‘You have to be at the top of your game’: Musician Ankit Tiwari

A couple of months after BeyPinjara, Ankit Tiwari is out with another single, Naina, which the singer-composer describes as an emotion that he wanted to share with everyone. The Teri Galiyan singer, who got married in February, has been focussing on independent music for a while, but he does have a number of Bollywood projects too. He spoke to After Hrs about indie music, his thoughts on competition and how marriage has proved to be a turning point for him.

There are a lot of people who feel you are one of the most underrated singers in Bollywood. What do you have to say about that?

I feel the industry has given me my due and I have been blessed to have worked with some of the greats. At the same time, there is so much more to explore and deliver that I just feel I have only got started. As long as I am getting the love of my fans and making music, being underrated or not doesn’t really matter.

You also released BeyPinjara sometime ago. Are you concentrating more on singles now?

Yes, besides films, the focus has been singles. Independent music will always grow and it gives you all the freedom to put forward your thoughts and vision. There is no brief given for a song and you can let yourself express what you want. So, there will be a lot of singles along with tracks for Hindi films.

Are you composing or singing for Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW)? Can you tell us a bit about the music?

RAW is my second project with John Abraham and this time around, there will be a lot of element added to the song along with some new techniques that we would be using. I can’t reveal much about it. Then there is also Batla House to look forward to.

Ek Villain and Aashiqui 2 were the high points of your career but do you feel your best is yet to come?

Yes, I feel those songs were a launch pad for many, including me and I would always be grateful to Mohit Suri for the opportunity. But that’s something that just got me started. There is a lot of interesting stuff in the pipeline. Some compositions just stay with you and Ek Villain and Aashiqui 2 will always stay with me.

You started your career in 2011 with Do Dooni Chaar, but since then, many singers and composers have entered Bollywood. With so much competition around, do you ever feel insecure or feel the need to keep improving upon your music?

I don’t think there are any insecurities. Bollywood has enough place for everyone and it’s not you who chooses that song but the right track chooses you. It’s great that the industry provides a platform to work with new talents and we get to learn a lot, too. Music is always evolving and you just have to be on top of your game, that’s all.

You got married this year. Do you feel this has brought any change in your music?

Marriage has been a turning point for me and I am in a more calmer and relaxed space. At the same time, the urge to work more has just cultivated. My wife (Pallavi Shukla) is my biggest critic. We are both romantics at heart. It’s just that now I have ‘the one’ to whom I can dedicate my songs.