I come from a very affluent family. I have been educated in one of the finest institutions of the world. Money was never a factor in my life: by the grace of God, I was blessed with a golden spoon.
For me, everybody is the same. If you are not nice to me, I will say, 'Okay, we will try to make it nice tomorrow.' I am like that. I am not a confrontational person.
'Grateful' is a small word to express my gratitude, as God has blessed me with so many opportunities to restart my life.
When I was obese, I reached a point where I was about to meet death, and I lost weight to restart my life.
I genuinely believe that, physically and emotionally, women are far stronger than men. The amount of pain they have to endure for a childbirth, a man cannot take an ounce of it. A toothache or a stomach upset is the end of our world at times.
Pakistan is not the torch-bearer of Islam, and if I change my country, it doesn't mean that I have to change my religion.
I can understand when people say that they're not a big fan of my music. That's an individual opinion, and I respect that. But you don't have the right to comment on my choice of citizenship, my skin colour, or my religion. It's not open to discussion.
I was born in England, but India is the only place I feel at home.
I am a singer. You love me or hate me based on my music. If you are judging me based on my nationality and religion, you are a racist. This is very offensive. I cannot encourage that.
Recording a Hindi song takes me around 40 minutes whereas a Kannada song takes me about two hours. The music isn't a problem, since the notes used are universal. The language is the problem. I try my best to get it right, as I'm sensitive about respecting every language, since all of them are sacred in my heart.
I come from a non-musical family.
My education has allowed me to be more open to ideas which I would not have been had I not been as educated.
My roots are in classical music and jazz, and I want the freedom of being able to improvise. This freedom is possible only in a live concert.
My father was a great connoisseur of music and arts. He said, 'I will encourage you in anything you do, but make sure you get a solid education.' So, I studied in the finest schools and went on to become a qualified barrister but didn't take up law because my music was my area of interest.
When my first album came out, it wasn't Bollywood.
People said that I had liposuction surgery, but you tell me how can a man of 230 kgs lose weight only with a prick of a needle.
I am glad that my weight never affected my singing career, but other than this, I faced a lot problems: like, I was unable to talk for 20 minutes after coming down from the stage after my shows. I got very tired because of my fatness.
If there is a new airport in Mumbai, I would feel proud about it, and I equally feel angry when I see potholes.
My weight is this permanent topic that just doesn't fade away. Most days, I am fine with people talking about it. That doesn't bother me as much as how people use the fact to promote their own ventures.
I want people to get over my weight and the loss of it. It's been years, and I am sure people can find better things to talk about.
I have been working and composing music since 1986. Over the years, I have seen our music industry go through all kinds of transformation.
A song's lyrics can't be held culprit for the overall change in society.
Though music was not in my blood, I always considered myself belonging to music, and that remained with me throughout my studies. The studies were my parents' wish, which I fully complied with, as one must be educated at the highest possible level.
I do not think classical music faces any threat because new music is being made through computer, as the real charm of classical is its purity, and one who is seeking purity will surely find classical music in spite of so many alternatives.
Sufis were always spreading love with their music, and if some kind of extremism is a threat to it, it is a threat to all humanity.
I feel that one should be health conscious, and that feeling can only come from within, so I suggest people to challenge yourself.
I'm grateful to God that I'm able to praise his glory through my music.
I don't give a damn about trolls.
I like to greet anyone who comes to my house with a lot of positivity and peace.
I believe in the philosophy of turning the other cheek.
I used to play rugby, polo, tennis, and cricket in school. It was only in the 1990s, when I used to live just opposite Harrods in London, that I started putting on weight. I used to have my breakfast there every day.
I have always maintained that it's not the quantity of work, but the quality that should speak. I have maintained the same for my music albums, too. I have always released them after a gap of two to three years.
I believe every artiste, at some point, needs to take a step back.
Every person goes through a bad phase. Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan, too, had a rough phase in their careers. In my case, it was unfortunate that my personal problems came up at a time when I took a break to rejuvenate myself.
When you want something that is very dear to you, somewhere along the line, you become the child.
The response that I have got over the years is the best example that the people of India love me, and I feel as much Indian as anybody.
Music, in its true essence, has got no language. You don't listen to anybody because he is black or white or because he belongs to a particular geographical region. You listen to him because you like what he does.
If someone ever decides to tell my story, it will make for a typical masala movie.
I will surely pen my autobiography.
Whoever portrays me on screen need not necessarily be a look alike. Any hero could play my part.
As a musician, to be part of anything that promotes peace is very rewarding.
Music reflects an artist's feelings and their experiences.
Apart from being a playback singer for films, I'm also an independent musician.
The love, adulation, and warmth that I got from India is the reason why I chose this country.
People all over the world know me as an Indian artist. I could have chosen any other country and wouldn't have had to go through problems claiming my citizenship. But it is India where my heart is and has always been.
I had my own ups and downs in getting Indian citizenship. But, ultimately I got it and I am happy about it. I like India. My love is here. I am a proud Indian.