EXCLUSIVE: Akhil Sachdeva comments on original music suffering because of recreation culture; says, “As long as I’m around…”

Renowned Indian singer, songwriter, and music composer Akhil Sachdeva is celebrated for his soulful voice and heartfelt music. He has touched heartstrings with his tracks, Humsafar, Tera Ban Jaunga, Channa Ve and more. The Nasha Boy has carved a niche in Bollywood and independent music, blending emotion with melody in every performance. Now his recent release, Tere Bin with Alankrita Sahai, is grabbing all the eyeballs.

In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble, the talented singer talked about his musical journey from creating a band to gaining popularity, also about re-creating Atif Aslam’s iconic song Tere Bin, his views on being a part of the remix culture, singing reality shows and more. Excerpts:

How does it feel to receive such much love from all your fans for Tere Bin?

It’s an amazing feeling as an artist who works day and night just for this love, to get all the love and adulation and to change people’s emotions, to touch people’s emotions and make them feel special and make them feel something.  If he can do your song, then there is nothing bigger than that. All the love and adulation is more than welcome. It makes me happy and I’m glad.  

Tere Bin is a remix of Atif Aslam’s iconic song. Did you feel any pressure as it was a re-creation? Do you feel you have done justice to his track?

I always knew how legendary a song Tere Bin has been for the past 18 years, since its release in 2006. I’ve always admired Atif Aslam. Mein bauth zyada pyaar bhi karta hu unko, mein Tere Bin ko Tere Bin bana nahi raha tha for the genuine reason. I was never making the Tere Bin again. It’s not like any other recreation. I have not used the same melody. I have changed the whole song, only the hook line. I have used it from Tere Bin because it fits so organically and naturally with it.  

As I said, since I was not making Tere Bin, there was no pressure, but after I decided that it was, I wanted to make it as Tere Bin has been only. I was well aware of the talks that it might raise and a question that it might raise, but I’m super sure I’ve done more than justice to the song and to the vibe. I’ve given it to my touch, and people are loving it. It will take time because no one likes these legendary songs to be touched.

Do you think remixes are a trend that will continue to grow in the music industry, and how do you feel about being part of this trend?

I’m not personally a person who’s in favour of remixes and recreation, which are both two different things.  The gap between the generations is just taking less time. It’s changing too fast. That aaj se 20 saal phele kya gaane, kya filmy, kya art thi voh is generation ko batana bhi zaruri hai, especially the iconic songs. Until and unless the soul of a track is not touched and it is maintained. I did it my way in Tere Bin. I don’t think I’ll do a lot of recreation. Nor am I in this favour more but Tere Bin just happened.

Do you think originality in music is suffering because of the remix/recreation culture?

We are seeing a lot of songs being remade and a lot of songs are recreated. Also, some songs came into the independent scene a year or two ago and they are put in movies so I’m not in their favour personally. Not at all.  I have only made original music all my life. All of them have been iconic songs of today, be it Humsafar, Tera Ban Jaaunga, Channa Ve or all the songs from OTT. All the songs are original. I have a cult fan base so I’m always a believer in original music. As long as I’m around, I’ll try my best to keep the original music alive.

Kabir Singh’s Tera Ban Jaunga success was massive; did you know that this track is going to be a game changer?

There is nothing as such a game changer. Kyuki kabhi bhi apki game change ho saktha hai agar aap usko maintain na rakhe. So consistency, discipline, walking the long way forward with focus, complete focus in your eyes and your whole system and sacrificing a lot of things are what I believe in. Chate hai hum log ki usko pyaar mile. 

Musician Nilanjana Ghosh Dastidar has accused music director duo Sachet-Parampara and T-series of plagiarising her husband Rajarshi Mitter’s track in Maiyya from the Netflix release Do Patti. Your view about it. Or your views about plagiarism in music?

I’m too focused on my own work. Maine na suna hai jo T series apne mujhe bataya so agar ye hua bhi hai toh it’s them to answer and them to take care of it. I will take care of things that are related to me.  So I will only answer about things that are related to me. 

 You have been in the industry for so long, right from creating your band in 2009 to getting successful tracks for films such as Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Kabir Singh, and even Bhoot. Do you think you have received enough recognition in the industry? 

Yes, I made a band; India is one of the leading Sufis. I didn’t plan anything. I’m not from a music family, so mujhe nahi pata tha jaise jana hai, music banana hai, jaise jeevan mai hota gaya, mai chalta gaya. Whatever the situation and the conditions I went through being a good son and a good family member, I was there to take care of my family and I did everything possible. I’ll keep doing this till my last breath to make them feel safe, happy, healthy, and have everything in their life.

Maybe I don’t know how to socialize much. No one is here to judge why he isn’t as big or as he would have been, or he can be. Everyone has their own time, baki upar wala dekh lega, kisse kab kitna bada banna hai aur kab kitna nahi. Lambi race ka ghoda humesha dheere chalta hai and I think I am that person; I have always maintained that. I have my path; I don’t have any other means nor do I have my style, like a typical regular singer or musician in Bollywood. I have not done playback before and then done shows. Back there in Delhi, North India, I was one of the most popular artists. It’s been 14 years and I have maintained that. So, I have my own journey and I want to reach my destination, which is just mine.

AR Rahman and Saira Banu announced their separation and right after that, even bassist Mohini Dey announced her split with her husband. What do you have to say about relationships and heartbreak that are happening in the industry?

Absolutely no one to talk about anyone’s relationship as well. I don’t think anyone has the right to talk about their relationship. As far as the relationship in the industry is concerned, I stay away from the industry. I don’t socialize much. I just believe in my work. That’s why whenever I go to Bombay, I just do my work meetings without meeting people, just with friends. I work and come back home. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nasha Boy (@sachdevaakhilnasha)

You take on the rise of singing reality shows and whether or not they actually scout real talent?

Singing reality shows, everything has become so business and so commercialised. Unke liye acha hoga, mai follow nahi karta hu, kuch hai jo mai karta hu like Indian Idol, starting mein Sa Re Ga Ma Pa I used to like. So reality shows are not something that interests me or excites me.  So but one can kyuki business hai,  but not my cup of tea.  

Also, what do you think about the artists who sing for movies getting more fame and recognition than indie artists/those who release singles?

I believe that your songs should have that power. Your songs should have that thing; it’s very important to sing in the right place in the right film. With the right emotion. A lot of things matter as the music industry is on its boom right now. I think in India, the music industry is at its peak right now so the song should be made with sincerity. 

How much has the music industry evolved from the time you started your own band till today?

The music industry has been crossing the evolutionary stage. I will be able to reach my goal. I feel artists have increased so much; demand has increased so much. Nowadays, people like any kind of song. The generation has changed so bauth zyada evolve hue hai since  I started back there in 2010, it’s been 14 years.

I feel every artist should be able to connect with their soul and their kind of music and say it in their own way. I want to teach the older generation that make music their own way in their own style and their own truth. This is what I believe in and take care of when I make music and by God’s grace,  we will be there. 

EXCLUSIVE: Aditi Govitrikar ADMITS models weren’t considered good actors in Bollywood; reveals John Abraham has changed this mindset