Abhijeet Sawant: In Step

Indian Idol 1 winner Abhijeet Sawant who’s put on his dancing shoes for Nach Baliye 4 talks about dance, music and competition

Why this sudden transition from singing to dancing?
Nach...is not something that will change my career. It will give me something different to do. It’s not about competition or about highest marks or about performing well. I took it up to just enjoy and it was once in a lifetime opportunity. It feels good to be a part of such a big show.

How easy was it convincing your partner?
When they called us for the first time, even I was unsure because both of us are non-dancers and she is a very camera-conscious person. We had problems and she also did not agree to appear on Nach. So I refused then. But after that we realised that both of us should have given it a shot. We were fortunate enough that they called us up again. Without giving it a thought, we agreed yes this time just to have a little bit of fun.

Does dancing come easily to you?
No, it is difficult. We have absolutely no background in dancing but our choreographers are trying to make us dance. We are also trying our level best. It took us two days to just get into the groove but we are improving.

Who is a better dancer, Shilpa or you?
I guess Shilpa is a better dancer than me. But she is extremely camera-shy, so that is a problem. But as we proceed, I am sure she will shed her inhibitions and perform better.

How many hours do rehearse everyday?
We rehearse everyday for four hours at least. It gets difficult for me because I have to juggle dancing with my other commitments. So I have to compromise on my sleep.

Who according to you is the best couple in Nach...?
Shaleen and Daljeet are very good dancers. They complement each other very well. But this is just the beginning and I am waiting to see the others put up a good show.

How would you rate yourself as a dancer on a scale of 1 to 10?
It is too early to assess my dancing ability. But even then I guess I shall give myself a 7 on 10.

What do you enjoy more- singing or dancing?
I always enjoy singing because that is my profession. Yeah, dancing is something different and have always enjoyed experimenting with new things. I was a radio jockey for a while and now I am experimenting with acting.

t is happening with your debut film Lottery?
It is almost complete. It will release in December. We are waiting for a proper date to release the film. I am not a big star to demand a big role so I am happy with the way my film has shaped up because I always wanted to do such a role. There are no over-the-top performances and this is how I wanted my first film to be.

Who are your toughest competitors?
I have done two reality shows before this and have never thought about competition. I am my own competitor. Everybody is good and I am here to just do my job.

What next after your film?
My career has shaped up very well. Very few people have reached where I am today. Two of my albums have released and one film is up for release. What else can I ask from God! I feel blessed!

Talking point with Abhijeet Sawant

The one-time singing sensations says he wants to be a ‘swinging’ one as well

At the end of the first week on Nach Baliye 4, you and your wife Shilpa have been rated as the?
No, it has come as a complete surprise to both of us. Neither of us is a dancer. We’re still trying to perfect our steps. So yes, this has been completely unexpected.

Who do you consider your toughest competitors on the show?
We’re not really looking at anyone as our competitors. As I said, we’re not dancers and we believe that we’re our own competition. The judges will rate us by comparing our new performances to the old one.

Will you be very disappointed if you lose?
Not at all; I’m not here to prove anything. It isn’t a singing contest and I have to win it for me and my fans. This is a dance show and I’m not good at that. Basically, my wife and I are just having fun here.

How different is the Nach Baliye experience from the Indian Idol experience?
The biggest difference is that I’m not a newcomer anymore. The format of Nach Baliye is such that it’s already well-known people who’re performing here.

How did life change for you after Indian Idol?
It changed in so many ways. Within six months, my whole lifestyle was different. We moved to a bigger house and I became a well-known face. But I still think about my old life and I do remember my old house.

What direction do you see your career taking?
I take it as it comes. Recently I’ve been busy with acting.
I’m playing the male lead in a movie called Lottery which is slated for release in December and Rucha Gujrati is acting opposite me. I play an accountant with a fashion magazine who gets caught up in certain situations which are beyond his control. How he gets out of them and manages to escape , is what the story is all about.

Abhijeet Sawant Albums

Abhijeet Sawant has already sung two songs for Bollywood. The first being one for 'a big banner' under the able guidance of music director Himmesh Reshammiya.

He sang second song named 'Dil Mein Sama Gayee Hain' to the tunes of Sanjeev Darshan. He sang two songs - 'Chand Jaisi Ladki' and a duet with Shreya Ghosal.

As abhijeet Sawant is new singer, two albums are there :

1. Pal
2. Apaka Abhijeet Sawant
3. Yarron
4. Junoon

Abhijeet Sawant on All for a cause!

Held in support of the cause to stop female foeticide, the show saw celebs who are proud parents of daughters walk on the ramp along with their daughters. Performances by Abhijeet Sawant and Roop Kumar Rathod kickstarted the do after which, the show choreographed by Achala Sachdevstarted. Shashi Ranjan came in with his daughters, Alka Yagnik made a rare appearance with her daughter Sysha and Pooja Bedi came in with her daughter.

Sunidhi Chauhan came in holding a little girl’s hand and before the buzz of her being Sunidhi’s daughter could complete a round the compere, Archana Jani announced that it wasn’t Sunidhi’s daughter and the girl had just accompanied the former. Roop Kumar Rathod once again came on stage with his teenage daughter. Amongst others were Poonam Dhillon and her daughter, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and his daughters, Aditi Govitrikar and her daughter, Sharon Prabhakar and Jaspinder Narula.

