Shaan wants to act in films that “convey positive messages”

The singer will soon be seen in an Ilaiyaraaja musical; reveals why he turned down acting offers that came his way all these years

Shaan will soon star in music composer Ilaiyaraaja’s musical. Talking to us, the singer says that it was while recording a song for the film that he received the offer to play a part in the film, that of a performer. “While recording, I realised that there’s a lot of acting involved in the singing. The tempos were changing and there were a lot of impromptu reaction to the rhythm. That’s when the director asked to do the role for which I was singing,” he shares.

Shaan has done cameos in films like Secret Superstar (2017) and Helicopter Eela (2018)

Elated to be collaborating with Ilaiyaraaja again, Shaan says, “He is beyond a living legend. He has composed some great music. Every time he calls me to record, I feel overwhelmed. I’ve had the good fortune of singing a lot of songs for him in different languages.”

Apart from cameo appearances in films like Secret Superstar (2017) and Helicopter Eela (2018), among others, Shaan has played the lead in Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaya (2014) and a pivotal part in Daman: A Victim Of Marital Violence (2001). And while he has been getting offers to act, he turned them down. Quiz him about it and he quips, “Radhika (Mukherjee; wife) told me that if I wanted to marry her, I would have to leave acting. And I was too scared to act again after looking at myself in Daman. Music ka career achcha chal raha tha and I didn’t want to become a laughing stock.”