'I would want to see Arjun's face on my voice'

There are hardly any reigning Bollywood actors who he has not sung for, but versatile singer Sonu Nigam says he would love to sing for Ki and Kaactor Arjun Kapoor, who had recently expressed his liking for the artiste and said he would want him to be his voice.

“Arjun Kapoor recently mentioned that he really likes me and would want me to sing for him. I would definitely want to see his face on my voice for two reasons. One, I think he has got something in him that makes him stand out; and two, his late mother Mona was a beautiful soul and loved me a lot,” the artiste tells Metrolife.

Known for songs like Kal Ho Na Ho (Kal Ho Na Ho), Yeh Dil Deewana (Pardes), Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om), and Suraj Hua Maddham (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), Nigam, whose relationship with the entertainment industry began as a child actor, says he has “literally grown up in the industry”.

“Initial days were days of insecurities, fear and loneliness. My only focus was to become a singer. I didn’t have friends, girlfriend; nothing to distract or console me. I only had my family by my side. However, as success unfolded, and thankfully it was not overnight like many get sometimes, I got confident, busier, stronger, and saw a world I never knew. Since then, life has been great. Often we come across speed breakers, so then we slow down, watch around, learn, and then accelerate again,” he says.

Despite having sung songs of all genres, Nigam says he likes compositions that are created by people who know their job, and are not “incidental composers or lyricists”. Sharing his observations of the changes the industry has undergone, the artiste says that most changes have come about due to the advancement of technology.

“Earlier, technology didn’t permit just anyone to become a singer. You had to therefore practice hard to deliver. So there were lesser singers, and thus longer shelf life. Today, anyone can be made to sound pitch perfect and rhythm perfect. Thus there is a wide choice of voices, but shorter shelf life. Every age and era has its advantages and disadvantages. I don’t criticise just for the sake of criticising. In fact sometimes I see the younger lot of musicians and singers more opinionistic than the senior ones,” he says.

The singer, who has also acted in movies like Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani and Love in Nepal is currently busy working on independent music projects. He says that even though independent music does not get its due credit, singers should do independent music as “it builds credibility and legacy”.

“I recently did a single with T Series called Aa Bhi Jaa Tu Kahin Se, and also did Sab Rab De Bandewith the world’s first transgender band — 6 Pack. Then I did a song called First Date followed by the recently-released single, Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo. Something dynamic is coming out by end of next month, and that’s what I'm looking forward to,” says Nigam, who recently hosted the Radio Mirchi Awards.

On being asked if he ever wishes he had sung a particular song, the versatile singer says there are a lot of them. He, however, adds, “But, there’s a difference. I don’t wish I had sung that song. I just know that I’d have done a better job.”