Shaan & family in music video

"There was a situation in the song where they fitted in, they needed a mother and children.So I said , why not? In fact I'm supposed to take Radhika to Singapore where I've a concert, for Valentine's day. But she's making excuses saying one of the boys isn't well. I'll just have to force her to leave the kids with my mom. We need to be alone sometimes."

Shaan says he was pressed for time while doing his new non-film album. "Luckily I had Ranjit Barot with me. He did the programming and two of my songs. And the studio where we recorded Trishnagi was close to where Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is shot. So I could hop over. But yes, I wish I had more time to give my new album. But I'm happy one of the songs Shuruaat has been used to showcase the Walt Disney film The Chronicles Of Narnia….I wish the album was marketed better by EMI."

This is the new confident stage-friendly Shaan. "The confidence comes from hosting Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. My poor Hindi pronunciation has improved dramatically . It's unbelievable how much popularity that show has given in. I'm already planning the next season with the producer-director Gajendra Singh. We've big plans. People who are saying I'm leaving the show must be out of their minds. I'd be stupid to even think about quitting it. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has given me so much popularity."

He does have some reservations about the audiences' poll on Sa Re Ga Ma. "I'd want the performance of the excellent contestants to be judged by more authoritative music persons than the audience. You know when Daler Mehndi came to judge, he used as sur as yardstick. When the change in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa format started and audiences were made more participative, I knew we needed to compete with Sony's Indian Idol. But I thought we were going the wrong way. Gajendra-ji was right. The TRPs touched sky-high. Today the show is bigger than ever. I do regret the fact that I'm today known more for my hosting than singing. Also, that high-energy hosting which comes naturally to me as soon as I'm on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa wears out my throat. But I've worked out a balance. People come to me at the airport to ask me who will win Debojit or Vinit."

As a singer Shaan seems well ensconced. " This year seems really bright for me. Trends are changing. And I'm glad I'm keeping up with them. Look at how successful Himesh Reshammiya's distinctive voice has become . It reminds me of when R.D. Burman started singing. The gruff voice created a confusion. Initially all change scares people."

Coming back to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, whom is Shaan voting for? "Going by the responses I see all around me, I'd say Vinit is hugely popular among kids and ladies. Men like Debojit's singing. But if I've to choose between the two, Vinit has an edge. He's a bit younger and has the flamboyance. But he needs another 4-5 years to evolve as a singer. Because his voice is going to change. He has been singing since the age of 11. Look at Michael Jackson. His voice stayed thin. It was never given a chance to change. I was undergoing puberty till 16 because I was constantly singing. "