I want to bring forth the historical significance of Sreerampur and turn it into a tourism hub.
Bappi Lahiri
I was the first Indian music composer to win the China Gold Award for 'Jimmy Jimmy' from 'Disco Dancer.' Adam Sandler repeated the song in his film 'Zohan.' 'Disco Dancer' is historical, as are 'Sharaabi' and 'Namak Halal.'
I am a karmayogi and I think without God's blessings no one can achieve anything in this world.
Unlike others, I wear my gold at all times. That's why it's become my image and people call me the Gold Man.
I don't sing for awards, I sing for rewards!
Everybody has dreams.
What keeps an artiste going is the adulation of the masses.
All these years, I have never forgotten what my parents have given me, and that is why I take special pride in composing music based on ragas and used folk music in films like 'Apne Paraye.'
Reality shows like 'SaReGaMaPa' are a huge platform for young talent. Thanks to television, they have more exposure than we could even imagine.
I've been lucky. Massy songs like 'Bambai se aaya mera dost' from one of my earliest films and 'Tu ne maari entry' have been specially successful for me. I am blessed.
Congress is a culture and I would love to be part of it.
I miss the 1980s era.
I'm not an actor like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitji or Salman Khan. My magic lies in my music.
Music is my soul and I can easily say, it is the secret of my youth.
Ever since my childhood days in Kolkata, where I was born, I had seen my father interacting with Congressmen.
I have rings of many different sizes and designs, mainly hip-hop, and an extensive bracelet collection.
People often complain that celebrities after joining politics are not seen once the polls are over. But I am not like them. I would work for development.
I still remember how we, all in the family, used to sit in front of the radio to listen to Ameen Sayani's programme of top 10 songs 'Binaka Geetmala' in which I was constantly ranked number one for many weeks.
If I can do anything to help Bollywood by being in politics, I think it's worth my while.
My favourites are Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi. They are the four legends. I have worked with them in hundreds of songs.
I am the godfather of disco.
So many distinguished members of our film fraternity like Lalita Pawar, A K Hangal and OP Nayyar faced financial hardships before they passed away. We need to look after the old and vulnerable entertainers.
In India, women are respected the most. Mothers, wives, sisters, daughters.
If you come to my house in Kolkata, it is full of gold and platinum discs.
I'm the only composer who has scored for two-three generation of actors. Be it for Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan or Dharmendra, Sunny Deol or Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt - I have done it all.
Jeetendra and I had 14 silver jubilee films.
Gold is lucky for me.
I have always got gold from my family.
It's in God's hands when we come on this earth and when we leave.
At the age of 11, I started composing and my first composition was sung by my father.
My style of songs will never get old because the music is very catchy.
If I become an MP I'll work for both Bollywood and Tollywood, specially for the old and out of work technicians. This is not an idle promise, Bappi Lahiri will keep his word.
Throughout my career I've never worried about who will be singing my song on the screen.
Bappi Lahiri has a voice that alone is loud and musical enough to sway people.
I have done 33 films in one year, for which I hold a Guinness Book World record. Plus I've done songs for all languages from Hindi to Malayalam, Punjabi to Telugu, and Kannada to Oriya.
I was about 19 when I began working for Hindi films.
I cannot be confined to just one or two kinds of music.
I am extremely lucky I have done so many songs with Lata Mangeshkar.
There is a lot of talent in our slums.
My parents, Aparesh and Bansari Lahiri were very famous singers from Kolkata.
I owe 40 per cent of my success to films from the south like 'Himmatwala,' 'Toofan,' 'Mawaali,' 'Maqsad,' Tamil and Telegu films such as 'Big Boss,' 'Apurva Shar,' 'Gangleader,' etc. I salute the south for contributing immensely to my success.
I watched so many matches of Jarnail Singh, P.K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Peter Thangaraj.
I've always been a football fanatic.
Lata Mangeshkar is an old friend. I knew her through my father Aparesh Lahiri who was a music director in Calcutta.
I have been a tabla player since the age of four.
The first film I gave music for was a Bengali film called 'Dadu.'
Abroad in Hollywood, I am called Bling Bling Bappi.
It never bothered me that people made fun of my passion for gold... I would never feel bad when people ridiculed me for my fascination with gold.
I don't wear any jewellery or gold at home.
In Hollywood, famous singer Elvis Presley used to wear gold chains. I was a huge follower of Presley. I used to think, if I become successful someday, then I will build a different image of mine. By the grace of God, I could do it with gold.
