by Subhash K Jha

Apurva Apte couldn't speak as a child. Now he'll be seen singing his lung off on May 28 on Zee's Antakshari.

Well, maybe not quite singing his lungs off...Because Apurva has 162 stitches in his mouth after a major surgery. It's a truly emotional moment for the young man's family and the other contestants.

Going back in time Apurva recalls, "I I was born with cuts in my mouth, jaw and upper lips.I was operated when I was one- year old and had got 168 stiches in my whole of mouth."

Before he was born Apurva's father wanted him to be a very big singer. "As I grew I realised my father's dreams and started practising singing. My father is my biggest inspiration and the only driving force in my life. It hasn't been easy. But I realised nothing was impossible for me. The two things that kept me going is positive thinking and sportmanship."

Apurva never felt handicapped as compared with the other contestants. "Not at all ! Since the time I was 4 my father had got musical intruments for me to practice singing. But at times I do feel a little nervous whn I'm all set to face the world."

Apurva hopes to become a professional singer. "My dream will soon come true and I will be a rock star will all the blessings of my father and other family members. I had a lot of fun on the sets of Titan Antakshari. I got lots of love from Karan, Himani and other friends on the sets. It was just like another home where everybody made me feel so special and wanted."