'Masakalli' singer doesn't see it as his ultimate destination

Singer Mohit Chauhan, former member of Indipop band Silk Route, has notched up his first solo hit of the year with "Masakalli", a song from Abhishek Bachchan's upcoming film "Delhi-6", but feels that Bollywood is not his ultimate destination.

"I don't think Bollywood is my ultimate destination, I believe it's a part of my journey. Today I sing songs in films, tomorrow I might collaborate with somebody else, it's all different colours and different hues of your artistic expression and without anything actually being a destination," Mohit told in an interview.

Mohit, who sang the hit "Dooba dooba" when he was a member of Silk Route, feels that although he has shifted from being a member of a musical band to mainstream playback singing, his move isn't a transition of any kind.

"I don't see my singing for films as a transition from singing my own songs because I see it as part of the same picture. For me music is for the soul - no matter whether the song is composed by me or by someone else," explained Mohit.

"When I sing I try to make the song my own and sing it my way because in my mind I am not following any school of thought. I just make myself free," he added.

When asked about the reason behind Silk Route disbanding, Mohit said: "When people are working together, sometimes there are creative differences and a difference of direction, which results in (people taking) separate ways."

Mohit began his stint in Bollywood with a few forgettable songs. It was with "Rang De Basanti" that his career got a boost with "Khoon chala" which was widely appreciated.

Post-"Rang..." his popularity rose with songs like "Tum se hi" from the hit film "Jab We Met" and "Masakalli" from Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Delhi-6".

"It really feels nice that people are liking the song so much," said the singer who was in New Delhi recently to flag off the musical parade, an initiative by 92.7 Big FM.

Mohit, who feels that he is fortunate to be working with a composer like A.R Rahman for the second time, said: "Rahman's music is great. As a person too when you speak to him and sit with him, you come to know that he is really stable and very rooted."

The singer-writer-composer who was missing from the non-film segment for quite some time will make his presence felt with a new album that is scheduled to release in a couple of months.

So what is his take on the fact that the market for non-film albums is shrinking with people becoming more Bollywood-centric?

"I don't think the listener or the audience has changed or become Bollywood-centric. If people loved 'Dooba dooba', they will still love a good song if offered to them. It's the economics that is a major concern. I think the music labels need to encourage artists so that more albums come out."

Mohit will be heard singing for Imtiaz Ali's new film, Rajesh Roshan's upcoming venture with his son Hrithik, and Deepti Naval's film among others.