Mika Singh always knew he was going to be a big star
|||The King of Bolly, Mika Singh, heads for Durban and Joburg this week. Latoya Newman got to chat to the star about his career and found out that being a singer was actually not part of his plan…
When did you first fall in love with music and what led to this?
I was born in Durgapur, but raised in Patiala. I am the youngest of six brothers and we were all into music. I actually wanted to become a music director and thought that to become that, you need to learn instruments, so I learnt how to play the guitar, tabla and drums.
My oldest brother had moved to the US and was driving a taxi there. Dalerji (Daler Mendhi), who is nine years older than me, also moved there and started driving our Khalsa cabs that we owned. But he did not like it so he came back to Delhi in 1991 to become a singer.
I shifted along with him. I was just 15 and got a band together for Dalerji by teaching them instruments. The band obviously had Dalerji as its lead singer. In 1995, Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra became a huge hit. I then composed Dardi Rab Rab for him and that too became a hit.
In 1998, one of his managers told me: “You can become a big star if you sing yourself.” I told him: “I don’t want to become a singer, I only want to become a music director.” He said: “No one will give you a chance until you compose and sing as that is the way you can make people hear your work.”
That’s when I composed Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag in Hindi, as I had to distinguish my work from Daler paaji. I never knew it would become a hit.
Looking at the beginnings of your career, did you ever think you’d be this big in the industry? In the early stages, where did you think your career was headed?
I always knew I was going to be huge. My friends told me: “Mika, don’t go to Bollywood as it’s very difficult.” But I said that the day will come and I’ll hit a sixer, I won’t struggle. I am a born star and they thought I was mad.
In 2006, I came to Mumbai just to prove my friends wrong. Someone told me that Shah Rukh Khan owned a Prado. So I bought a Hummer. My friend Shaan, the singer, said to me: “Are youmad? You have come in a Hummer and you think anyone is going to give you a song? Go and buy a Santro so that music directors give you work.”
I said: “I can’t do that as with so much difficulty, I have created this image, and that too, after just singing three songs.” The Hummer was a plus point and how everyone came to know there is a Mika. Luckily, Sanjay Gupta met me and liked my work. I went to Sanjay’s house and he made me hear a song. I did not like it and told him it should be sung differently.
He must have thought, ‘I am giving him a chance and he has the cheek to tell me that he doesn’t like it’. But he called me after six months and Ae Ganpat happened. In 2007, one, my song had become a hit and, two, I had become famous.
Regarding your work on The Voice: India, what do you enjoy most about working with young musical talent? And how does it feel to be acknowledged (through the show) for your musical skill and mentorship/coaching qualities and not just seen as the “bad boy of Bolly”?
I am very proud of the fact that so many girls are willing to come out of their small towns and participate in such a huge event. All the credit goes to the musical prodigies of our country who serve as a role model for these youngsters.
Being considered the “bad boy of Bolly” was never my intention. I just came to this industry to make music, but I was not like the others, so I guess just my attitude being different was misconstrued.
I never thought I needed to change my image. My fans love me for me and my music and that’s all that matters to me.
You’ve been to South Africa before. What do you like best about a) our country, and b) our people?
I’ve been to South Africa quite a few times and have had a hearty welcome each time from Indians and other residents as well. The country is so beautiful and chilled out.
I like that the people there really know how to party. I’m expecting all my crazy fans to bring down the house in Durban and Joburg with soldout shows.
How would you describe yourself?
My biggest plus and minus is my attitude. So if I meet a star, even though I like him, I will not tell him, as I feel that he will think that I am asking for work. So, I became friends with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman bhai (Salman Khan), but I will never butter them up.
I don’t care whether I am singing for a big or a small star. I just want to sing a good song. Even if I am five pegs down, I will never say: “Shah Rukh bhai, please give me a song.” I feel that if my work is good, songs will come to me on their own. I will not sing if you don’t want to use my voice.
I have a target of only having two hit songs in a year. I only chase shows and am mad about them. I do 200 shows a year. I take a bath every evening at 6, thinking that I have a show, even if I don’t. I believe that you need to have an image and style. Once I wear my sunglasses, then I can’t see any superstar in front of me.
I am very egotistical when it comes to my work. I am both super-mental and a super singer.
The Mika Singh Tour will be produced and promoted by AA Group (AAG) and managed by AA Events. One of the most anticipated musical events of the year in Durban and Joburg, concerts take place on Saturday at the ICC Arena in Durban and Sunday at Emperors Palace in Joburg. Tickets: from R250 now available at Computicket: 0861 915 8000.