'I've learnt to be humble'

Armaan Malik’s voice echoes in every other household. The 18-year-old singer not only has a pretty impressive lineage in the music industry, but also the talent to prove it. His voice in the title track of Jai Ho went viral even before the movie hit the screens.

Armaan has grown up under the watchful of eyes of his father Daboo Malik and uncle Anu Malik, all of whom have made a mark in the music industry. Yet, Armaan is keen to develop a style of his own. 

He concedes that Jai Ho has given him a big break. Not only did he get a chance to spend quality time with his icon — Salman Khan — whose work he has been following for as long as he can remember, but he also got a chance to make inroads as an adult singer into the music industry. He confesses that Salman Khan played an instrumental role in encouraging him to become a full-fledged singer. “I would like to smuggle in a different style of singing in Bollywood. Every singer has a distinct style and I don’t want to get repetitive,” feels Armaan. 

Sharing his experience of working with Salman, Armaan says, “The first thing he told me when he met me for the first time was that he couldn’t believe that an Indian had sung the songs in Jai Ho. He liked my style and said that working out and staying fit improves one’s performance and I have begun to follow that,” he notes. 

Armaan never went to a regular school or college. He started singing as a boy and before he knew it, he began getting big projects. “I miss active college life but when I look at what I have got in return, all that sacrifice seems worth it,” he reasons.

He is working towards launching his debut album titled Armaan. “The album defines me and who I am. It traces the different phases teenagers go through, including the many heartbreaks,” he states. 

Armaan doesn’t let any pressure get to him. “I’ve always worked hard and learnt to be humble. This is something I got from my father,” he signs off.