'My expression of art is through voice'

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From being the voice of Paro in Devdas to singing for ‘Silk’ in ‘The Dirty Picture’, Shreya Ghoshal has done it all!

Now with the whole world swooning to her latest track Chikni Chameli from Agneepath, Shreya is perhaps one of the most sought-after singers in the country. Speaking to Metrolife on Chikni Chameli, Shreya says, “Oh La La had brought funk and madness to the season and now it’s Chikni Chameli. I am so excited to have been a part of this song because it’s one of the most watched and downloaded songs. It’s the remake of a Marathi song called Kombadi Palali.”

She is all praises for Katrina Kaif, on whom the song has been picturised. “I knew that the song was for Katrina but didn’t know it would be choreographed so well. Katrina is just getting better and better,” she gushes.

“I am not a very good dancer so I know how hard it is. It takes a lot of effort to be uninhibited,” she laughs. Her fans will be hearing more of her in 2012. “I keep singing good songs but I don’t know when they will be released. Many of my Kannada tracks with composers like Harikrishna, Arjun and Mano Murthy will be releasing soon.”

Shreya has also sung for Karan Johar’s ‘Student Of The Year’ and Habib Faisal’s Ishaqzaade apart from recording some ghazals and thumris.

Is acting on the cards as well? She shrugs it off, “My expression of art is through voice. I am not that keen on acting as it’s a different ball game altogether. Though people think acting is the biggest achievement in life, I’d like to change their mindset. Music has its own language and aura too.” What about her mentor Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s acting offer for her? “When we were co-judging ‘The X-Factor’, he jovially said it on television that I was looking good and should act! But he knows I won’t. He knows that I have to give it a lot of time which will affect my music in a big way,” she reveals.

Speaking of reality shows, she says, “Reality shows aren’t coming up with great talent. So I would like to be associated with shows where the board has the gut feeling to select the right people during the auditions. For instance, when I had done Chote Ustaad, there were eight extremely good singers. It’s exciting to be part of shows like those because contestants make a reality show.”

Now that she has worked with almost everyone, is there anyone she would like to work with? “Singing for old music directors like Lakshmikant-Pyarelal, S D Burman, Madan Mohan and R D Burman would have been a great achievement. Woh mauka nahi milega ab (I won’t get that opportunity now).”

In Bangalore, her Kannada songs are the most popular. “Kannadigas are total music and food-lovers. Mano Murthy gave me the opportunity to sing in Mungaru Male and my song Araluthiru Jeevada Geleya from that is my favourite Kannada song. Till date, people go mad about it!”

Ask the pretty singer about marriage and she smiles, “I don’t plan my life much but this year, I have made the resolution to plan the next five years of my life. Marriage might hinder my plans a little but if it happens, I will let the world know.”