Daler Mehndi recorded a song with Bappi Lahiri for the movie 'Jhoom –Dance with Me Again'. The movie is being produced by Aaishwaryaa Babbar, son of B. Subhash under the banner Aaishwarya Movie Production.

Q: Firstly Daler tell us about the song.
A: The song has the fusion of three flavours. First is the Punjabi second is Gujarati and then the western. The song starts off with the Punjabi rhythm and goes in to the dandia mood. The title of the song is 'Jhoom Le Jhoom Le' and the entire base is western. It is for the first time that such a thing has happened.

Q: What are your expectations from the song?
A: I have heard the song and liked it. I'm still to dub the song but I hope that people will dance to the tunes of the song. It is a very nice song.

Q: How is your rapport with Bappi Lahiri as a music director?
A: I have been hearing his songs since childhood. I don't think there is any song of his that did not do well as far as my knowledge goes.

Take for example his songs from 'Disco Dancer', the song 'pag ghungroo baandh' or the songs of Mithunda's hit films. When we were young, though we did not have that much knowledge about music, we were surprised to hear a few classical songs that he had provided music for.

It was so nice to know that a music director who gives to western and disco songs does equally well for classical songs. I'm privileged to be working with him once again, the last time being for the film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron'.

Q: The films of B. Subhash have always known for their good songs. Does that add to your responsibility?
A: Basically I'm not a Bollywood singer. I live in Delhi and when ever I'm called for recording a song for the Bollywood films I feel privileged.

I'm always eager to render my voice to the songs. This time too I had been called by Bappiji to record a song for him and thus I'm here. I have faith in God and hope that I will be able to meet the expectations of people.

Q: Have you ever felt that the enthusiasm you had started with has decreased with passing time?
A: Eight years ago I had sung a song called 'Kudiyaan Shahar Diyaan' choreographed by Ganesh Acharya for the film 'Arjun Pandit'. Now again, Ganesh has choreographed the song called 'Raula Paagyan' for me. When he was asked the question he said that the energy level has increased by 100 times.

In 1997 I had sung a song for Imraan Khan's cancer hospital fund. At that time, he had said that at the age that I was in at that time people are very enthusiastic and that he would analyze the same after about seven eight years.

So in 2004 when I was called again by him and he heard me, he said the same thing that Ganesh had said. It was a happy moment for me.

Q: What is the secret behind the energy?
A: There is no such secret behind this energy. It is all because of the blessings of you people and my parents and because I'm a true person.

Q: What do you look for when you get an offer to sing in Bollywood?
A: See the only fact that I get calls from Bollywood and they think that I'm worth singing for them makes me happy. My happiest moment was when Amitabh Bachchan called me up to work with him. Then I got a call from Rahul Ravel for the movie 'Arjun Pandit'.

Then I sang for Vishal Bharadwaj, AR Rehman, for the film 'Nach Le', 'Lakeer'. I also sang for Rakesh Mehra for his movie 'Rang De Basanti'. Then Subash Ghai called me up. I have also sung the title song for the movie 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'. (SAMPURN)