Shabbir Kumar makes comeback in Housefull
Shabbir Kumar's son Dilshad debuted with an A R Rahman track in Blue, and Shabbir Kumar makes a comeback with a song tuned by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s for Sajid Khan’s soon-to-release film Housefull.
Coincidentally, both father and son have Akshay Kumar in common, since they’ve both sung for him. “Akki is lucky for both my son and me. Dilshad entered the industry as his voice. I’ve re-entered the industry as his voice,” smiles Shabbir.
What kept you away from the recording studios for almost a decade?
It’s the kind of low nearly every singer goes through. Even Rafi saab (Mohd. Rafi) did after Kishore Kumar became a rage post the success of Aradhana. All the songs were huge chartbusters, especially Mere sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu….
Those songs were supposed to be sung by Rafi saab but he was out of town and Rajesh Khanna couldn’t give fresh dates for the film. So, the song had to be readied in a jiffy and Kishoreda was roped in. After that, Rafi saab was out of work for nearly seven years.
Did something like this happen with you too?
No one can steal anyone else’s work. What is meant for you comes to you. I don’t think anyone stole anything that was mine. The songs that were meant for me, came to me. The ones that weren’t meant for me didn’t.
Didn’t any offers come to you in these last 10 years?
No one supported me but I would often get phone calls from some composer apologising for not being able to give me a song because it wasn’t my “type”. I wonder what they meant by “type”. Such statements irked me more than anything else. But I didn’t go begging for work.
But you must have missed being at the recording studios?
I did. And now I’m back. The wait was worth it.Sajid Khan often uses your songs, particularly Parbaton se aaj main takra gaya…to take potshots at actors during award shows.
And you still sang for Housefull?
Sajid is honest, I like him as a person. I don’t mind him using my songs for award shows. I sang for him because he picked up the phone and called to tell me o rush to the recording studio.
He wanted me to sing a song for his movie, not because it was my type, but because he wanted me. When he called me, I was out of town. After I returned, I reported for the recording. Sajid loves the song, ‘I don’t know what to say…’.
What has the response to the song been?
Phenomenal, I’m really encouraged by the response. There was a time when I used to sing all the songs on an album. For that matter, every singer in the ’80s did that. Today, even having a solo hit is a big deal. I have one song in Housefull and I am really happy about it. When I had entered the industry, people would retire at the age of 60. Today, the retirement age is 40. There are too many voices and too few songs.
Has Dilshad been working with A R Rahman for a long time?
He debuted with Rahman’s composition in Blue. Bekhauf nigahein… is a really nice song. Dilshad has been doing stage shows with Rahman saab for a while now. He has just returned from a tour of Oman, Australia and several other countries. Rahman also uses him for his Hollywood assignments.My son is a composer and singer. He has composed a few tunes too. He is waiting to turn into an independent composer.
When do both of you plan to sing together?
Whenever the opportunity comes up.
How about a private album?
I had recorded one. But no company was open to it. Maybe after the Housefull, I will find a buyer!
Has Dilshad been working with A R Rahman for a long time?
He debuted with Rahman’s composition in Blue. Bekhauf nigahein… is a really nice song. Dilshad has been doing stage shows with Rahman saab for a while now. He has just returned from a tour of Oman, Australia and several other countries. Rahman also uses him for his Hollywood assignments.
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