<p>Abhijeet Bhattacharya has sung songs in more than 15 languages. He draws inspiration from the works of singers like Kishore Kumar and music composers like R D Burman. Over the years, he has developed a style of his own. A chartered accountant by qualification, it was his passion for music that made him enter the field.<br /><br />He has lent his voice in Bollywood movies such as ‘Baadshah’, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, ‘Josh’, ‘Dhadkan’, ‘Raaz’, ‘Tum Bin’, ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Main Hoon Na’ and many more. <br /><br />Music<br />Asha Bhosle<br /><br />“Musicians like Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar are inimitable when it comes to their style. I have followed their work for as long as I can remember. I listen to a lot of music from the 1960s and 70s. I also research about the latest trends in the music industry and try to improve my style. I don’t believe in taking an original piece or work and improvising because I feel original work must never be tampered with but respected and preserved for posterity.” <br /><br />Cuisine<br />‘Sorshe ilish’ <br /><br />“I enjoy the vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes in Bengali cuisine. I relish this Bengali fish preparation called ‘Sorshe ilish’. It is made using mustard and goes well with rice. I also relish Thai cuisine and food made at home. I enjoy some of the dishes made in Kerala and Goa. In desserts, my first choice is always ‘Gulab jamun’ and ‘Halwa puri’.” <br /><br />Book<br />Swami Vivekananda <br /><br />“I am not a voracious reader and I don’t read a lot of books but somehow, I’ve been drawn to the works of Swami Vivekananda. His thoughts and teachings enunciated in his books have influenced and shaped my thought process. Some of the <br />things that he has written about are not only enlightening but also give one the courage to face tough situations. His philosophy is easy to follow. Apart from this, I keep myself updated with the latest in current affairs from newspapers and magazines.” </p>.<p>Actor <br />Govinda <br /><br />“I hardly watch any movies because I believe in the real world and don’t like anything that is artificial. However, of the few movies that I have watched, I’ve liked watching films of Govinda and Amitabh Bachchan. I don’t think any of the actors can match up to their talent and persona. Otherwise, movies have never really held my interest. I would rather go to an amusement park than watch a film.” <br /><br />Travel<br />Interlaken, Switzerland<br /><br />“I’ve travelled across Europe but I like to revisit Interlaken in Switzerland. The place is so beautiful that you wonder if it exists in reality. I also like the backwaters of Kerala and find Goa to be the best destination for a short trip. But now my travel plans have changed after I have redone my farmhouse in Pune. The farmhouse has been renovated to include a mini botanical garden with the choicest of flowers and an enclosure for birds because I don’t believe in caging them.” <br /><br />Inspiration <br />R D Burman <br /><br />“I have always been mesmerised by the songs of Kishore Kumar and R D Burman. Their works were not only original but will never go out of tune. Old songs have played a big part in shaping my career. <br /><br />I have grown up listening to their music and have even sung some of them myself. These two musical geniuses have come up the hard way and their dedication and commitment reflect in their work. They have inspired me during my younger days and continue to do so.” <br /><br /><em>(As told to Nina C George)</em></p>
<p>Abhijeet Bhattacharya has sung songs in more than 15 languages. He draws inspiration from the works of singers like Kishore Kumar and music composers like R D Burman. Over the years, he has developed a style of his own. A chartered accountant by qualification, it was his passion for music that made him enter the field.<br /><br />He has lent his voice in Bollywood movies such as ‘Baadshah’, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, ‘Josh’, ‘Dhadkan’, ‘Raaz’, ‘Tum Bin’, ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Main Hoon Na’ and many more. <br /><br />Music<br />Asha Bhosle<br /><br />“Musicians like Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar are inimitable when it comes to their style. I have followed their work for as long as I can remember. I listen to a lot of music from the 1960s and 70s. I also research about the latest trends in the music industry and try to improve my style. I don’t believe in taking an original piece or work and improvising because I feel original work must never be tampered with but respected and preserved for posterity.” <br /><br />Cuisine<br />‘Sorshe ilish’ <br /><br />“I enjoy the vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes in Bengali cuisine. I relish this Bengali fish preparation called ‘Sorshe ilish’. It is made using mustard and goes well with rice. I also relish Thai cuisine and food made at home. I enjoy some of the dishes made in Kerala and Goa. In desserts, my first choice is always ‘Gulab jamun’ and ‘Halwa puri’.” <br /><br />Book<br />Swami Vivekananda <br /><br />“I am not a voracious reader and I don’t read a lot of books but somehow, I’ve been drawn to the works of Swami Vivekananda. His thoughts and teachings enunciated in his books have influenced and shaped my thought process. Some of the <br />things that he has written about are not only enlightening but also give one the courage to face tough situations. His philosophy is easy to follow. Apart from this, I keep myself updated with the latest in current affairs from newspapers and magazines.” </p>.<p>Actor <br />Govinda <br /><br />“I hardly watch any movies because I believe in the real world and don’t like anything that is artificial. However, of the few movies that I have watched, I’ve liked watching films of Govinda and Amitabh Bachchan. I don’t think any of the actors can match up to their talent and persona. Otherwise, movies have never really held my interest. I would rather go to an amusement park than watch a film.” <br /><br />Travel<br />Interlaken, Switzerland<br /><br />“I’ve travelled across Europe but I like to revisit Interlaken in Switzerland. The place is so beautiful that you wonder if it exists in reality. I also like the backwaters of Kerala and find Goa to be the best destination for a short trip. But now my travel plans have changed after I have redone my farmhouse in Pune. The farmhouse has been renovated to include a mini botanical garden with the choicest of flowers and an enclosure for birds because I don’t believe in caging them.” <br /><br />Inspiration <br />R D Burman <br /><br />“I have always been mesmerised by the songs of Kishore Kumar and R D Burman. Their works were not only original but will never go out of tune. Old songs have played a big part in shaping my career. <br /><br />I have grown up listening to their music and have even sung some of them myself. These two musical geniuses have come up the hard way and their dedication and commitment reflect in their work. They have inspired me during my younger days and continue to do so.” <br /><br /><em>(As told to Nina C George)</em></p>