Sandeep's latest interview

Acharya records debut album

The Indian Idol's debut album, Mere Saath Sara Jahan, to release shortly

Subhash K Jha

Sandeep Acharya is on a high ever since he won on Indian Idol. Life seems to be falling in place for him now as he has just finished recording his first album.

"I have just finished recording for the album and I already feel an emptiness," he says. " The past few weeks, after winning the Indian Idol, have been devoted to the album. It's called 'Mere Saath Sara Jahan'. It's a compilation of eight songs, two of them in Rajasthani, but with hip and trendy beats. I've also included 'Papa kehte hain' and 'Sagar jaisi aankhon wali' in the album as a tribute to two of my favourite playback singers Udit Narayan and Kishore Kumar."

Album apart, Sandeep is busy preparing for his concert, to be held on May 20.

He admits that he hasn't been approached for any film songs yet. "But that's because I've been so busy with my album. Plus, I want to be careful as I know I'm being watched closely. I don't want to take any wrong steps," he says.

Speaking about fellow contestant Karunya, he says, "We're regularly in touch, Karunya and I had made a pact of not letting our friendship suffer. Though I was confident of winning it didn't mean I wanted Karunya to lose. It was a peculiar feeling. I wanted to win. But I wanted him to win too. I did feel bad when Karunya seemed ahead in the race but instead of brooding over it I worked on my flaws. It was a moment of great triumph for me when just before the finals Sonu Nigam said that I should be the Indian Idol."