I am always rude, I am Anu Malik!

I'm a natural!

"Yes, I will be more blunt," admits Malik, about his second tryst as judge in this Sony reality show, along with choreographer-director Farah Khan and singer Sonu Nigam. "I can't do all the sugary talk. I prefer being honest with the contestant," says Malik. "I don't decide beforehand what I will say and do. I am a natural," he declares.

Ershaad!

Along with his tough stance, his on-the-spot rhyming poetry will also continue.

"Shairi comes naturally to me. It could be with the person's name or the way the participant has performed. Instead of a long-winding rambling, I could say it concisely and precisely in two lines.

For instance, when Idol finalist Prajakta Shukre was losing her sting, I told her, "Prajakta… aaina chodo, tanpura se naata jod lo. The message was loud — and clear. And it worked."

Malik says Idol is a great platform for budding singers and "there are lots of talented people out there. The show makes them overnight sensations so they better be good."

His note of caution for the aspirants is to be themselves. "Do not ape any singer. We already have him or her. We need a new voice, not a copy of that voice. The person has to be a neat singer. And if her or she is a looker too, it is a great combo deal."

The composer adds the tears and trembling of the aspirants does not sway his decisions. "I have to be honest with the participant. There is no point telling him he's good, when he isn't. He is wasting his time, he would rather try another vocation instead of wasting his youth trying and trying till it's too late."

Idol 2 is slated to air on Sony in November — post their ongoing music-based reality show, Fame Gurukul, which ends on October 21. Indian Idol is the desi version of the hugely successful American Idol, a music-based show in which viewers select the country's pop idol who can sing and dance on stage. The winner bags a recording contract with Sony BMG and a contract with Sony worth Rs 1 crore.