I am blessed to be a proud father of a daughter.
Adnan Sami
I am an incurable romantic. I am even in love with the idea of being in love, and hence, I write a lot of love songs.
I am like a child when it comes to gizmos and gadgets.
'Grateful' is a small word to express my gratitude, as God has blessed me with so many opportunities to restart my life.
I have always believed that there is no such thing as coincidence, and I have always believed in destiny.
A song's lyrics can't be held culprit for the overall change in society.
Northeastern folk music influenced me from a very young age. Sachin Dev Burman is one of the inspirational musicians in Indian film music. The way he fused folk music with his signature style is amazing. So, I am aware of the beauty of northeast folk music.
Every person goes through a bad phase. Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan, too, had a rough phase in their careers. In my case, it was unfortunate that my personal problems came up at a time when I took a break to rejuvenate myself.
When Indians have loved and embraced Pakistani artistes, why can't the latter come out in their support when injustice has been meted out to the people? No one wants these artistes to wage a war against their government. People didn't demand that they condemn their own country. They just expected them to say something for the sake of humanity.
The only relationships I wish to honour and keep are with my family and my dear loved ones.
I want to be able to touch people's heart through my music. I want to bring a smile on every face. In my own humble, small way, I want to touch lives.
Film songs have so many creative limitations, but a private album is like an autobiography that reflects your state of mind.
I have been working and composing music since 1986. Over the years, I have seen our music industry go through all kinds of transformation.
I genuinely believe that, physically and emotionally, women are far stronger than men. The amount of pain they have to endure for a childbirth, a man cannot take an ounce of it. A toothache or a stomach upset is the end of our world at times.
Terrorism doesn't have a border. Terrorists attack Mumbai, Peshawar, and also Paris.
I have had an extraordinary life, but it's been one incredible roller coaster ride.
Music, in its true essence, has got no language. You don't listen to anybody because he is black or white or because he belongs to a particular geographical region. You listen to him because you like what he does.
I remember my father playing a cassette for me when I was fifteen - Amjad Ali's 'Durga.' He said, 'This is from our part of the world. You must listen to it.' And I continued rewinding it and listening to it from early evening until midnight. By the end of it, I was nearly in tears.
For me, everybody is the same. If you are not nice to me, I will say, 'Okay, we will try to make it nice tomorrow.' I am like that. I am not a confrontational person.
Music reflects an artist's feelings and their experiences.
I am glad that my weight never affected my singing career, but other than this, I faced a lot problems: like, I was unable to talk for 20 minutes after coming down from the stage after my shows. I got very tired because of my fatness.
My father was a diplomat and served as Pakistan's ambassador to 14 countries. I was born in London and grew up there and studied and lived in a hostel throughout in London and became a barrister.
Every human being is unique and reacts differently to different food items. A diet that works for you may not necessarily work for your friend.
There is nothing more beautiful for a musician to listen and see harmony.
Though music was not in my blood, I always considered myself belonging to music, and that remained with me throughout my studies. The studies were my parents' wish, which I fully complied with, as one must be educated at the highest possible level.
I had my own ups and downs in getting Indian citizenship. But, ultimately I got it and I am happy about it. I like India. My love is here. I am a proud Indian.
The way the Pak government treated me is only testimony to the ill treatment meted out to artistes. There was outrage against me. People were amazed that I had applied for citizenship in India. I don't give a damn about getting trolled. I have earned immense respect and love in India.
There's a famous saying: 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.' I want to change it to 'Hell hath no fury like a nation scorned.'
I used to play rugby, polo, tennis, and cricket in school. It was only in the 1990s, when I used to live just opposite Harrods in London, that I started putting on weight. I used to have my breakfast there every day.
Mumbai is home to us. Medina was born in Munich because Roya's family lives in Germany and she had five sisters to help her while I was travelling for work.
The love, adulation, and warmth that I got from India is the reason why I chose this country.
My education has allowed me to be more open to ideas which I would not have been had I not been as educated.
My father was a great admirer of music and the arts, so there was always a lot of culture in the house. As it happened, while my father was the ambassador in Portugal, the ambassador's residence had a piano, and so I started learning how to play it at the age of five.
My father was a great connoisseur of music and arts. He said, 'I will encourage you in anything you do, but make sure you get a solid education.' So, I studied in the finest schools and went on to become a qualified barrister but didn't take up law because my music was my area of interest.
Recording a Hindi song takes me around 40 minutes whereas a Kannada song takes me about two hours. The music isn't a problem, since the notes used are universal. The language is the problem. I try my best to get it right, as I'm sensitive about respecting every language, since all of them are sacred in my heart.
While my mother is from Jammu, my father was originally from Afghanistan, as my grandfather was the governor of five provinces there, including Herat.
People said that I had liposuction surgery, but you tell me how can a man of 230 kgs lose weight only with a prick of a needle.
I will surely pen my autobiography.
If it is written in my destiny that I will go back to Pakistan, then I will. I won't be scared of going back.
The response that I have got over the years is the best example that the people of India love me, and I feel as much Indian as anybody.
Whenever I have asked something from God and worked hard for it, I have always got it, be it my Indian citizenship or my weight loss.
I want people to get over my weight and the loss of it. It's been years, and I am sure people can find better things to talk about.
Pakistan never valued Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab until English songwriter Peter Gabriel started collaborating with him. After that, the country suddenly realised that they have an amazing talent. This is the story of a lot of artistes there.
Music does not have colour or religion. If I listen to a song, I don't care about the colour, religion, or country of the singer. It doesn't matter, even if it is in another language, because I love the music.
I come from a very affluent family. I have been educated in one of the finest institutions of the world. Money was never a factor in my life: by the grace of God, I was blessed with a golden spoon.
Whether it was the 9/11 attacks, Paris shooting, or the attack on the Taj, people across the world mourn the collective loss.
I suppose I am more comfortable with jazz because I have been playing it that much longer, and also because classical music is a much more disciplined genre.
When people love you for your cultural contributions, geographical boundaries become nonexistent.
When I was obese, I reached a point where I was about to meet death, and I lost weight to restart my life.
I love the classic marble inlay work of Arga.
