Music is in my blood, it's been a gift to not just me but almost everyone in my family for 5 generations. I am the youngest musician in my family and we have been making a contribution to not just music but also India’s heritage and culture in the form of Indian Classical music. It’s a huge blessing!!! I belong to the Mewati Gharana of Classical music, and the doyen of this Gharana is my grand-uncle Pandit Jasraj ji. The privilege, sort of looks big to a common man but getting Bollywood work depends entirely on your good time, hard work and luck, more so - today the times have changed. Anything and anyone who can sell music, can get work today. My biggest USP, which I hear as a feedback from most people is that I can adapt my voice to all kinds of music, whether its western, Indian classical, ghazal, thumri, romantic playback or item songs - I’ve pretty much worked with composers who have tried a wide range of songs with me. I even did my 1st Rap for AR Rahman sir in Khalifa :)

Women are doing extremely well today. It’s been a change since the time I’ve been in school. I started earning when I was 12 years old and since then the journey has been tough yet beautiful. Lots of women are ambitious today, maybe because many had suppressed their wishes and don’t want their daughters to make the same mistakes. While many, have their own dreams to fulfil and some just for the sake of running the house. But yes, it’s important to keep going - even for women. Women can’t depend on men entirely or a good marriage today to get life’s security.

I’ve learnt everything from Rahman sir in my growing up years. Am thankful that he’s been guiding me and I’ve been travelling the world with him for his concerts. He is like an ocean of talent, there is so much knowledge around. I’ve recorded with him now for Imtiaz Ali’s HIGHWAY and Eros’ LEKAR HUM DEEWANA DIL. It’s been 3 songs so it’s a hatrick this year. Very humbled to be sharing stage with him and to be known as his prodigy.

This song happened overnight. I was in LA and we just started recording it. Kevin, Anup and I got together and we all gave our creative best and it was done! Its a lot more uncomplicated working there. People are very clear about the way they want to work and are extremely active and will deliver everything on time. I sometimes feel, here everyone gives priority only to Bollywood projects and they don’t know the value of independent music anymore. Music is not just Bollywood. There’s so much more than that and musicians in India have to discover that while they are still young. Am happy that finally live-bands are back!

Thank you! It’s my director, Bejoy Nambiar I have to thank who offered me a movie and to sing in the film too. He’s a genius and I learnt a lot working on his film. I then got 24 with Anil Kapoor and Abhinay Deo (Delhi Belly) after they saw my work in David - so it really means that the length of your role doesn’t matter, the performance does!

It’s all kinds of music. Am doing my 1st self-composed English single now which is called “I don’t love you” and am very excited about it. Lots of independent musicians are getting picked now for playback, so you never know what people just like about your vocals - it can even be the least promoted song online.

The next one, I guess. I go by people’s choices sometimes. My choices are the ones that didn’t get noticed much, like the songs of Ram Gopal Verma’s NAACH. I think that soundtrack was outstanding. I did 4 songs in it. Abhishek Bachchan & Ritesh Deshmukh congratulated me for Bandhane Lagi which is still their favourite song. Amar Mohile is so talented. Even Choore ki Baatein from Fightclub. Sonu Nigam called me after hearing that song. It was a big compliment.

My grandfather, Shri Pandit Pratap Narayan’s words were “I want to hear you sing wherever I am”. These words just stayed with me. He trained me with so much purity that even if am old, I’ll sing just so he might still actually want to hear me. I’ve learnt every small thing about music from him. I lost him when I was only 16, wish he was still around today. He was truly God, when it came to singing!

Would want all women to be very strong and speak if they are troubled and to ask for help when they need it. Women are Precious, they need to be protected and kept well especially at work. Take care of yourselves and always work at looking as beautiful as you can. Life is a big Gift... Enjoy it!!