Mika Singh promises ‘superhit night’ in Dubai

Although Bollywood singer Mika Singh has performed in the UAE several times, he says he’s excited to share the Dubai stage with his brother Daler Mehndi for the first time at the Dubai World Trade Centre on May 19.

“No matter how many times I come to Dubai, I get a lot of love. I’ve done a lot of shows in Dubai, and now I’m so happy that we both are coming,” he told Gulf News tabloid!, speaking a mixture of Hindi and English. “I’m so excited for Dubai, because recently, I performed in [Global Village in Dubai] for a crowd of 70,000. After that, I did [another] show in Dubai for a crowd of 50,000-70,000 for Holi. So even when I do a show after two or three months, I still get the same response. So I’m so glad that Dubai people are very supporting and loving.”

Singh began his career early due to the influence of his parents, but he realised he had to set himself apart from his already famous brother. Mehndi is credited for making the Bhangra genre popular worldwide. His song Tunak Tunak Tun was an instant hit when it was released in 1998. His debut album, Bolo Ta Ra Ra, sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, according to his website.

In an interview in 2014, Singh spoke about how he first wanted to become a music director, composing Mehndi’s hit song Dardi Rab Rab.

“In 1998, one of his managers told me, ‘You can become a big star if you sing yourself.’ I told him, ‘I don’t want to become a singer, I only want to become a music director,’” he told Bombay Times. “That’s when I composed Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag in Hindi as I had to distinguish my work from Daler. I never knew that it would become a hit.”

The brothers last collaborated together for the song Sohniye, an R’n’B and hip hop song in Hindi and Punjabi, which was released in November 2016. The song also marked the launch of Singh’s record label Music and Sound.

Singh is known for songs such as Mauja Hi Mauja from the film Jab We Met, Subha Hone Na De (Desi Boyz) and 440 Volt (Sultan).

He admitted he doesn’t have a favourite song to perform, and described his songs as peppy and of different styles.

“I’ve done, I guess, more than 100 songs, 100 super-hit songs. So experience is always good. I have given my voice to all the big superstars like Salman [Khan] bhai, Shah Rukh [Khan], Shahid Kapoor and Akshay Kumar,” he said.

There is a huge change in India’s music scene today where singers are respected and treated like stars, Singh said. “There was a time when singers had no respect in India. So what we thought of 18 years ago is being followed by singers today and it’s a good trend,” he said.

The Dubai concert will be a “superhit night”, Singh said.

“I love my fans, because I don’t think I do something special in my singing or I’m unique or something. I don’t know if there is a magic in my voice or music that it automatically becomes a superhit,” he said.

Don’t miss it!

Tickets to Mika Singh and Daler Mehndi’s concert start at Dh125.

— Saanya Lulla is an intern at Gulf News.