If not a musician, I would have been a farmer: Mohit Chauhan

Gifted with mellifluous and intense voice that perfectly suits romantic ballads, Mohit Chauhan hardly needs any formal introduction. Whether it’s the chartbuster ‘Dooba Dooba’ from his debut album ‘Boondein’, romantic ‘Guncha Koi’ from ‘Main Meri Patni Aur Woh’, intense ‘Khoon Chala’ from ‘Rang De Basanti’, nostalgically charged ‘Tum Se Hi’ from ‘Jab We Met’, passionate ‘Kuchh Khaas’ from ‘Fashion’, playful ‘Masakkali’ from ‘Delhi 6’ or the latest love anthem ‘Pehli Baar Mohabbat’ from Box Office money spinner ‘Kaminey’, Mohit Chauhan has swayed an entire generation to his tunes.

Mohit Chauhan has been the lead singer of Indi-pop band ‘Silk Route’ and is a successful playback singer whose voice infuses a fresh breather in the Bollywood music scene. With huge hits under his belt, Mohit is a soft-spoken yet charming artist whose music completely sweeps you off your feet and transports you into a new plane of experience. Having freshly recorded his first solo album ‘Fitoor’, in an exclusive interview with Aman Kanth of Spicezee.com , Mohit Chauhan spoke at length about the love of his life – music. Aman: With the music of Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Kaminey’ breaking records at the Box Office, has Mohit Chauhan finally arrived in Bollywood? Mohit: Well, I really don’t know but I have heard that ‘Kaminey’ is a great film. Its music is really nice and it was great to work with Vishal Bhardwaj. And the very fact that my personal favourite Gulzar saab has penned its lyrics makes the movie all the more special. Aman: Having lent your voice in flicks like ‘Road’, ‘Main Meri Patni Aur Woh’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Jab We Met’, ‘Fashion’, ‘Delhi 6’, ‘New York’, ‘Love Aaj Kal’ and the recent ‘Kaminey’, do you fear being typecast every time a music director approaches you with mushy romantic numbers? Mohit: There are a lot of new music directors coming in and people are exposed to new music and the new composers are experimenting with new sounds. About being typecast, I genuinely don’t feel so. You can see my repertoire, the kinds of songs I have done – ‘Dooba Dooba’, ‘Boondein’, ‘Khoon Chala’, ‘Masakkali’, ‘Tum Se Hi’, ‘Pehli Baar Mohabbat’ and so forth. I hardly think there is any similarity in terms of variety. Aman: Having been associated with ‘Silk Route’, how is your Bollywood experience been so far? Are you happy with the kind of songs you are being offered? Mohit: Well, I sing whatever comes my way and I am very happy with the kind of songs I have done. Aman: You have worked with one of the biggest music directors of Bollywood AR Rahman in ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Delhi 6’. Tell us something about working with Rahman? Mohit: Yes, I have worked with AR Rahman in both the films and also did a reality show ‘Mission Ustaad’ where I was a contestant and Rahman was my judge. Rahman is a great man with an equally enormous sense of aesthetics. Aman: Comparing independent projects with films, what is creatively more satisfying- cutting your own albums or playback singing for Bollywood flicks? Mohit: You see, in terms of creativity both are equally satisfying. Music album is for yourself where you compose songs and stuff like that and in films you have a story, characters and songs penned by someone else.Aman: Apart from music, what more interests you? Mohit: I like traveling, eating and relaxing at home. Aman: If not a musician, what would you have been? Mohit: (laughs) I really don’t know, maybe a farmer because I simply love nature! Aman: Who are your favourite singers? Mohit: My personal favourites include JJ Cale, RD Burman, Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali. Aman: Can you tell us something about your musical influence and inspiration? Mohit: As I was born and brought up in Himachal Pradesh, I used to listen to a lot of Hindi songs over radio apart from ghazals, western music and ‘Himachali’ folk songs. Aman: Can you enlighten us about your upcoming projects? Mohit: I have just finished recording for my first solo Hindi album ‘Fitoor’ which will be coming out soon. ‘Fitoor’ comes with acoustic music and is based on life, travel and romance – it includes almost everything. Apart from it, there are a couple of Bollywood projects.