JOIN USKrishna Kumar Kunnath, better known as KK, hails from a middle-class family in Delhi but is now one among the top playback singers in Bollywood.
He bagged his first solo number in ‘Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke’. In 1999, he won several prestigious awards for his solo (non-film) album ‘Pal’.
He has sung close to 500 songs in Hindi and more than 100 songs in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.
His best known works are ‘Awarapan Banjarapan’ (Jism), ‘Zara Sa’ (Jannat), ‘Ankhon Me Teri’ (Om Shanti Om), ‘Khuda Jaane’ (Bachna Ae Haseeno), ‘Tu Hi Meri Shab’ (Gangster), ‘Desi Boyz’ (Desi Boyz), ‘Tune Mari Entriya’ (Gunday) and the hugely popular Tamil song ‘Appadi Podu’ (Ghilli).
KK is a complete foodie and has a passion for fast cars. He loves to take off on road trips whenever possible.
Music
Mr Big
“I have amalgamated a lot of styles over the years. The music of a few bands such ‘Guns N’ Roses’, ‘Pink Floyd’ and ‘Mr Big’ have influenced my style. I began singing when I was five years old. My stage performances in school and college and the recognition that followed from teachers and friends made me realise that I was in the right direction.”
Cinema
Shah Rukh Khan
“I forgot the last time I watched television. I watch a lot of television series and movies on Netflix. When it comes to actors, I like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir for their style. I also feel Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra stand out for their body of work. I was particularly impressed with Malayalam movie ‘Drishyam’. I like films with great plots and less fanfare.”
Travel
New Zealand
“I love traveling. My family and I usually drive through New Zealand whenever we go there on a holiday. I also like Sydney because my best friend lives there. New York and London are other favourites. As a family, we usually do a 30 or 40-day trip because it helps one look at things from a fresh perspective.”
Food
‘Chana bhature’
“I love food with Indian, Italian and Chinese being the order of preferences. I like a lot of street food. When I am in Delhi, it has to be ‘Chana bhature’. When I am down south, I love ‘idli’, ‘dosa’ and eat a lot of ‘ghee roast’ when I am in Kerala. I am open to trying out various dishes. I believe that people who try
different kinds of cuisines are open at heart. They don’t get stuck up in things."
Author
Dan Brown
“Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ has been a favourite read. I like the fast pace in all of Dan’s novels. I like the way he holds the attention of the reader. His novels are also very visual because he leaves that little space for you to visualise. I also read a lot of autobiographies and that’s when I realised that
there’s so much we don’t know about famous people. You realise that there is hope for yourself.”
Inspiration
Kishore Kumar
“I adore Kishore Kumar and admire his ability to get into any song in the true sense as per the mood. I tried to emulate his style when I used to sing in school and college. I was inspired by many musicians and bands as I grew up. I get inspired when I read about people who have made it big in their own respective fields. I also get inspired by musicians who have struggled and yet made it big.”