Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan launched the new album of Rahul Sharma and Richard Clayderman -- '' Confluence II'' -- at a glittering ceremony here.

''It's good to see that Rahul has been brought up to follow his father's (Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma) footsteps, when young people get so easily distracted.

I congratulate his parents for ensuring that their musical heritage has been carried over by their son,'' Bachchan said at the release yesterday, which was attended by film producer Yash Chopra, RPG Chairman Harsh Goenka, singer Adnan Sami and Rahul's father and Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

The album features the same combination of fusion music as its predecessor -- '' Confluence'' -- which stayed at the World Music charts for six years with Sharma on Santoor and Clayderman on piano.

The sound is more contemporary with a remix track added to entice the Club and House music listeners.

Seven of the nine tracks have been composed by Sharma and will be promoted by the video of the album's single ''The Chase''.

''Speaking as a 'guru', my biggest satisfaction is seeing Rahul take the instrument and try out something that I had not tried,'' Shiv Kumar Sharma said proudly.

Rahul Sharma also gave an impromptu concert at the function.