SHAAN WAS AFRAID OF REJECTION
Singer Shaan might be a big name in Bollywood, thanks to tracks such as Woh Ladki Hai Kahan (Dil Chahta Hai; 2001) and Chand Sifarish (Fanaa; 2006), but he is equally famous for his independent music, having sung popular tracks such as Tanha Dil and Bhool Ja (2000). The 45-year-old, who recently released his independent single, Surilee, said that the “fear of rejection” prevented him from writing music on his own.
“The fear of rejection has stayed with me all through my life, and that’s the reason why I haven’t been pro-active when it comes to things like releasing music independently,” says Shaan, who credits his wife, Radhika Mukherjee, for encouraging him to get back into the non-film space. “I’ve been singing for such a long time, and have done everything. So she told me to do it for myself, and to enjoy what I’m doing. She told me she will take care of me and back me on this,” he says.
The singer feels the internet is a “great medium” and is helping musicians share music directly. “Film music is completely different, and you have to work according to what filmmakers want. Even in the independent space, some big companies get to dictate the kind of music and lyrics they want. But with platforms like YouTube, musicians have that opportunity to put out what they want to share with their fans,” says Shaan.
The fear of rejection is the reason why I haven’t been pro-active about things like releasing music independently SHAAN, SINGER