Vasundhara Das the very talented singer – actress is busy these days with the first ever Hindi Jazz song which she has just finished recording. "Well, for one, it is a song which is part of a world music album being put together by Ricky Kej, a Bangalore based composer.

As for the song itself, it is a very simple melody which has the treatment of Jazz. The players on it are from a strong Jazz background like Carl Peters (bass guitar), Kurt Peters (drums) and Sapan Das Gupta (guitar and arrangement)". So how did this unique song happen to her?

"I had worked with the song composer Dhrubajit Gogoi on a Bollywood film soundtrack (Corporate). And after hearing me sing, he called asking if I would be interested in doing this song. I have always welcomed challenges and this seemed to be one, so I readily agreed", quips the songstress.

And she has special words of praise for the talented and upcoming composer. "He is very talented and open minded and this is a great mindset for people to work in. It was a very easy working relationship and I really enjoyed the experience. It was so very memorable", she says enthusiastically.

In all these in the entertainment industry, Vasundhara seems to have proved her versatility to the entire world by effortlessly singing in various languages from Hindi to English to Spanish to almost all South Indian languages.

"For me language has never held me back from doing any form of work, be it acting or singing. I have always believed that music, especially, transcends linguistic boundaries. I have sung in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, English, Spanish and French", quips the fair maiden.

Does she have any favorite numbers from among all the work that she has done? "That is a very unfair question. I have loved all the songs I have sung from Shakalaka Baby to Rabba Rabba to Its the Time to Disco, Chale Jaise Hawain,

Salaam Namaste, Salaame, Where is The Party Tonight and all the others in between. Also all the lesser known ones", she proudly flaunts.

It is only just playback; the personal albums that she made in different languages had also become very popular. So is the next one happening anytime soon? "When there is something brewing, you will know but as of now I am collaborating with various people on interesting projects outside of the film music category as well. Again, as and when the time is right, you will know", she says.

So does that mean acting has taken a backseat? After the high profile Hey Ram and Monsoon Wedding, she was not spotted much in Bollywood. Her last release was Kudiyon ka Hain Zamana, a very small film.

"Yes I have been busy with concert tours and conceptualizing unique performance ideas with my business partner and fellow musician Roerto Narain. Also, I have been part of unique tour concepts like Wake Up! in the US with A R Rahman and 150 American University students and Nylon Soundz in the UK with Taufiq Qureshi and State of Bengal (a UK based DJ and producer).

Basically trying to highlight the fact that we have over the years lost the live element in performance in India and its time to go back to the basics......just play the music", she asserts This implies that her kind of fans in Bollywood who want to see her in a big film will have to wait awhile. "We will just have to wait and see but for now I have two smaller films coming out, Pathar Bezubaan and Eik Dastak. A lot of playback and a lot of concerts are coming up", she says as she makes it clear that it's more music than movies for her.

Balancing her work in Bombay, the South and abroad mustn't be all that easy as there must be a lot of traveling involved.

"Yes, I travel a lot but that comes with the territory anyway. As for the balancing act, it has been that way for me from day one. But I have been fortunate that there have not been major clashes and that the people I have worked with have been very supportive and accommodating of my dual career", she informs.

Vasundhara has surely scored well with her balancing act. Only we wish she would do it better and come again in films as good as Hey Raam and Monsoon Wedding. - Sneha Hazarika