Think Sonu Nigam and you have the country?s hottest male playback singer. Unequivocally. But right now its his latest acting venture Love In Nepal that is his obsession. Never mind if the trade and his fans think he?s hotter on the music circuit than he is at the box-office. Sonu?s sticking to his guns. He wants to make it as an actor come hell or high water.

?According to me, Love In Nepal is an incredible film. Rajat Mukherjee, who made Pyar Tune Kiya Hua and Road has done a good job. And I?m shamelessly recommending it to people,? he declares.

The singer admits he?s still a greenhorn as far as acting goes. And he is obviously not competing with any other actor in the orbit. ?But I am really proud of what I have done in Love In Nepal,? he exclaims with childlike pride. ?And even if I?m saying so, there?s been a marked improvement in my performance compared with my earlier two movies Jaani Dushman and Kaash? Aap Hamare Hote.?

The singer-turned-actor adds : ?I did make some blunders initially in my choice of films. I got into emotional situations and opted for the wrong movies. Lots of people had warned me not to do the projects I did. But I went ahead anyway. I was looking at Jaani Dushman the other day on television and I realized what a novice I came across as in that film. As for Kaash? Aap Hamare Hote, I haven?t been able to see the film after the first trial!?

Gamely he continues, ?But I am a fast learner. This time around I will wait to see what kind of reactions I get for Love In Nepal and pick and choose from the offers I get. I?ll make sure I work only with the right film-makers.?

Sonu insists that though there are many who think he?s just another of those who try acting for a lark, his diversification is a premeditated move. ?I stepped into acting only after a lot of thought. I got my first acting offer way back in 1994 and, in 1997, Shekhar Kapur wanted me for the lead role in Tara Rum Pum Pum. But I nixed those offers because I had come to Mumbai from Faridabad with the primary aim of making it big as a playback singer. And my dream had not yet been accomplished.?

?It was only in 2000 that I started pursuing a career in acting. After the television programme Sa Re Ga Ma went off the air, producers started hounding me. Sometimes I listened to as many as six to seven scripts in a week. But it?s not like I signed every film that I was offered. Now that I?ve decided to go for it, watch out. I?m so self-obsessed that it will hurt my ego if I fail to accomplish what I have set out to do,? he says.

He reminds me that he came to Mumbai at 17, chasing his dream, and has seen some tough times. ?I?ve sung at people?s weddings, birthday and cocktail parties before I got my first major break,? he sighs. ?But I am relentless. I don?t give up easily.?

?SUCCESS HUMBLES YOU?

He flinches involuntarily as he recalls the hurt and humiliation he faced when he first started making the rounds. ?To make it as a male playback singer is the toughest task,? he announces. ?Since you are not a woman, the music director has no interest in you. And everyone from the music directors? secretaries to their chamchas talk badly to you. I?ve been verbally abused by the shittiest of people during that phase. I?ve done demeaning stuff like touching the feet of people who aren?t even worth it.?

Sonu laughs as he recalls, ?I often thought to myself, when I am in a position of power I?ll ?show? these people. But success humbles you. Just the fact that I?m in a position where I can make demands is good enough for me now. If I were to behave badly with people, what would the difference be between them and me??

He looks at the ceiling and gestures, ?I don?t even ask God for anything these days. It?s been six years since I?ve made any demands to God. Earlier I used to pray asking for this, that or the other. But now I?m a content man. Itni bhi mila toh bahut badi baat hai.? Sheepishly he adds : ?I did ask God to make my first acting assignment a success. But that didn?t happen. Chalo, koi baat nahin.?

The singer insists there is absolutely no conflict of interests even though he?s pursuing two full-time careers as a singer and an actor. ?The trade was very sceptical about whether I would be able to juggle singing and acting. So I went one step ahead. And I showed them how capable I am by singing, acting and hosting shows on television.? He confesses though, that he has cut down on his singing assignments. ?Earlier I used to record eight to 10 songs a week. I?ve even recorded 18 songs in a day. But now I record one song in three days. I?m no longer a man in a hurry.?

Will Anu Malik and Sandeep Chowta get top priority, when you ration out your songs, I ask. He admits they are good friends and though he?s partial to them because he parties with them, it is A. R. Rahman who?s inspired him to give of his best. ?I recently picked up a trophy for Saathiya at the MTV Awards,? he reminds me. And goes red with embarrassment as he recalls his boo-boo on stage. ?I actually went on stage and thanked Shankar Ehsan Loy, Karan Johar and Javed Akhtar for the award because I thought I had got the trophy for Kal Ho Na Ho,? he smiles. ?I?m really embarrassed. I want to apologise to Shaad Ali, Rahman and Gulzarsaab for my mistake,? he says, sticking his tongue out like a child.

CONSTRUCTIVE EGO

Besides pursing his singing and acting Sonu is also busying himself for the release of his international album titled Spirit Unfolding which has Rita Coolidge, a Grammy winner from the ?80s, lending her vocals. Brent Louis, a percussionist from the US, will also feature. ?I?ve composed the music for the album, written some of the lyrics and of course I have sung,? he tells me. ?My constant endeavour is to keep doing something new. I set milestones for myself and I want to keep achieving them. Two years ago I decided I needed to improve my handwriting. Then I got into reading in a major way. I?ve learnt Feng Shui, body-building, improved my dancing. Every day I try and master some new computer software. In short I?m a restless guy whose thirst for knowledge keeps him going.? The singer admits he has a massive ego which does come into play many times. ?But it?s a constructive ego,? he explains. ?I will not let my ego take me to a point of no return.?

And though he often sounds cocky and arrogant, he confesses that deep within he is still a small-time boy from Faridabad who values his success. ?I?d love to race in a Ferrari,? he confesses, sharing a dream. ?Though I can afford one, I?m too insecure to buy one. But I did gift my Dad a Mercedes,? he beams.

Now Sonu waits for his Ferrari.

Source : Filmfare India

? I don?t even ask God for anything these days. It?s been six years since I?ve made any demands to God. Earlier I used to pray asking for this, that or the other. But now I?m a content man. Itni bhi mila toh bahut badi baat hai. ?