NKOTB: Abhijeet Sawant

Watch out Bollywood! After Himesh Reshamiyaa, the next singer to be bitten by the acting bug is Indian Idol Season 1 winner Abhijeet Sawant. He’s set to try his luck in debutant Hemant Prabhu’s film Lottery which is a romance and a thriller.

Abhijeet says, “I always wanted to be singer and I never saw myself on the big-screen. I got offers after I won Indian Idol but I didn’t agree to them. However, I loved the script of Lottery so I said yes.”

Speaking more about the film, the debutant says, “It’s a story of a young boy who comes to Bombay with dreams to make money. He wants to be successful; he wants to be a crorepati. It's about his journey, how he gets involved with a bad gang and his struggle to achieve his goals.”

The film also stars television actress Rucha Gujrati who rose to fame with the serial Bhabhi and will release in March.

Abhijeet Sawant became a household name after winning Indian Idol Season 1. He then released his first album titled Aapka Abhijeet, which was a huge hit. He also tried his hand at playback. Abhijeet’s first playback song was Mar Jawa Mit Jawa for the film Aashique Banaya Apne.

The singer participated in Asian Idol 2007 which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. For the competition , he sang two songs, Everything I do by Bryan Adams and Junoon, from his own album. He did not win the contest.

Last year, Abhijeet participated in yet another singing reality show titled Woh Jeeta Wohi Superstar and was a finalist. This year, he participated in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 4, with his wife Shilpa, whom he married in December, 2007.

Apart from playback singing and reality shows, Abhijeet has done a cameo role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi for a special episode.

After Lottery releases, Abhijeet will start work on his second film titled April Fool.

Abhijeet Sawant hits the Lottery

This was one event singer Abhijeet Sawant wasn't going to be late for. Over the weekend the music for Abhijeet's debut film Lottery was released in Powai.

At the do Abhijeet performed and sang all the songs from the film for the media and guests who came for the launch. Manisha Kelkar and Rucha Gujrati who are also debuting in the film were seen by Sawant's side. The film releases on Feb 20th.

Abhijeet's Lottery on Idol...

Winner of Indian Idol Season 1, Abhijeet Sawant will be present on the sets of the show the coming week. He was here to promote his first movie Lottery. The singer turned actor grooved on the stage and also interacted with the contestants and the judges.

“It was a good feeling to return to the stage of Indian Idol. I could see the same pressure on the face of contestants that I had gone through. I’m here for the promotion of my upcoming film Lottery,” says Abhijeet.

How did you feel after meeting the judges and contestants? “With Annuji I have a personal attachment as he was there since first season. Besides that, even after winning the title I could feel the same dhak-dhak that I had gone through during my period in the show. It was so nice to see Sonaliji, Javed sahib and Kailesh Kher on the panel of judges,” he adds.

Have you given any tips to the contestants? “I was very diplomatic and wished them good luck”, avers he.

So who is your favorite contestant this season? “To be frank enough, I feel everyone is the best. Still if you want me to choose one person, then it will be Rajdeep. He is a trained singer and has a great knowledge of music,” states the singer.

Talking about his movie, “The film is releasing on 20 February. I promoted the music and everyone liked it too. I hope people also like it.”

The platform of Idol was a lottery for the singer. Now let’s see whether he is able to create magic on silver screen too. We wish him luck…

Indian Idol, Abhijit Sawant Launches Music for 'Lottery' at Planet M, Powai

Last Friday was a hectic scene in the now-shrunk Planet M at Haiko Mall, Hirnanadnai. The event was the launch of Music Video of the movie 'Lottery'. Indian Idol, Abhijit Sawant released the music in a packed hall. Lottery is the debut movie of Director Hemant Prabhu and produced by Govind Satnam.

Speaking to 'Planet Powai' Abhijit Sawant told. “This is my first film and I enjoyed working with director Prabhu. I hope the public appreciates the movie.” They are introducing a new face, Manisha Kelkar in lead female role opposite Abhijit and TV Actress Rucha Gujarati.

