Raghav goes ‘crazy’ for Bollywood

NEW DELHI
He had famously turned down the hit number ‘Twist’ from the Saif Ali Khan starrer ‘Love Aaj Kal’, but pop heartthrob Raghav is finally making his Bollywood debut, with a “crazy” number.
The ‘Angel Eyes hitmaker, born to Indian parents in Canada, says that he is excited about the number which will be written and composed by him, but has no plans to become a playback singer.
“I had turned down earlier offers because I want to write my own songs. I am not a playback singer. But finally this offer came through and I knew that it will be a great experience and I got to write my song too,” Raghav told reporters.
Though he refused to divulge further details, the popstar promised that the number is going to “be crazy and totally fun”. The 29-year-old has recently launched his ‘Greatest Hits’ album which also contains his hit ‘So Much’, a collaboration with R&B star Kardinal Offishall.
“Kardinal and me started off at the same time and we had collaborated on my first album. And we are good friends so it is always great to work together. I think that showed in the song which charted in UK Top 10,” said Raghav.
The singer who gained heartthrob status with his smooth vocals and boyish looks has no plans to trade his pop career for Bollywood stardom. “Pop is my first love and I am never going to give that up. I actually decided to drop a Greatest Hits album just to remind the fans of all the good stuff that has been, because pop is dying in India,” said the singer. And he blames none other than Bollywood for it’s demise.
“Bollywood is the dominant factor that drives the Indian music industry and it is hard for non-film music to survive because of that system,” said Raghav. Raghav, whose debut album ‘Story Teller’ sold 1.3 million copies worldwide, says that Mohammad Rafi and Michael Jackson are the biggest influences in his life.
“I knew I wanted to be a musician when I was five. My parents are both from UP and I grew up listening to Mohammad Rafi and Michael Jackson and listening to them I knew I too wanted to make music,” said the singer who mixed Bollywood classics with R&B beats to create his signature sound.