Playback singer and popstar Shaan has been up and about since early morning in complete get-up for his scenes in Balwinder Singh... Famous Ho Gaya. In the film, he shares the screen with singer Mika. It’s strange because the two came to blows on a reality show sometime back.  “Both Mika and I are emotional and spontaneous. We had a difference of opinion because I felt some participants were being judged unfairly and he held the opposite view.” He says they had a couple of drinks afterwards and put the whole thing behind them. “People mistake my laid back attitude for meekness. And Mika has an aggressive stance about everything. But sometimes you have to show that you can be aggressive too. I’m aware that Mika’s whole boisterous Punjabi behaviour is an act. He’s as private a person like me. But people around you tend to make wrong assumptions. So sometimes it’s necessary to put your foot down and express yourself forcefully just so they don’t think you’re a pushover.”

Shaan says he’s going through the transition from singer to actor because he wants to gather more eyeballs. “I took on this film for two reasons. It’s a comedy and requires me to just be myself. Secondly, I was caught in a rut. I’m making money through stage shows but haven’t been getting as many songs as before.” He can’t figure out why he’s getting fewer assignments of late. Perhaps it’s his high remuneration that’s putting the composers off. “I won the Filmfare Award for Jab se tere naina from Saawariya (2008) so I know I’ve still got it in me. My voice has actually got better as I’m learning classical music from Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan saab. And singers have always been paid peanuts so that’s not the issue. We often let go of our fees in the hope of scoring a hit. Why should I crib for a mere Rs 50,000 when I know I can make 20 times more on shows?” What Shaan hasn’t done is call up composers and solicit work. “Perhaps I should start doing that. I hesitate because I’m not some newcomer. I’ve been around for two decades. I keep meeting composers socially. They know what I’m capable of.”

He agrees that today’s singers have a lesser shelf life. “Perhaps the one closest to the Rafi-Mukesh-Kishore cult status in the modern era is Kumar Sanu. What a run he’s had. Sanuda once told me, ‘Tum log kitna bhi ga lo, mere gaane hamesha bajte rahenge (you guys can sing all you want but my songs will always be heard)’.” And it’s true. Everyone is out to explore fresh talent each day. Actors and composers seldom form partnerships with singers nowadays. And the irony is that the better singers get sidelined because people would rather have novelty than talent.” He rues that he’s known for his romantic voice. “People tell me, ‘Kya romantic aawaz hai aapki (what a romantic voice you have)!’ and then don’t me give work because people appreciate rough, raw voices instead of trained, melodious ones. Having a USP has become a curse.” He says one reason some composers are themselves singing these days is because filmmakers want a different voice and it works out better for them to try their own vocal cords than search for fresh talent.

“Non-musical people are taking musical decisions. For example, people like Subhash Ghai or Vijay Anand knew their music. So they took the right call. In a corporate set-up, some 10 people interfere in the creative process. These are people with MBA degrees in finance and marketing. They know how to make money but aren’t creatively adept. But you can’t antagonise them as they run the show. So, you compromise and the result is a low shelf life for the songs, the singers and even the composers.” Forty is the new 20 for Shaan; he looks more like a college senior than a father of two kids. His sons Soham (10) and Shubh (7) have taken after their father, learning piano and drums respectively. He shrugs off the compliment, and adds. “I’ve started strength training because I want some muscle on my lean frame.”

Sagarika (his sister) and Shaan had released a Bengali album, Tomar Akash, a compilation of their father’s (composer Manas Mukherjee) unfinished tunes. Ask him what happened to their plans of bringing out a Hindi version, and he says, “I want to, but I get the feeling that my father doesn’t want me to take the trouble. See, in Bengal, there’s still a market for non-film albums. People know and respect him there and the album was well-received. But here no label is interested in such stuff. Is might do something on the Internet but I don’t want a half-baked homage to my father. I would only do it if it sounds feasible,” he says.Manas Mukherjee had to face many a struggle in his career, and being a witness to the apathy his father faced may have snuffed out the composer in Shaan who has composed music for his private albums but never for films. “All my albums were hits but I’ve been unable to release a new one for years now because there is no market.

The Internet has killed the market. People download all their music now. In India it’s never done legally, so we don’t get any revenue. Your popularity is measured by YouTube hits but are you getting hits because of the music or because of some garish video starring half-naked girls? Why take the trouble of tackling people with zilch knowledge of music and then pray that your song goes viral?”Shaan admires all his composer friends “for going through hell each day.” He says, “I don’t want that kind of life. Call me demotivated but I’m happy with my shows and an occasional song.”