EXCLUSIVE: Laila Main Laila singer Pawni Pandey: Don't know if Parineeti & Priyanka can sing well during live performances

Pawni Pandey speaks about her love for singing, her upcoming projects and the new trend of rehashing and auto-tuning in an exclusive interview with us.

By Bhavna Agarwal

Updated on Apr 02, 2017 | 01:56 PM IST | 512.3K

Pawni Pandey's

career took a 360 degree turn after the singer sang for Salman Khan starrer Bodyguard, since then Pawni has lent her voice for a number of songs. However, it is Laila Main Laila from Raees which gave her a new found recognition.

Pawni, in an exclusive interview with us, spoke about her love for singing, about the trend of rehashing and auto-tuning and much more.

Here's an excerpt from the interview:

It was Salman Khan's Bodyguard that gave you the much-needed recognition. How have things changed since then?

Actually, my big break was definitely Bodyguard but I got fame after Laila because that was my first solo song in such a big film. When I got Bodyguard I was only 16-17-years-old so it was very encouraging and after that, once you have sung for such a big movie and that too a Salman Khan movie, people start appreciating you and recognize your talent, they start trusting you.

You reprised the iconic song Laila for Raees. How was the experience?

I was a little nervous and skeptical but I saw the original video a lot of times to get the knack of it, to understand the nuances that Kanchanji put in the song. I also watched a lot of Sunny's videos to understand her gestures and body movements so that I could sing accordingly because in the original song Zeenatji had a lot of innocent and longing. With Sunny, it had to be different. It was a challenge to maintain the old charm of the song as well as give it a different touch.

Was there any apprehension as to how people would react- given that the original was loved by many?

At that time, honestly, my biggest worry was to get the song. Because, I knew that if the song was out, it is going to be big.

From Laila to Sahiba, you seem to be experimenting with various genres, what genre do you like singing personally?

Since the day 1, I have never wanted to be limited or streamlined in a particular genre. I wanted to sing all kind of songs and be a versatile singer. And that is still my goal to constantly keep singing in different genres.

Personally, I really love singing love songs but yes I also like to sing dance numbers and make people dance.

You in an interviewed mentioned that you want to sing a duet with Arijit, has any such offer come your way?

Technically, I have sung a duet with Arijit sir for the movie Fugly. Though it was primarily his song, I gave vocals and sang some lines. However, it wasn't a proper duet. Hoping to get to sing with him soon.

We see a new trend in Bollywood where old popular songs are rampantly being rehashed. What is your take on it? Do you think that Bollywood is exceedingly losing its originality?

I have personally never seen it that way. Our industry is full of talented singers, writers, and composers. It's just that maybe the stories require that kind of touch to it today. Talking about Raees, it was set in the 80s and there was a situation in the movie where they wanted a club song.

Also, these old songs are so good and loved by masses. By rehashing, we are only giving the old songs back to the new generation. Like when I was young, I did not know Tamma Tamma fully. It was played during my parent's wedding. Now, that it has been recreated I know the whole song and I love it.

Which is that one song which you wish to reprise or you wish you had sung?

I would love to do Dum Maro Dum, though it's done already, but I would still want to do it. Also, I really want to sing for Rekhaji but I don't know if she will agree to the song and talking about the newer generation, I would really want to sing for Priyanka (Chopra).

What do you think about the new trend of auto-tuning? Do you think it somehow subdues the real talent?

'Jo real talent hota hai woh live performance mei samaj aata hai' because that is the place where your real talent is tested. There are many singers who sing brilliantly in recordings, but are really not that good in live shows. You can't take it away from the real singer. I think it's okay if actors want to sing, it's purely out of their passion for music. Like Parineeti, Priyanka they sing good, although I don't know if they can sing well during live performances but whatever I have heard I like it.

Having said that, koi actress kitna bhi gaale but at the end of the day she cannot replace singers like Sunidhi Chauhan or Shreya Ghosal because after a point you need real singers to sing some songs. Like a singer can act in cover shoots or music videos but they cannot act in movies.

However, if the actors want to sing, I personally feel it's okay. I don't feel insecure.

What upcoming projects are you part of?

Next one is Julie 2 in which I have an item song and then a romantic duet with Mohit Chauhan Sir for Guns Of Benaras.