Meet Aditya Narayan the host-Interview

What was it like stepping into Shaan's shoes when you started hosting Sa Re Ga Ma Pa?

I've bought a new pair of shoes for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. I'm in my own shoes and Shaan is in his own shoes doing Voice of India. But as he was the previous anchor, for me to have the same responsibility as such a big singer is a big job. I'm in front of such big names from music directors to celebrity judges. It was a big responsibility but I was always up for it. I never thought of being compared to them because they've had their time and they are such big names today. There shouldn't be any comparison between such a young boy and such established people.

What do you think about the arguments between the judges?

Arguments are arguments. They are the gurus so they obviously have a lot of experience. They know what they're talking about. Everyone will have their own favourites depending on what music they listen to. Ismailji listens to classical music, Himmeshji likes melodious or disco songs and Vishal- Shekhar will have their hip hop or rock genre so they will have a certain edge towards the person who sings the type of songs they like.

Fights are very understandable and I think that in such a situation I should just keep my mouth shut and let them talk. If it does go out of hand then it is my job to calm them down. It's not my job to tell them they're wrong or right because I am in no position and I don't think anyone is in a position to do that. They are the gurus, they are the judges, they are training the singers and they have their expectations from their own gharaha from the competition.

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is the biggest musical platform on television so to keep that name up they have to tell the participants the truth about their performance. Sometimes people like a certain performance but singing wise it's not that great. Sometimes someone who looks good and has good clothes might carry off an average performance and the judges will receive it well because overall it was good. So it boils down to their interpretation of how they found the performance to be. They are there to give their own inputs and not think about how it should be theoretically.

Is there any competitiveness between your father and you?

It would be very stupid of me to try and compete with my father. It would be very stupid for anyone for that matter. So I think it would be dumb to think of competition in any way. The competition is between the channels, between the shows. It is a competition of the TRPs for them. For all of us on the shows it's about doing our job and finding good singers. So as long as both the shows do that our purposes are fulfilled.

Does your mom like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa or Indian Idol better?

My mom likes my show better. Dad's fine with that. He'll obviously be happy for me because I am his son at the end of it all. Nobody can have a problem with their son for doing well so I think that it's funny when people ask me "how my dad feels." Obviously he'll feel nice because his son is doing well.

On the judges…

I think everyone has their own charm. Bappi Lahiri is the sweetest. He hardly says anything bad but he does keep in mind what the contestants' negatives are and he says it in a nice way. Vishal- Shekhar are very straightforward and cool people. They're the youngest of the lot as well so the musical sense they have is closer to me than the other gurus.

Ismailji is a lot of fun because he is just blunt. He will say anything at any time and he doesn't care about what people think. Himmeshji is a rock star. He such a big person today and his music is doing so well. He is also such good entertainment without knowing it. So everyone has their own place on the show. Also working with people like Asha Bhosle is a great honour.

I'm really thankful that people have accepted me for what I am because at the end of the day I am very small in relation to them. You have to take into consideration that they started off very young as well. The only difference between me and Sonuji compeering the show, though he too started when he was 21, is that the expectations weren't as big and there was not too much competition then. Now there are so many good musical shows on TV so you need to have something special and you need that extra edge.

On making his own album…

It's not too far off but not in the near future either. I have some more time to grow as a playback singer and as an artist. Once I feel I am ready I'll definitely do it. Obviously that is one of my ultimate goals. I've been working on everything and hopefully I will be able to do it sooner than later. Everyone has shown confidence in me and said that they want to work with me which is great. I do not have any insecurity that I won't get work. I think that if a person works hard enough they can achieve anything and I am working pretty hard.

Aditya is single but he's very clear about the kind of girl he wants to date.

I would like to meet someone simple, cute, nice, charming, down to earth, honest and homely but not too orthodox. I don't really like 21st century girls all that much. The whole new trend of skin show and short clothes is good to see but I wouldn't like to have a girlfriend who is that way. I'm pretty old fashioned. I would like a Hindustani girl. Our country is Hindustan and Hindustani girls should stay like Hindustani girls. All the foreign jobs should be left to foreigners. That is their culture and this is ours. We should be happy with our culture. There is nothing wrong with being friendly but just doing things because other people think it is cool is very stupid. I like a woman who respects herself. She has to understand what I'm doing, support me and cook good food.

When you're not shooting how do you spend your time?

I watch TV and sit at home. I watch movies, play video games or just meet up with friends and hang out. We joke around, go out for drives. I play a lot of video games and I love bowling. I have a lot of guy friends who are the most hassle free people in the world. With my friends there is no back biting or comparison, no back talking. I can meet them, chill out and have fun and I won't be judged. That's not the same case with girls. For a guy it's very important to have guy friends because it's very peace giving.