Neekita Nigam Interview !!!

Neekita Nigam may be known as singer Sonu Nigam’s kid sister, but she says there’s more to her than just that. Like her brother, Neekita’s a singer and aspiring actress, and she’s in town today for a gig.

However, with someone like Sonu for her brother, why did she choose to train under somebody else, and why not the Hindi film industry? “Not everything that you plan turns out that way. I choose to go on with life. I’ve done courses in spirituality, healing, psychology and yoga. And it was while I was busy with this that I found my calling in music. Music has never required an effort from my end because in the family, music is a part of our dinner table conversation. My first inspiration in music has been my dad. My sister has played an instrumental role in helping me recognise the singer in me. We (Sonu and I) catch up with each other, if I’m stuck, I take his opinion, but I know that I don’t really need to sit with him to learn music. I have his unconditional support and guidance and I am happy for that. As far as training goes, I’d say that my guru is the perfect person to teach something. I couldn’t have asked for more,” she says.

But Bollywood’s not a distant dream for Neekita. She has also recorded a song for Anu Malik for Pyaare Mohan and she’ll be heard next lending her voice to Amrita Rao in Shortcut. Talking about her musical leanings, she adds, “I’m currently training in classical music under my guru Sunil Borgaonkar. I’ve started training recently. Music is my passion and why not, when my father, mother, sister and bro are all so fond of music.”

Neekita’s quite a looker herself – is she game for Bollywood? “Yes, I’ve been getting interesting offers, but I’m being selective at this stage in life because I want to make my entry in B’wood through music in a big way,” she says.

While on the subject, bro Sonu couldn’t quite hit the right note in Bollywood. What does she think about that? “He was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people, doing all wrong things. Films were not meant for him. It is great if we are able to do everything, but Sonu’s forte is music and not acting,” she says candidly.

Asked to talk about her relationship with her brother, Neekita says, “I am his kid sister who is not a kid anymore. We have a typical bro-sis relationship. We’re not
friends. He’s the protective bro, a guide and guardian. I know that if my life falls apart at any time, I can rely on him. Then it doesn’t matter how busy he is – he’ll leave everything for me,” she says.

But with an accomplished singer for a brother aren’t comparissons inevitable? How does she take it? “I love being called his sister. The kind of artiste that he is, I take pride in being called his sister. But then I also have to create my own identity and there’s no
harm in wanting that. Everybody has siblings, it is just that my brother is Sonu Nigam. But, whatever he might be for the world, for me he is and will always be my dada, that’s what I call him,” says the doting sister.

On her future plans, she expresses her desire to make her own music soon. “I’m going to come out with an album soon. I’ll feature, sing and compose in it,” she signs off

13 May 2009, 0000 hrs IST, Jaya Drona, TNN