The Reluctant Singer

Actor Priyanka Chopra may have got many of her fans humming her latest international single In My City, but she admits that she was always scared of singing in Bollywood. In fact, she had even recorded a song in the movie Bluffmaster (2005) with composer duo Vishal-Shekhar but it was never released.

"I got several opportunities to sing in the past but I was always shy of singing. I would often accompany Vishal-Shekhar to the studio and try singing on the mic but used to back out," said Chopra. So when did she realise she could sing? The actor, who is being applauded for her portrayal of Jhilmil in Barfi!, said, " I was always one of those students in the class who would be asked to go and sing in front of the class to entertain everyone whenever a teacher was not around."

Priyanka, who was in the capital on Wednesday to promote her single, which also features international artiste will.i.am , stepped into the shoes of a DJ and swayed music lovers as she went club-hopping in Gurgaon — from Striker to Seven Degrees.

Talking about her experience of working with the American rapper from The Black Eyed Peas, she said, "He is extremely talented. He was the one who made me listen to the song for the first time and said I should sing it. When I heard it, I really loved it and decided to do it."

Chopra trained in Western classical music while she was studying in the US but admitted that she had to hire a vocal coach to prepare her for singing this time. Adding that she follows Punjabi rapper Honey Singh as well as Sufi legend Abida Parveen alike, she said that her taste in music ranges from pub music to Bollywood numbers.

ALSO READ

Ghalib returns home, his haveli opens today as public memorial

Cross at your own risk

Verdict in Dec 16 rape case expected by month-end: Neeraj Kumar

Read and Digest