says Kunal Ganjawala

The day I got married is one of the most cherished days in my life, says Kunal Ganjawala

She was different and so is Kunal Ganjawala.

And this very quality makes him a versatile artist. He is a completely natural singer who simply does not sound like someone else. Even though he is the most happening singer on the Bollywood music scene today, he never, in his wildest thoughts, thought he would be a singer. "I became a singer by chance. I never knew I could sing until I sang", tells Kunal. "It was my college friends who urged me to sing and try my luck as a professional singer. I had a good voice and I was always listening to music", explains Kunal Ganjawala.

Hard to believe after his songs such as 'Bheege Hooth Tere ', 'Channa Vey ', 'Kaal Dhamaal ' and the very latest 'Salaam Namaste ' proved to be major chartbusters. His melodious voice, modesty, his honest confession and his faith in himself made him what he is today.

In an exclusive interview with shaaditimes, he states that it was Poornima Tripathi and Ranjit Barot who changed his life around.

"Poornimaji picked me up from a college competition in 1992", says this alumni of Elphinstone college, Mumbai. "She took me to a studio where R.D. Burman used to record. Punchamda always had a huge influence on my life, so this was like a starting point of my career. In 1997 she introduced me to Hindi music director - Ranjit Barot. After meeting him my life took a complete turn. He put complete trust in me and gave me a chance. Meeting him was the best thing that could have happened to me as till date no one had given me a chance. I was very different in my singing and according to the film industry, I had to sound like someone to make myself heard. But I had my own voice and style and my mentors always told me that this quality would infact make me successful," elaborates Kunal. True to their prediction, he did become successful with the help of Poornima, Ranjit, Louis Banks (India's premier Jazz pianist) and Shankar and thousands of his fans.

Indeed amazing for a person who never sang consciously but only when bullied by his friends to sing.

The singers he admires are Lataji, Kishoreji, Mukesh sahab and many more. " I like music and like listening to even musicians who are nor singers. I enjoy South Indian classical music, orchestra groups from the west like Zeal, Laco and singers like Sting", says Kunal. "I was greatly influenced by Punchamda as his music was very lively, very young and even as we were listening to western music at college, his music kind of got absorbed into our system without us even realising", Kunal tells us.

Poornima got him in the mainstream arena and the after years of hard work the first big song he did was from the film 'Saathiya ' - humdum suniyo re .

He didn't have any dreams of being a singer but when he received two trophies on the same night on 26th February 2004 at 50th Filmfare awards, he realised that this is the stuff dreams are made of. "I got a trophy for my song, 'Bheege Hooth Tere ' and an award instituted in the name of my idol - R.D. Burman music award. And the same night the black trophies turned into gold and I was elated", says a beaming Kunal Ganjawala. And if you all do not know - Bheege Hooth tere was a one take song and even Anu Malik was amazed.

Speaking on special moments of his life he tells us, "My most memorable moment was when Poornimaji picked me up from the college function in 1992, when I met Ranjit Barot in 1997. Infact every day I spend with my parents is memorable. The day I got married is equally cherished", tells Kunal Ganjawala. Kunal is married to Gayatri Iyer who is herself a talented singer having sung jingles and songs of Gurinder Chaddha's movie 'Bride and Prejudice'. She was also the female lead for Michael Ward's 4-million musical 'Far Pavilions'.

Personally speaking, he sounds very happy basking in the glory of success and being blessed with what life has given him. He confesses that he is a funny person and likes playing pranks. He also maintains that one has to work hard to find their niche.

He is a cusp between Leo and Virgo, having born on 24th August. He has no favourite colour and it all depends on what he is looking at. If it is clothes, there is a particular colour, if it is furniture its another colour. Any shade that is subtle does for me. He advises aspiring singers to be passionate about what they are doing. "Do not fear, never hold back and love what you are doing. It will reflect in your work. Art never lies and one can hide behind the garb of another character but one can't hide their voice".