Armaan Malik turns a year older today but this young man is already a wise old soul! In an exclusive conversation with HotFridayTalks on the eve of his birthday, Armaan left us speechless and highly enlightened with his wise words. Besides a good voice and good looks, Armaan is one of the most balanced and grounded celebrities I have come across.
While most people his age are still clueless about their career path, Armaan has worked hard and earned it all ; name, fame and fortune, yet he has his head firmly on his shoulders and that’s one of the reasons for his success and also the reason why he is so loved by his fans all over the world.
As we start our conversation, Armaan excitedly tells us, “My fans have been so kind and I am overwhelmed with all the love they have shown me. I have already started getting birthday gifts from my fans all over the world!” Armaan then goes on to reveal about his birthday plans and more.
EXCERPTS
So Armaan, what are the plans for your birthday this year?
“Celebrations will start tonight itself with my family and close friends. We are planning to go out for dinner together to bring in my birthday.I will bring in my birthday at midnight and then the next day will go out with friends to celebrate.”
What about birthday gifts? Have you got any?
“My fans have been very kind and sent me stuff like jackets, perfumes etc. from all over the world.” He then excitedly adds, “Guess what I gifted myself for my birthday? I bought my very first Mercedes, the new model GLC with my own money!”
Congratulations, so when are you taking everyone for a drive in your new car?
“Tonight I will be driving my family in my new car to the dinner venue.”
What did your parents gift you for your birthday?
“I had been asking mom for this special pillow for my bed that’s really comfortable and huggable while sleeping.”
Ok so a pillow to hug till you find someone to hug is it?
(Laughs out loud) “No, that’s for those times when there is no one to hug, actually!”
What’s that one song you would like to dedicate to yourself on your birthday or would be on the party list tonight?
“I think it would be Buddhu Sa Mann. That kind of celebrates the craziness in my family, so that would be our celebration song. But otherwise, it is Sooraj Dooba Hai, the song that gave us recognition. It is very special because that was our first superhit song. When we would go to parties etc. and dance to other people’s songs, my mom would always say when will the day come where people dance to your songs and play your songs without us asking for it? And exactly 6 months down the line we got our first superhit song!”
Armaan you sing so well and look great too. Have you ever thought of acting?
“ I have been featured in some of my songs for the music videos but I feel I still have a long way to go before I get into acting. I feel I need to mature a bit, that’s not all, just like I worked hard in preparing myself for singing, I want to do the same for acting too and not just jump in even though I have been getting offers. I need to get more familiar with acting, I wouldn’t do it just coz I have a good face or a personality because the camera doesn’t lie, in just 3 or 4 minutes one will get to know whether one is really cut out for acting or not. For the time being, I am very comfortable in the singing space. But yes, once I feel I am ready for it, once I develop my personality more, I would love to act too.”
“Having said that, in the West, the singers are more popular than some of the actors. Many singers are what you can call singing stars, that’s my dream. I want to be the one to change the dynamic in our country too, where only the actors are considered as stars. I want to be a singing star!”
How do you manage such versatility in your singing?
“It depends from song to song. For example in Theher Ja, it’s a little westernised whereas Mein Rahoon was more Indianised, more Bollywood. So what I mean to say is that it requires a little bit of understanding and the more singers you listen to you get better. There are so many good singers like Mohammad Rafi, Sonu Nigam, Kishore Kumar who added character to his voice. Whenever I can, I listen to various singers and analyse the good songs, and understand what I can learn from them. I never look at other songs or singers as a competition because there is so much one can learn from others, we can incorporate so much from their good work. Every person teaches us something and we are constantly learning from others. The day I start thinking I know it all and have learnt everything, then I will stop growing. ”
Armaan you are only 22, where does all that wisdom come from?
“ It’s probably because I started very young, I started working in this industry since the age of 9, so I have seen more of the industry. I have been witness to both the good and the bad side of the industry and because of that, I have somehow hardened. I am aware that all the fame I might have today, might all be taken away suddenly some day, so I am prepared for it all. I am also glad I have parents who have seen the most difficult phase in their life, had we only seen success and not failure I’d probably have never learned all this. Like my dad often tells me that he has been a successful failure. It takes a lot to learn to fail and then get back on your feet. Another thing my father keeps reminding me is that I might be Armaan Malik for the world outside but back home I am just Armaan, the moment I bring that Armaan Malik back home then that’s where I start failing. Both my brother Amal and me have learnt from our parents, they’ve taught us to maintain a great balance in life and our career too.”
If you had to choose the top 5 favourite songs that you have sung, which ones would that be?
“The top five favourites among my songs are; Waja Tum Ho, Main Hoon Hero Tera, Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon, Bol Do Na Zara and Tere Mere Darmiyaan Hai.”
And what about your top 5 favourites by other singers?
“Channa Mere Ya, Tum Hi Ho, Hawaaein, Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, those are my most favourite.”
What message would you like to give all those millions of female fans you have all around the world?
“I want to give them all a group hug and tell them I’m blessed to have their love. I love the attention I am getting and I love love. However cheesy that may sound!”
Hope you always keep getting immense love. Team HotFridayTalks wishes you more success and happiness on your birthday. Happy Birthday! Armaan Malik.
