Lucky Ali quits Playback Singing

          21 July 2001, His father Mehmood very rightly said, "My son is very unpredictable." He cited an example. During the shooting of his last film, Dushman Duniya Ka, Mehmood said, "Lucky was in the film. He had to have a moustache for the film. I had warned him not to shave. But my son walks onto the sets the next day clean shaven. I had no choice but to throw him out of the film." Just when things are looking bright for Lucky Ali, one of the most wanted playback singers in the industry, the man has decided to stop playback singing. At the press meet of his new film, Kya Main Ab Bhi Tumse Pyaar Karta Hoon, which marks his debut as a music composer, he told : "I am tired of playback singing. I can't take this pressure. I need my space and time to myself. Besides, I have so many commitments which will take most of my time." Lucky has decided to quit playback singing, because he wants to be an actor. In this exclusive chat, he tells us about the new passion in his life, acting and how tired he is, of singing for other heroes.

You seem to be very charged up about your new passion: acting ?

Honestly, I was very tired of playback singing. I needed to do something else, and I wanted to act from the beginning. So, here I am, doing my first full- fledged film, Kya Main Ab Bhi Tumse Pyaar Karta Hoon. Raveena Tandon is my heroine. I have also done Sanjay Gupta's Kaante with Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Kumar Gaurav and Mahesh Manjrekar in it. Then there is Mahesh Bhatt's film, which is being directed by Tanuja Chandra. I am also doing Aditya Bhattacharya's Avatar whenever it starts, so I will be quite busy with my acting career for some time.

But why are you giving up singing?

It's just a temporary phase. I was very bored of singing for others. I wanted to act and I knew that couldn't be able to cope up with both singing and acting, so singing is kept on the back burner for some time. You won't believe how many songs I have refused in the past one month.

Won't it effect your popularity as a singer?

Music has always been a hobby for me. My real passion is living life to the fullest and doing whatever makes me happy. I have always worked at my own pace, and done exactly whatever has made me happy. It has never mattered what I have got in return, so long as I have enjoyed doing my job well. So that is going to remain the same.

You've just returned from Pakistan where you were given a hero's welcome. Tell me something about your trip?

I had a very good time in Pakistan. The crowds were so warm and really enjoyed the show that I put up. They love our music so much that they were actually singing along with me during the concert. The crowds in Karachi were just great. The Pakistani's really adore the Indian stars and artistes. Since we have the same cultural heritage as them, they really like our music immensely.

Do you encourage this trend of Indian's singing in Pakistan?

 I feel that there is nothing wrong in creative people anywhere in the world coming together. So, I personally feel that there must be more cultural and creative exchanges between India and Pakistan too. It's sure to improve the relationship between both nations.

Wouldn't it create tension if Indian artistes went there despite the differences between both countries?

I don't think so. Our stars like Hrithik Roshan are like demi-gods in Pakistan. Also, our music is so popular there. Even Pakistani singers like Mehhdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and now Adnan Sami are so appreciated in India. So, I feel that music, art, cinema and culture has no boundaries.

It's being said that you are joining hands with Adnan Sami to make a collaborative album?

(Laughs) Who said that? You will have to wait and watch, I'm not telling anything.