Sonu is a youth icon among singing aspirants.

I had not noticed this development until two to three years ago when Shaan told me that many of the songs that the contestants sang on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa were mine. Now, when I’m a judge on Indian Idol I do realise that the contestants tend sing my difficult songs like ‘Tera jadoo chal gaya’, ‘Zindagi maut na ban jaye’ and ‘Satrangi re’. I’ve now begun to realise that good work always reaches people’s hearts. So I just do my work. As a singer I’m far from perfect and maybe I’ll never get there, but there is no harm in trying. I am 32 and hope to do a lot as a human and a singer in the years to come.

I have to create my own challenges.

I don’t think the film industry is able to provide sufficient opportunities for me, so I have to create my own challenges. This year I have some great songs in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna’, Shirish Kunder’s ‘Jaan-e-Man’, Kunal Kohli’s ‘Fanaa’, Nikhil Advani’s ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’, Rakesh Roshan’s ‘Krissh’, J.P. Dutta’s ‘Umrao Jaan’ and Farhan Akhtar’s Don. But the challenge I experience when I sing a classical song where I’ve to work on a particular harkat or an alaap is missing. Films don’t provide me songs like that. All tracks today are deejay-designed and private albums are dead. The furthest I could go with a non-film pop album was Chanda Ki Doli where I showed some of my classical creativity. I’ve therefore decided to come out with a semi-classical album. I might as well do something I believe in and something I’d be proud of forty years from now.

Missed ‘Khai ke paan Baneraswala’ in the Don remake.

I wish I had sung ‘Khai ke paan Baneraswala’. As a child I used to dance to that song on stage. By the time I asked Shankar-Ehsan-Loy whether I could do it, they had already asked Udit Narayan to sing it. With his North Indian background he’s the right person to do it.

Himesh Reshammiya’s unique singing style.

It’s easy to criticise someone’s singing for being nasal. Who sets the rules for how a song should be sung? Times are changing and different voice types are entering the industry and being accepted. With Himesh, at least a distinctive voice from within the country has found acceptance. Otherwise we’ve lately had strange voices from outside India, no matter how besura (out of tune), becoming successful.

Outside singers

A few are good. But most of them are strictly okay. In a country that has been blessed with a Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi who wants these voices?

Unhappy of Award nominations

Although I had raga-based songs in Parineeta and Paheli, the songs didn’t get any recognition. I don’t have a problem with Himesh getting all the awards, but it’s an insult to nominate ‘Paheli’ and ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’ in the same genre for popular awards. Our songs were from two different genres in ‘Aashiq….’ and ‘Paheli’. The genres have to be separated or our singers will stop doing riyaaz. They’ll wonder why they need to work on their voices when they can get awards for relatively simple songs.

Mahesh Bhatt started the trend of introducing Pakistani music to Bollywood.

Everyone has the right to do their own thing. But if this trend continues, we as artistes need to tighten our seat belts. The music from Pakistan has a different flavour and colour to it.

Future plans for playback singing.

I’m doing too many things at the same time. I love the feeling of being in demand. I’m not passionate about anything except music. I’m blessed to have so much work. But I miss the glory attached to playback singing. I wish we had one good music company that could respect a good artiste.

Positively happy

I’ve learnt to look for happiness within myself. People around me have changed. I’ve converted them into positive people. I don’t allow anyone negative in my space. I’m surrounded by people who have love in their eyes.

Happily married

Well, I am married and one can be happily married. Marriage is a very small part of life. And I’m saying this in the presence of my wife. There’s a lot more to life.