An Exclusive Interview With Sonu Nigam

First a singer, than an anchor and now an actor. Sonu Nigam has always been known for his work and has proved his versatility in all forms.

You seemed to have pinned all your hopes on Kash…Aap Hamare Hote?
That is not the question here. I have worked really hard for the film and so has everyone. What happens very often is that people raise all kinds of expectations and they do not materialize. It could very well work in the favour of Kash…Aap Hamare Hote. It has a strong storyline and performance. The marketing is pretty good as well. The makers have put in their best efforts. The music is on the top of the charts but the hype is pretty controlled. I am optimistic.

You yourself have an interesting character…
The character is diverse from what I actually am. He is an illegal immigrant in Canada. The story takes a huge turn when the heroine has something happening in her life, which leaves a lasting impact on his life. The character was pretty difficult to portray. It has various shades and I am pretty sure about the success. Then it will be my first film as a hero. I would say that it is a genuine effort.

Juhi seems to be easy to work with.
Yeah. You are right. She is the daughter of two of the stalwarts and that is pretty evident from her. She is one of the co-stars who reciprocate on the sets. She has been a great help for me in my performance. I sincerely believe that she was born to be an actress. I feel that with the kind of talent and commitment she will go a long way in the industry.

  The film was to be made by Raj Babbar some 18 years backs with Smita Patil; obviously he must be visualizing you in the character?
I can assure only one thing that I would not fail him. He has showed immense faith in me as a human being and a performer. I have tried my best and I know my efforts will be appreciated. The very fact that he actually considered me for such a film is satisfying. It is also a very significant film for me, as the box-office performance will actually help me know where I stand as an actor.

First a singer, than an anchor and now an actor. How do you manage all these so effortlessly?
Singing will be and is my first love. I have been known because I am a singer. I am doing few films, as I want to concentrate on the quality. I am taking each day it comes and God has been kind. I am thankful to him that he has given me enough strength to successfully do all these things together.

How do you handle flops?
I don’t think on those terms at all. I think being in the industry for such a long time and seen all these, I have learnt to take all this. As far as Kash…Aap Hamare Hote is concerned, I am confident that the film will do well.

  How enriching were you anchoring days?
Sa Re Ga Ma was more of a serious stuff but Kismey Kitna Hai Dum was more interactive. Both of them had their own share of fun and enjoyment. Both of them were rich in entertainment value and have been a great learning experience for me.

Who has been the first person to actually make you realize that you can be an actor?
There have been people who told me about acting. But Ramesh Taurani of Tips was pretty convinced that I should take up acting. Then Raj Kanwar, Shekhar Kapoor, Dev Anand were others. In fact Dev Saab insisted that I only go ahead with acting and I will make it big.

What about Reggie Benjamin?
I am going to states in February. We have worked on bilingual in Hindi and English. Although the lyrics are mostly English, I am excited, as I have not rendered any song in English before. In fact I might also work with Brent Lewis.

What is Nepal all about?
Working with Rajat Mukherjee has been a great experience. I play the character of an ad professional that has a magic wand in his hand and is the answer to any diverse situation. I am very lucky as I think it is the sort of film that was required for my career.