Music director and playback singer Ankit Tiwari isn’t starring in a movie any time soon — even if some of his fans were led to believe so by a teaser trailer for his new single, Badtameez. The video, which co-stars Sonal Chauhan, has an epic, film-like quality and has been watched nearly five million times on YouTube since it was launched in May.
“I am very happy that from the amount of people who have wished me, most of them said, ‘Ankit, best of luck for your first film’,” Tiwari tells tabloid! during an interview in Dubai this month. The musician was in the city for a party of celebrate the success of his single, and took time to talk about what else he’s working on these days: the songs from Akshay Kumar’s upcoming naval drama, Rustom. He also revealed he’s got two big projects lined up, as the solo music composer on the films Tum Bin 2, which will release this year, and Baadshaho, starring Ajay Devgn, which will hit the silver screen in 2017.
Tell us about your new song in Rustom.
The song is called Tai Hain, which means ‘confirmed’ [as in ‘it’s a done deal’]. It is a very unplugged kind of song and the lyrics are very meaningful because you’re trying to tell the one you’re in love with that whatever you have between each other is permanent and a sure thing. There is no doubt about it. A long time ago at an award ceremony, a teaser of this song was released. So since then we have been teasing the audience. I have two songs in Rustom, one is this and the other is Jab Tum Hote Ho sung by Shreya Ghoshal.
How did you come up with the concept for the music video of your first single, Badtameez?
It’s all about being badtameez [shameless]. I am very happy that from the amount of people who have wished me, most of them said ‘Ankit, best of luck for your first film’. It looks like that but it is actually just a song. It’s my first single. The concept is such. When I released the teaser it looked very much like a movie. It has almost five million views, so it’s a really good thing.
Are you interested in acting?
This is a single and I’ve featured in it. The credit for the performance I have given goes to my director and Sonal Chauhan, who is the actress in the video. It’s a team effort and it is with everyone’s help that I have been able to perform like this.
Is your single going to be a part of an album?
No, it’s just a single and I’m not making an album as of now. It requires a different thought process and a different story, so I don’t know. I haven’t worked on a concept as of now. But I will do more singles.
Out of the songs you have sung, which is your favourite?
There are many songs … but there’s one song from the movie Mr. X called Tu Jo Hain, and it’s special. People usually ask me what my biggest achievement is so I tell them that it is hidden in this song. I tell them “tu jo hai, to main hoon” — if my fans are there then I exist, so please always be there. That’s why I like it. It forms a connection with the audience. Whoever I love or want to love, my life partner, it’s for her, too. And for those who love me, unconditionally, it’s for them as well.
What is your take on the Salman Khan-Arijit Singh falling out?
I know Arijit personally; he’s my friend. But I don’t know Salman sir. What I know of him is that he’s a great friend to people. We all have our own nature and we all get angry. So we shouldn’t question that because that’s human nature. He does so much charity that some we don’t even come to know of. He helps people a lot and we get to know a little of that through the media. So he’s big-hearted. Arijit Singh is big, is a very good artist, and we all know that. He’s damn good and he’s doing well. What happened was a personal decision — why it happened, I have no idea. I’ve never spoken to him about it.
Papon said that in the music industry, even if you sing a song, there is no guarantee that it will be released in your voice. Do you agree?
That is true, and that’s what happens. I’m a composer, music director, singer and performer. So it is a Bollywood rule that people don’t know who has sung a song and whether your voice will be chosen. Many singers can sing a song and that’s not fair. I think we should call them [the singers] and tell them whether they were selected or not. But what happens is, the music company, director and other people are involved. Until the last moment, a decision isn’t made. The song is shot, the audio will be releasing and only then do they make a decision. In Rustom, the song that Shreya Ghoshal sang was earlier sung by two other artists. You can’t help it. This rule has been going on for years, so I don’t know how someone will be able to break it.
