Shankar Sahney striking it big in Bollywo

Having conducted more than 1000 stage shows in different parts of the World, he has promoted Punjabi music like few others have.

A singer, an actor and a writer, Sahney was born in a musical family, and initiated into the world of sur and taal at the tender age of three. A proponent of the Kirana Gharana, Sahney studied to become a chemical engineer, and embarked upon finding a place for himself in the same field.

However, the seeds of music sown to deep in him to help him make a career in engineering, and finally he succumbed to the lure of music.

"My father was the head of the music department in Government College Hoshiarpur. So there were 50-60 students sitting in our house all the time, with someone playing the harmonium and others the tabla," said Shankar.

"Though we were not keen to learn music, we learnt a lot during our childhood days. After that when I got serious, we made a first band. I was in class seven then. We got 700 rupees for the first performance. We played at a wedding. We loaded guitars and drum in a rickshaw and went on my dad's scooter. I still cherish that day. Of course it will never come back again," said Shankar.

Performing on the stage the world over, Shankar himself experimented with beats enthralled even Englishmen.

"You must have seen that when Punjabi singer sings something on stage or even in disco, people get energetic. There is a lot of energy in Punjabi music. So one can also workout or dance for half an hour, on Punjabi music, because it gives one a lot of energy. The music and the rustic feel touches the soul," Shankar added.

Shankar, who has to his credit a number of popular numbers which have become a rage in Punjab and as well as abroad.

After giving super hits like Kudi Kurmuri, Oye Tera Kya Kehna and Yaari Yaari, he has 12 music videos to his name, directed and choreographed by a galaxy of highly talented and well-known professionals from Bollywood.

"After recording a song, we feel that unless people enjoy it there is no point in singing it. We can experiment but to a certain extend. Most of the time fusion music is very well accepted all over the world. Punjabi music has a global feel and it is not only Indians who enjoy it. I recall hearing Punjabi music while travelling in a taxi abroad. The driver was non-Indian. Punjabi music gels with all kind of tradition.

Playback singing in Bollywood provided Shankar with a platform for the big screen. 'Jat Lutya gaya' from the film 'Champion' became a hit on the charts. And now it no surprise, that a Punjabi song is featured in almost every Bollywood film.