People Here Don't Want Others To Have A Spine

It has been tough to ignore Sonu Nigam in the last few months. A few controversies and a whole image change notwithstanding, Sonu Nigam, in real, is as smooth as his velvety voice. He sailed through some tough questions just as he has sailed through tough times in real life—with a charming smile.

- Srividya Menon

The mercury levels were off the charts in Mumbai when a pack of writers and photographers reached a multi-storey bungalow in Juhu. A sceptical doorman frowned when we announced our arrival. We didn’t blame him, considering the venue had been through an awful lot a few weeks ago. A casual tweet and thousands of opinions had resulted in an onslaught on Sonu Nigam. The affable singer cum host cum reality show judge was suddenly in the eye of a storm, which eventually ended after he dramatically decided to take the razor to his hair publicly. We decided to meet him well after the storm had died down, the tension had subsided and the hair had regrown.

“Not so busy,” is how Sonu describes his current routine when we ask him post a quick photoshoot. But the actor has been travelling, a recording here and a concert there. But Sonu doesn’t look like an artiste tired of his work. Probably because concerts are fun for Sonu Nigam and he readily admits it. The connection with the audience is immense. Especially when hits like Abhi Mujh Mei Kabhi, Bijuria and Har Ghadi Badal Rahi Hai are being sung. “Concerts are relatively easy. People approach you and you get what you demand. I can work with the best people in the business. A few can afford us anyway but they are the ones I like working with.” And those few are positive artistes who make the journey enjoyable. Sonu doesn’t worry about the wrong ones though. “They don’t last in my friends group,” is how he bluntly puts it.