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Stories are doing the rounds is that you are very fond of Jiah Khan … (Laughs) Those are absolutely false stories. I was simply asked by some jour- nalists if I want to become a film hero. I'd replied, " yes.." the presswallas then told me that I'd look good with a 20-some- thing actress. Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherji were out of the question.. so I suggested a younger heroine like Jiah Khan. "She'd suit you," they nodded. The next thing I heard was that I'm being linked with her! Come on, I haven't even seen Nishabd.. I don't know her at all. How can I be dating her then? How's Sa Re Ga Ma doing? Fantastic. The show provides a huge platform to musicians.. plus, it's the longest running show. The guests and judges are widely respected.. there is a certain status attached with it. There couldn't be a better learning experience than Sa Re Ga Ma. How have the previous hosts of the shows, Shaan and Sonu Nigam, reacted to you? I wouldn't know. But Shaan and Sonu bhaiya lent their own individuality to the show. I'm inspired by them. How was your first day at the shoot? Oh, I was nervous as hell. But that was a natural reaction in the presence of Ismail Darbar and Himesh Reshamiya. I felt like a newcomer who's just been asked to face the camera opposite Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan. For me, the show has come at the right time. Do you feel that you were signed up as a host only because you are Udit Narayan's son? Not at all. I'm not new to music. I started off as a singer long ago.. when I was a child. I may be Udit Narayan's son but I can say with pride that I got the show because of my talent. The producers were looking for a fresh face.. I guess I suited the host's role. Your father is judging a music show on a rival channel. Is there competition brewing at home? I don't look at it that way. Do you think I can compete with my father, who has decades of experience? As a father, he's always supported me. He's happy that I've been taken over as a host of Sa Re Ga Ma. I know many eye- brows were raised when he came to wish me good luck on the first day of the shoot. He can be a judge on a rival chan- nel but to me, he's a father first. Do you want to act? Why not? In fact, I did get many offers after I completed my education. But somehow things didn't materialise. But I have diverse interests.. I want to be a car racer.. I want to direct a film.. there are many options. But my first love remains playback singing. Once a musician, always a musician.