Listening to Abhijit's songs from this movie at the launch, it sounded superb.

The music is available already and it has some good numbers by music director Santok Singh (Channa-Vey fame) and sung by Sukhvinder Singh and Abhijit. The music is released with Tips Music. The entire cast was present alongwith Sanjay Pathak, the PR honcho.

No more television for Abhijeet Sawant

One of the best jodi's of Nach Baliye 4, Abhijeet Sawant and wife Shilpa are having a gala time due to the ongoing strike. We talk to the singer, dancer cum actor on what is going on with no nach, Bollywood and television!!

“We are just bored sitting at home. We do practice, but not as seriously because we have no idea when the strike will get over”, says Abhijeet.

So are there any plans for a vacation? “Well we thought the strike will get over in a week, so did not go out of the station. But now, if things don't resolve, may be on Saturday I'll go to my native place in Konkan”, says the Idol.

So what kept him busy all these days? “I was busy with my playback singing and stage performances. Initially it had become difficult to balance out, as I was doing too many things at a time. Now due to the strike I feel relieved as there is no hush- hush between the shoots, my stage shows and singing”, quips Abhijeet.

After Nach, you must be flooded with offers on television, so are there any chances of seeing you more on TV? “I don't want to do much on television. After Indian Idol, I took another best show which gave a boost to my personality. Even Nach Baliye has maharati's and is very popular. Now I want to move ahead and progress in life”, says he.

We have heard you are getting offers for fiction shows too. “Yes I got few offers, but I refused it. The day I start to do more of television, then people will tend to think that Abhijeet doesn't have any other work to do. Doing fiction on television will be my last option. But in future, if I get some good offers like these, then I don't mind”, quips the singer.

Abhijeet and Shilpa richer by 2 lakhs

Jodi No 12 Abhijeet Sawant and Shilpa got a perfect 30, thus winning the 2 lakhs cash prize from the EMI team in Nach Baliye. This week’s Nach Baliye has something special in store for the jodis, as the Anna of Bollywood, Suniel Shetty and the sexy Malaika Arora of EMI will give away a cash prize of 2 lakhs to the best performing Jodi…

As all the Jodis geared up to impress the celebrity judges, Jodi # 12, Abhijeet Sawant and Shilpa walked away with the money as they were adjudged the ‘Best’ by the EMI team…

According to our source, “Abhijeet and Shilpa played a tribute to the father and son pair of Rishi Kapoor & Ranbir Kapoor. They did a medley on the song Bachna Ae Haseeno. The whole performance had lot of steps that reminisces of Rishi, Raj, Randhir, Shashi and Shammi Kapoor. The only step, which was missing, was of Karisma Kapoor, which was completed by Karisma herself; when the couple requested her to come up, shake a leg with them, to complete the tribute to RK family!”

Abhijeet and Shilpa who got good marks in the very first episode of Nach Baliye could not recreate the same magic for the past two weeks, but did marvelously well this time and got applauded by the judges! “They got a perfect 30 and also were the worthy winners of 2 lakhs, which the EMI team gave them for their best performance”, concludes our source.

Abhijeet Sawant hits jackpot!

Ticket to Bollywood...that’s what Abhijeet Sawant has bagged through Lottery. Come December and the singer, who had shown his Junoon as the first Indian Idol will now be seen in Hemant Prabhu’s romantic thriller.

Says Sawant in his usual sing-song voice, “I’m playing an accountant, Rohit, who likes keeping to himself. But with a sudden turn of events, he finds himself trapped in a murder conspiracy. How he fights the system to prove his innocence is what the story is all about.”

The singer-turned-actor, who in his own words, is “taking a big plunge”, will be seen wooing Rucha Gujarathi onscreen. Ask him whether his first-ever stint before the camera had him develop cold feet and Sawant is quick to quip, “Since I’ve shot for my music videos, I don’t fight shy from the camera. Thanks to the unit, I felt at home.This definitely is music to our ears.