Second innings for Abhijeet-Article

The purpose of promoting a reality show was served right with our first Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant gathering a huge response and attention from Lucknowites for the organisers.

But interaction with the scribes was delayed by an hour. When asked, his publicist said, "Abhijeet wanted to have coffee." So, here's a star already, who for his cuppa coffee can extend the boundaries of time.

But once down to chat with LT, he was candid about his three-year gap, his second innings on a reality show and more...

"I wanted to remove the tag of a soft romantic singer from the minds of people," says Sawant when asked what made him take up a reality show again. But more than this, "It's a different experience. Plus, every show gives you a different platform and recognition" Participating in such a show the second time has been "quite a reliever. I was very hurt when public's ire and doubts on the decision of my becoming the first Indian Idol were expressed. But today, when Farah Khan says, 'Abhijeet, after giving such stupendous performance you have dispelled doubts of all those who were unhappy with you becoming the first Indian Idol,' I feel relieved and happy.

Back then, when Abhijeet won the reality show, he was a happy man then too, as he had quoted, "The Indian Idol title helped me in getting my love (wife)." And now if he wins the second title, "I will dedicate it to my wife, because it was she who motivated me to go for it the second time."

But before this while his three year gap was noticeable, Abhijeet used the time to his benefit, "During these three years, I engaged myself in closely observing different genres of music. I even tried to learn Sufi music, actually whole purpose of interacting and feeding on different musical genres was to bring improvement in my own repertoire."

Not just this, he's been occupied giving his best to Bollywood dreams too. The film which required only 40-50 days of shoot is, "Lottery by Hemant Prabhu. This film will mark my debut and the actresses of this film will be new faces too." But even as he says, "This film is a different concept but I will not let out the details." And why? "Because is mein ek khas baat hai." But elaborating a li'l on his role, he says, "I play a role of a very reticent chartered accountant in the film, who is a seeker of unexpected fortune."

What's more, Abhijeet even has a biography, Aapka Abhijeet. "I made writer Shweta Pradhan write for me so that people know who and how was the first Indian Idol before winning. It's a tale of rising from anonymity to fame." More importantly, "What gives me more pleasure is the fact that there are biographies of people like Shah Rukh Khan. And now, I have it too," he smiles with contentment as he bids us goodbye.

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