Rockstar memories: Mohit Chauhan opens up about his journey in music

“It was a proud moment to be the voice of Janardhan Jakhar,” said Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan, reflecting on his work in Rockstar.      

“As a singer, I got to express a wide range of emotions through the Rockstar songs, including rock songs, emotional tracks, and even funny ones. It’s rare to get such diverse projects, and this one was done beautifully,” he told Patriot in an interview.

“Even during my music concerts, Rockstar songs still receive a great response and are loved by my audience. They enjoy listening to them.”

Bond with AR Rahman

Mohit, who shares a close bond with AR Rahman, recalled meeting the celebrated musician 26 years ago in Delhi.

“I first met Rehman Sahab at an award ceremony. I had heard of him and listened to his music. I have been so inspired by his work that I bought a ticket for Roja and watched it in a theatre in Delhi, which is rare for me. Experiencing the film’s music in the cinema was something special.”

Recalling his first collaboration with Rahman, Mohit said, “A few years later, I received a call from lyricist Prasoon Joshi, whom I’ve known for a long time. He asked me to come to Chennai to record a song, and that became Khoon Chala from Rang De Basanti—my first song with Rehman Sahab.”

Collaborations with Imtiaz Ali and Irshad Kamil

Mohit also spoke about his meeting with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who had called him to sing the song Tum Se from Jab We Met.

“We became close and worked together on many projects. My bond with Irshad Kamil has always been wonderful, and people have loved our work. His writing style is magical,” he said.

Delhi connection and the beginnings of Silk Route

About his Delhi connection, the 58-year-old singer said that he started getting work in the city.

“After coming from Himachal Pradesh, my first stop was Delhi, where a few relatives lived. I began looking for work and met people who had seen my work and guided me. I formed my music band, Silk Route, in Delhi, and our song Dooba Dooba became a hit. It opened doors for me in the industry.”

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“I used to drive back home and then return to Delhi for work, as it was the nearest place,” he recalled.

Being selective

Mohit emphasised that he is highly selective about the projects he takes on. “I avoid projects that have vulgarity or double entendre in the lyrics. I’m very choosy about the work I do.”

He also shared his thoughts on the current state of music in films.

“Music in films doesn’t have the same impact nowadays. Filmmakers have moved away from focusing on music. The old music was amazing and is still remembered. I hope things will improve in the future,” said Mohit, who has sung for films such as Jab We Met, Delhi-6, Anjaana Anjaani, Heropanti, Love Aaj Kal, Tamasha, Ek Tha Tiger, Laila Majnu, among others.

Mohit pointed out that very few music directors consider the actor’s persona when selecting a singer for a song.

“There was a time when we would watch a movie because of its amazing music. While item songs are popular, they’re not something you’d want to watch with your family. Commercialisation has also taken over the music industry,” he said.

Guest appearance in a Punjabi film

On his guest appearance in the Amar Singh Chamikla film, Mohit recalled, “I had a long beard when I was singing a song for the film. I was joking around with Imtiaz Ali in Punjabi, and he mentioned that if I wore a turban, I’d look like a Sikh. Later, he asked me if I’d be interested in making a special appearance in his movie, which was being shot in Punjab.”

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“We shot it in Malerkotla village in Punjab with Diljit Dosanjh,” he added. “It was an amazing film, and I was lucky to be part of it.”

On remakes and independent music

Mohit also expressed his opinion on the remaking of old songs. “If you recompose an old song, I think it works because of the nostalgic texture, but the new additions don’t really add value. I haven’t seen people listening to remakes much. It’s a waste of the song’s potential.”

On independent music, he advised artists to focus on originality. “You need to constantly create music, write meaningful lyrics, and produce the best quality music. That’s what the audience will love,” he said, adding, “Many people are doing independent music these days.