Of late, there had been cases where judges’ comments had adverse effects on child-participants. How will you handle such incidents?

I always try to sugar-coat the bitter pill. It hurts me to hurt kids. But when you have to tell a child that he/she is rejected, you have no choice. Then also, I try to

In the last season of L’il Champs, we saw co-judge Abhijeet pulling your leg in all the episodes. Are you prepared for his leg-pulling this season too?

Yes…I have decided to pull all his hair if he pulls my leg. So you may expect to see a bald Abhijeet at the end of the show. (Laughs)

Who scripts your fights on air?

Nothing is scripted…people who don’t know their jobs, needs scripts. We are here for so long in the industry that all our comments, actions and reactions come spontaneously.

What do you like more-singing or judging reality shows?

My first love will always be singing, not just playback singing, but live shows where I can interact with my audience. But honestly speaking, after spending so many years singing ‘Jiya bekarar hai, humko tumse pyaar hai’ type songs, judging reality shows is really a welcome break.

Many singers are now trying their hands at acting. Do you too have any such plan?

Not at all. In fact, when I started singing in Bollywood, I got a lot of offers to act. But I was always focused and knew I want to be a singer. I have always believed in doing one thing and concentrate on that, instead of trying too many things and become ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’.

Any plans to join politics in future?

I am not campaigning for any party this Lok Sabha polls. Let’s see next year. But I have voted and know that everyone must vote. Beyond this don’t ask me anything.

Back in the ’90s, music making was a more mechanical process compared to today’s digitisation. Do you think technology has made singing easier?

Using technology to enhance the quality or effect of a song is good, but manipulating an entire rendition and reworking it digitally can only produce short-lived work. Because of the improved software today, even inexperienced people can compose music and make it worthy. Technology has created many singers and composers, but digitisation can enhance your singing, not your skill.

Do you feel singers are also actors?

Absolutely! Performing arts are always connected. You have to be an actor to be a good singer. When I sing a song, the actor in me comes out as I emote for the track. Actors also have a singer in them. Unless they have an idea of rhythm and sur,how will they dance to a song?

You said you would record five songs daily. How did you take care of your voice?

I had tonsillitis since childhood. My doctor suggested not to get it operated as my tonal quality would change. So, I had to live with tonsillitis attacks. The good thing was that the more I would sing, meri awaz utni hi khulti thi. Some artistes get tired after singing a couple of songs, but my voice used to blossom.

Do you remember recording a song with a bad voice?

When I had to record Ek Do Teen [Tezaab, 1988], I could barely talk. The song required strong throw, and we didn't have technical help those days. Mehboob Studio was filled with musicians that day — there was a 45-member chorus and around 100 instrumentalists. I told Laxmiji [of Laxmikant-Pyarelal] that I was not in a state to sing. He said, “Aap socho hi mat uske baare mein, aur bas gaao.” Though we had to finish recording before 12 am, we hadn't had a single take till 11.30 pm because balancing all the instruments was taking long. Finally, when it was all set up, Laxmiji said, “Alkaji, sing a rough version today. We will dub your voice again.” I belted out the number in one go. But that dubbing never happened. He was so happy with the song that he said, “Agar aapko lagta hai is gaane mein aapka gala kharab hai, to aap mera har gaana kharab gale se gaao.”

What do you enjoy about performing at concerts?

The audience euphoria, energy… charges you, then it’s just my song, my audience and myself. I’m shy but I become a different person on stage. Surprisingly, the audience demands the songs I sang in the ’80s and ’90s,” she points out.

Why haven’t you done classical music concerts like your contemporaries such as Kavita Krishnamurthy did?

You know I’m quite laid-back. I always dreamt of getting married, having children, living in a nice little house and being a homemaker. Singing just came along. Even when mere angne mein became a hit, I didn’t see stars. Only after Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Tezaab, did I become serious about a career. So there’s a definite lack of drive. I have done albums like soulful compositions by Nida Fazli. I’m open to trying creative experiments like fusion or jamming with a band or something. But this can only happen if someone approaches me. Kavita’s marriage to the legend L Subramaniam has helped. She got exposed to a different genre and a different audience.

Why don’t we hear you sing as much as we used to in Bollywood?

Why do you think? Tell me where are the songs, composers, song-situations and even films which inspire one’s best. I don’t want to be part of the noise. I’ve always sung melodious numbers etched in people’s minds for years. When all one can hear is noise, repeated words and a beat; its tough to make sense of compositions masquerading as songs.

It’s been ten years since you sang Ringa Ringa for the internationally-acclaimed Slumdog Millionnaire, collaborating with the Mozart of Madras. What was it like singing for him for an international project?

It is always great to work with AR Rahman. I’ve sung for him in Taal, Lagaan, Zubeidaa, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Swades, Yuvvraaj, Ada... A Way of Life and Slumdog Millionaire in the past. This track from The Hundred Foot Journey is a sweet number. Rahman’s extreme humility, simplicity and purity of heart, inspite of being a world-famous makes it delightful to work with him. As for the ‘international’ label, I know a lot is being made of the fact that this is an Indo-French film.  It is amazing how labels can get attention in India. I don’t think like that.

Were you always determined to be a playback singer?

Not really. My mother is a trained classical singer. I used watch her doing riyaaz with her tanpura. I would sit next to her and sing along. She was my main guru. But it wasn’t classical music but Lataji’s film songs which influenced me. I was an ardent fan of hers from a very young age. I wanted to sing like her. I used to carefully listen to her songs and hum them. That’s when my mother spotted my aptitude for singing.

What are your views on the remixes and remakes of old Bollywood songs that are used quite a lot today?

According to me, remixes or remakes can never match the purity of the original songs. Meri baat chor dijiye. Lata didi ke gaane hain, unko bhi remake kiya hai, unme bhi woh baat nai hai (Forget about my songs. Lata Mangeshkar’s songs are also being remade, and they can in no way match up to their original versions).... If you remake a melodious song into a dance number and then play it in a lounge, you’ve destroyed the original, and that’s not correct.

आप और कुमार सानू उस समय में एक प्रसिद्ध गायक जोड़ी थे। आपके साथ काम करने का अनुभव कैसा रहा?

जब एक नया संगीत निर्देशक आपके द्वारा गाए जाने वाले गीत के लिए संपर्क करने के लिए आता है, तो उस गीत के लिए आप किन बातों का ध्यान रखते हे?

What was it like when you got the first National Award for singing?

How do you maintain your voice?

Were you embarrassed about your early songs?

No. They are a part of my growth as a singer. One goes through phases in life. Since those songs came my way, I gave them my best shot. But I knew that wasn’t the real me. I bided my time. With Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak I proved that soft, romantic numbers suited me the more. Ek do teen happened around the same time. My versatility was established.

Whose lyrics you have enjoyed the most during singing in your career?

Javed Akhtar saab is a stickler with pronunciation and takes great pains to explain the stress and enunciation of every syllable. Its so reassuring to find him there at recordings.

What is view on actors turning to singers?

I also received offers to act in movies  but my major focus was on singing because that moment i know i am better in what. But everything now is changing, so the music industry, and is giving preference to the techno voice instead of originals.