Sonu Nigam, the celebrated Bollywood playback singer, recently shared a revealing account of his journey in the music industry, shedding light on his complex relationship with composer Anu Malik. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Sonu Nigam confessed that he had once been intimidated and even bullied by Anu Malik, whom he now considers his ‘guruji.’
During the interview, Sonu Nigam expressed, “First I used to get scared of him. When I was new in the industry, he used to bully me, in the sense that he was older than me and had a lot of experience. I met him when I was 14 years old, at a competition which I won. That time he had said, ‘Get him to me when he grows up.'”
Reflecting on his initial encounters with Anu Malik, Sonu Nigam shared how he eventually learned to cope with the intimidating composer. “When I came to Mumbai, my father and I went to see him. He was very intimidating at that time. But slowly, I understood how to deal with him. Jitna daboge, utna dabaenge (The more you will go in a corner, the more you will be cornered). I even learnt a lot from him; he is my guruji,” he said.
The story of their journey from intimidation to mentorship is remarkable, as both artists developed a deep bond over the years. Anu Malik played a pivotal role in Sonu Nigam’s career by giving him the biggest break of his career through the movie “Refugee,” where Nigam recorded all the songs filmed on Abhishek Bachchan in his soulful voice.
Their collaboration extended beyond “Refugee” as they worked together on a series of chart-topping songs, including “Mere Rang Balle Balle” from “Soldier” (1998), “What Is Mobile Number” from “Haseena Maan Jaayegi” (1999), “Tu Hawa Hai” from “Fiza” (2000), “Aate Jaate Jo Milta Hai” from “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega” (2000), “Milne Se Darta Hai Dil” from “Badal” (2000), “Chori Chori” from “Om Jai Jagadish” (2002), and “Sau Dard” from “Jaan-E-Mann” (2006).
Their camaraderie extended to the small screen, where both Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam served as judges on the popular singing reality show Indian Idol. They also made appearances together on “The Kapil Sharma Show.”
Sonu Nigam’s candid revelation showcases the evolution of his relationship with Anu Malik, highlighting how mentorship and collaboration can emerge from early challenges and differences in the dynamic world of the entertainment industry. Their story serves as an inspiring example of how two talented individuals can come together to create musical magic despite initial hurdles.
Sources By Agencies
