As a legendary ghazal singer do you think there aren't too many takers for your style of music?
I am not saying I will change my style of singing for them. But the style of music, style of instruments which are used and played today actually sounds good. I don't want to become like today's singers who actually don't know how to sing. I am just saying that I like the beats of the drums. Otherwise contemporary music is dhin chak, dhin chak. It is almost like a remix, with less sur and taal.
So which singer can't sing?
Many are there, almost all. I don't want to name someone and make a controversy. Everyone knows who all cannot sing.
Ok. Who has been your inspiration?
Mehendi Hasan and Mohammed Rafi Saab.
If not a singer, what would you have been?
I would have been a dhobi because I love to press (iron) my clothes and I also have a factory that manufactures such machinery.
When was your first stage performance?
I was in class 3 and I sung a ghazal and won the first prize.
After the terrorist attack in Bombay, how should Bollywood treat Pakistani singers since the terrorists were trained across the border?
Bollywood should ban them. That's all. It is as simple as washing your hands after using the toilet. India should ban or cut all relationships with Pakistan as soon as possible. Some Pakistanis come with weapons comes to India on one hand, to earn money and fame and on the other hand with In hand with weapons and some of them come to make money and become famous. Ek taraf zakham dete hai, dusri ore marham lagate hai. They come to India earn money and don't even pay tax to our country. Then what's the point of giving them a platform here?
But Pakistani singers are said to be very good.
Hahaha! I should tell you that shouting loudly does not make anyone a singer. Every one is not Mehendi Hasanji. There is another very popular singer whose name I can't remember figure if it is girl or a guy singing. There are so many good singers in India so why bring them from Pakistan? Getting 'imported product' is the fashion in India, because singing talent from Pakistan is imported. No need to give them a place to stay or chance to stay because they don't even pay taxes. India is calling people from Pakistan that's why they are killing us. History stands testimony to the fact that of Indians welcomed the British to India and then hey ruled us for 200 years. So why are you allowing any Pakistanis to enter India? Government should strictly end all relations with Pakistan and Bollywood should boycott Pakistani artists.
Which Pakistani singer are you pointing to? Is it Adnan Sami?
No, no woh toh galti se singer ban gaya. He had come here to become an actor and by mistake he became a singer. He can't even sing. People like him should be sent back to Pakistan to work there because they make money in India and send it to Pakistan.