The event also saw some celebrity guests in the audience. Prem Chopra was seen with his wife, Shaad Randhawa came in holding hands with Shama Sikandar, Ashish Roy was seen with yet another muse of his. Anu was heard saying, “We didn’t really expect such a huge response. Almost every person we spoke to turned up and we are quite glad that happened!”

Abhijeet vs Harshit: The final fight

Who do you think can cut short your chances of winning the contest?

Abhijeet: I believe Harshit may prove dangerous to my chances of winning the title. He has a fresh voice and a completely new way of singing the songs that he chooses. He had lost an earlier

contest and hence, he would strive all the more to win this one.

Harshit: Abhijeet is certainly the stronger contender. He has already won one show and he has popularity on his side. His recent album also did well and he has been getting rave reviews for his performance on the show.

Where does Rahul Vaidya stand in the competition?

Abhijeet: Rahul is also a very good singer but he has often been asked to sing in his own voice and not try and imitate the singer who has sung a particular song.

Harshit: Rahul gets a little carried away with performing and hence, tends to compromise a little with his singing. While his performances have a lot of energy, his singing lacks the depth.
But, he has also been generating a lot of controversies on the show.

Abhijeet: I guess Rahul still has a childish streak in him. His alleged liking for Mandira Bedi and other issues have been blown out of proportion. We should let him be.

Harshit: I am not sure, but I think it is Rahul who has been spreading rumours about me using political pressure to win the contest. I don’t know why he would say such a thing about me. I think he should concentrate more on his singing.

Both of you had participated in contests earlier, why did you take up this one?

Abhijeet: I would say that I was naïve when I had won Indian Idol. After some time people attached the tag of being an okay singer with my name. I wasn’t comfortable with that and took up this show to prove my credentials.

Harshit: I failed to win the earlier competition by a narrow margin. Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar offered a higher level of competition. I took up the challenge to compete with 20 singers and prove my mettle.

After Jo Jeeta... comes to an end, what are the plans for the future?

Abhijeet: I am going on a holiday after the finale. The post-production work of my film Lottery is on. I am also producing a Marathi film. Singing is a passion for me, and all the other jobs are for creative satisfaction. A singer can not survive by doing only playback singing. Being multi-faceted always helps.

Harshit: After the show, I will get back to pursuing playback singing. I am singing for Raaz 2 and Mere Khwaabon Mein Jo Aaye . I am also planning to cut an album soon. I have been getting offers for acting in TV shows but I have turned them down to concentrate on singing.

Abhijeet Sawant set for image change with film debut

New Delhi, June 29 : Indian Idol winner Abhijeet Sawant says he is set to change his 'romantic' image with his acting debut in "Lottery".

"The movie is not at all a romantic flick. It is in total contradiction with what audiences must be expecting from me. It is basically a thriller," Abhijeet told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
In the film, Sawant plays an accountant working in a fashion magazine, who gets trapped in a murder case.

The singer-turned-actor, whose voice was widely appreciated in the film "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" and the album "Junoon", has been cast opposite television actor Rucha Gujarati and newcomer Manisha Kelkar in the film.

However, "Lottery" was not his first film offer. Abhijeet said he was flooded with movie offers immediately after he won the first season of talent hunt show "Indian Idol", but he turned them down.

"I thought I lacked the confidence to act at that time," he said.

So what made him sign "Lottery"?

"I met director Hemant Prabhu a year ago and he told me about the role. I was convinced since I felt the role was very close to my real self and it suited my nature.

"Initially, I thought it would be difficult to act, but gradually I grew as an actor and the outcome was surprising for all," he said.

Apart from "Lottery", he has a couple of other acting offers, but he hasn't finalised anything as yet.

Though he has taken his first steps into Bollywood, singing remains a passion for him.

He is currently a participant on STAR Plus' reality music show "Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar", where the winners and runners-up of previously held talent hunts across channels compete with one another.

But what made him want to compete with his colleagues again?

"I came to 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar' because it appeared as a challenge to me to compete with all of them once again ... And I also thought it would be a treat for the viewers," he quipped.

Abhijeet's upcoming projects as a singer include "Care of Footpath" and "Mumbai.com".

Abhijeet Sawant: The Indian Idol Pop Singer

After winning the Sony Entertainment Television's show Indian Idol, Abhijeet Sawant has become a superstar in India. He has also released his first album 'Aapka Abhjeet Sawant', which has become very popular. Even the video of the song "Mohabbetein Lutaunga" is creating sensations.

Abhijeet Sawant has also started playback singing. He has already sang for two hindi movies.

Abhijeet Sawant Quotes

"I was sure I would not win."
- on his defeat to Rahul Vaidya on 'Joh Jeeta Wohi Superstar'

"The only thing that worried me was that I should finish at a level, which does justice to my earlier title. And coming second is good enough. It's good to lose once in a while - you get sympathy."
- on his defeat to Rahul Vaidya on 'Joh Jeeta Wohi Superstar'

"I participated in this show to prove I can sing. A lot of people weren't happy when I became Idol. Amit and Rahul were hot favorites. People only liked my smile. Today they do realize I have it in me."
- on Star Plus show Joh Jeeta Wohi Superstar

"I knew her for quite some time. We used to stay at Mahim. She was also staying in the same society and we were good friends. When I proposed the first time, she rejected me."
- on his marriage with long time friend Shilpa Edvankar.