‘Life throws up surprises’-Shekhar

Q After cutting an album some time back, what made you take part in Jjhoom India, which is apparently a show for non-singers?

I have a passion for music and always wanted to be a singer but ended up being an actor. While I am an actor first, music is something that excites me. For the last two years I have worked hard at my singing and I chose to do Jjhoom India instead of Jhalak Dikhlaa Ja because I give a lot of importance to music and singing. I decided to do this first and next year I will take part in Jhalak.

Q Given that you have been into music for two years, will this be an easy process for you? What is your opinion about the the singing potential of your competitors?

Competition is tough but healthy. There are some good singers and everybody has a fair chance to make it to the finals. But everybody, including the mentors, are under pressure because they are going to be judged by the jury as well as viewers. Singing in a studio is different from singing in one take for a show where you have to score marks and get viewers' votes as well. Believe me, when you are in a competition the fear of elimination always haunts you.

Q How much time have you set aside for rehearsals? Or is riyaaz something that you do everyday?

In the last two years I have understood the basics of music, the high and low notes, sur and taal. So in a way, I am quite focused about my singing. But I have to work hard on it. I am putting in four hours in rehearsals and I don't think that's good enough. Music is a vast field and your learning never stops.

Q What's your take on the show's elimination format where three jodis walk into the safe zone on the judges' and viewers' combined marks and votes respectively and the third best saves the fourth jodi, the fourth picks the fifth best and so on?

You could call it unfair or whatever but this is reality TV. The drama will come from the human nature of fear and insecurity of being eliminated and how people can behave to save their skin. You can reach the final or someone will vote you out. Isn't it ironical that Apara Mehta who had got the highest marks from judges was not among the top three jodis and was the first one to go out of the show? So I am as nervous as others.

Q What made you suddenly focus on music so much so that you have taken a break from TV serials?

Human nature is unpredictable. Life goes through several phases. I have been through quite a few — fear, insecurity, failure, poverty and finally made money too. So I have explored life in many ways. But life is quite strange. It throws up surprises. The talent for singing was very much a part of me and was waiting to be tapped. There is no logic in what you are going to do tomorrow and what you will end up doing. That's what happened to me two years ago. I decided to pursue singing. Music is like spirituality. May be through music I want to move closer to God.

Q Closer to God and away from acting?

Closer to God but not away from acting. Music, singing, acting, anchoring, judging…I think they all overlap. I want to learn dance and play the guitar and piano and once I am done with this show I will get started. Dance also will happen. There are so many things I want to do but there is no logic no that. But I am not going to quit acting though I am not keen on doing serials. I want to do films once again.

Q There was a time when you wanted to do films but there were no takers and you turned to television. Now there is enough work on TV but you want to get back to films. Isn't it strange?

That's life. It's unpredictable. Routine is boring. Getting stuck in one thing is bad. That is why one wants to try out new challenges. I see lot of opportunities in films to challenge the actor in me. But I don't see that challenge on TV. But I am open to anchoring and judging because there is lot of money there.

Q You had a TV production company and you also produced your own shows. Why have you entered into a joint venture with UTV to produce content for TV?

Under 7.30 Entertainment I did a couple of shows but because of a lack of time I couldn't concentrate much on production. UTV is a big name and far more experienced than my company in production, marketing and distribution. That is why we have set up Windmills Entertainment as a joint venture. Karuna Samtani is the creative head and we will be concentrating on making films and television content.

Q What kind of shows will you be producing?

We are looking at producing shows across genres — fiction, non-fiction and reality shows — and we are in talks with some of the leading channels.

Q How did your maiden album fare? Are you looking at doing another album?

Kuch Khwab Aise was fairly successful and there was high degree of acceptability. Now I am definitely planning to work on my second album. I am also planning to do an international music concert with a big singer in the USA in March 2008.

Q You are a survivor. What makes you tick?

My passion for doing different things and my resilience. I have a way of connecting with people. I can adapt myself to any situation.

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