Hussain in II5 discussion thread

1st one....

I'm a pathetic singer but I love music : Hussain Kuwajerwala

Hussain Kuwajerwala is back on the small screen and he is back in Indian Idol. The success and popularity he got as a host in the last two seasons, coupled with his squeaky-clean-guy-next-door image, there was no way the producers could have ignored him. This is the third time Hussain will be hosting Indian Idol and will co-host it with Idol winner Abhijeet Sawant. Being the style icon he is Hussain is sporting a new hairdo for the show. Excerpts from an interview.

This is the third time you are hosting Indian Idol.Aren't you bored?
Oh'not at all. On the contrary, I am really excited and it feels great to be back in Idol. I believe this is a huge platform for me to connect with viewers and the participants.

Every year a new set of people come to this show with a new set of dreams. It feels great to be a part of their excitement and happiness and also to lend them a shoulder to cry on. I am looking forward to being a host and dost on the show.

Are you comfortable anchoring shows?
To be very honest, I have never seen myself as an anchor. I always wanted to become a good actor. A friend of mine gave me the opportunity to host a show which I did. Eventually I started getting more offers to host shows and today, I seem to be doing a good job with it!

Which has been your best hosting experience?
I started with Kisme Kitna Hain Dum followed by Shabaash India, Khul Ja Sim Sim, Nach Baliye, Dance Premiere League and Indian Idol. I must say hosting Indian Idol has been the best experience so far.

The fun element which is attached to this show is very important for me. I am a pathetic singer but I love music and that is why I love to dance. In Indian Idol, you get to hear so many good singers that the atmosphere becomes very good. I do not feel I am shooting ' it is more like having fun and listening to good music. But, I hate the elimination round.

Your camaraderie with Meiyang Chang was very well received by the viewers last year. Chang has mentioned in various interviews how he was grateful to you for giving him a free hand '
I am no one to give him a free hand. It's about the opportunity you grab. Whenever opportunity knocks at your door, you should take it with both hands. For a guy who has just started his career, Chang is doing great job. I think he is very talented. He is already starring in a big film and I will see him on the big screen. I had told him once that if I were in his place I would not have achieved this much in such a short span.

We saw Prajakta Shukre hosting the auditions with Abhijeet. Was she dropped from the show?
I guess there is some confusion behind this. I have replaced no one. The format for Indian Idol has always seen different people hosting the auditions and the gala rounds. Even last year, I joined Chang from the theatre round ' I was never hosting the auditions! The reason to have Prajakta in the auditions was that participants would relate to her more easily, since she has gone through all this as a participant.

What do we see from you this season?
(Smiles) How different can one be? It is difficult, though not impossible, to be different every year. The writers also feel they are writing for the last five years so how different they could be.

But one sees new set of emotions come with a new set of people. You deal with them differently, and according to their emotional needs. So naturally, my dealing with the participants will be the difference. Plus, my chemistry with Abhijeet will also be different.

The format of the show is the same, but the judges and contestants are different. The criteria for judging contestants during the theatre round have also changed. They are giving different situations to the participants and judging on how they react. All of us want to do something new and unique so a lot of ideas are floating around. Just wait and watch!

How are the contestants this time?
They are much more confident. They know the format of the show and are well prepared for that.

Is your wife Tina styling you this time as well?
Yes! I feel she has done a good job with my looks and style. She knows me the best and is aware of what suits me and she can do the job well. She is also my biggest critic. There is a set format ' in the theatre round I will be wearing semi casuals, casuals in the piano round and formals for the gala rounds.

A lot of reality show participants get lost after their moment of glory in the show'
I won't deny it happens. Indian Idol is like a school for the participants. Once they are out of the school, it is up to them how they want to utilize the opportunity. In fact, most of the Indian Idol contestants are doing quite good. Chang, Abhijeet and Amit Paul are doing good work and most of them are doing a lot of events.

You are working on a musical play'
Yes. It's an experiment. It is called the Kingdom Of Dreams and is a big opportunity for me. I have started my rehearsals with the group. It's a big ambitious project from Wizcraft and will be taking Indian theatre to a different level. The drama part is being directed by Darshan Jariwala and there are different aspects to the play.

It will be choreographed by Shiamak Davar and Shankar-Ehsan-Loy will compose the music. It is going to be a big learning experience for me.

There is everything in the play from romance, drama, dance and action. Your body has to be conditioned to match up with that stamina and stress. When we perform for any show for four minutes, we get tired. In this case we have to perform for a much longer duration without getting tired. So I am feeling a bit jittery.

What happened to your film offers?
Frankly, it did not really take off. I was looking forward to it, but I guess in the film industry this happens to everyone. So I like what Javed saab said Jab sabke ghar mein andhera hota hai aapko bura nahin lagta hai!

Right now I am really looking forward to Indian Idol and the musical. That does not mean I will not try my luck in films. I will, but there is no hurry.