper for months. Then came Ye Dil Deewana in Pardes, Deewana — a solo album and Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Man. He’s in Mumbai for a day enroute to the US to shoot a video for his album Mausam. Not for him the lowly business of promoting his albums: “If it’s good it will sell, irrespective of whether or not I speak about it to the media. Deewana is such a success and so is Mausam.”

You tell him that Indipop isn’t setting the music market afire and that even his latest album qualifies as a best-seller. “I don’t agree. Some albums haven’t done well but Mausam is doing fine. Bijuriya is such a hit at all discos and music countdowns. For a struggler who thought singing cover versions for T-Series was a major achievement, Sonu now juggles his dual personae with reasonable success. Currently he’s anchoring Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma where he slips into designer garb with perfect aplomb, pays suitable respect to senior musicians who judge the show and is stealing the thunder from Anu (Anta-kshari) Kapoor. How does he explain the open imitation of Michael Jackson in his Bijuria video? “Most Indian singers seek inspiration from the west and not all of them are honest about it. I admire Michael Jackson and yes, the music video of Bijuria is somewhat inspired. But I am not going to say sorry for that,” he puts in. Sonu has recently finished recording for Chalo ishq La ayen and confesses his main inspiration remains his parenst. He does an hour-long riyaaz everyday no matter where he is and thinks his Satrangi Re(Dil Se), Sandese Ate Hain (Border) and Ye Dil Deewana(Pardes) are his “best numbers to date”.