Gulshan Kumar's daughter gets into singin

Tulsi Kumar

The daughter of T-Series owner, late Gulshan Kumar and MD, Bhushan Kumar's sister, Tulsi is making her foray into the film industry as a playback singer.

Last week the 19-year-old sang Jaanabe jaaniya with Himesh Reshammiya for the promotional music video of Shyam Bajaj's Aksar. Here's an informal chat with the budding singer.

Tell us about the Aksar song?
It's a very peppy, funky nightclub number that Himesh and I have sung. The remixed version also includes the actors in the film — Dino, Emraan and Udita along with us.

When did you decide to become a singer?
Since childhood I have always been interested in singing. It was my dad's (Gulshan Kumar) dream, which has become a reality. He wanted me to become a singer.

When I was about six years old, he heard me humming a song and said that I had a sweet voice and should take up singing as a profession. Dad used to sing devotional songs and that's how I developed a knack for singing.

Realising the dream in his absence must hurt.
Yes, I do miss him a lot. I miss him in every step of my life. But I know that he is with me all the time. He always makes his presence felt. Whenever I'm depressed about certain things, a good opportunity knocks at the door that very moment. I think that's his blessing.

Any formal training in music?
Yes, I did some classical training and later I trained at Suresh Wadekar's academy.

How did your family, and brother Bhushan react to your singing career?
Everybody from dad and mom (Kavita) to my elder sister (Khushali) and Bhushan knew from my childhood days that I wanted to be a singer. But Bhushan started believing in me and started taking me seriously only after I started getting formal training and began singing devotional numbers. He didn't want anybody to say that he gave me a break when I was not deserving it. So he made me earn it.

With the T-Series name associated with you, it won't be easy. Comment.
No, it won't be. The brand and my family name might act as a disadvantage. The criticism will always be more than the praise I receive. I will need to work harder to prove my mettle. That's why my brother tried and tested me with all kinds of music ranging from devotional songs to remixes before finally giving me a break. So I have gone through all the stages that a normal, struggling and upcoming singer would go through.

Before making your foray into films what else have you sung for?
I sang my first album, Durga Vandana. I have sung seven albums of devotional and remixed songs with Sonu Nigam and Udit Narayan. I sang for Anu Malik the title track Humko Deewana Kar Gaye with Sonu. Now I am simply waiting for my songs to release so that my work can be heard and appreciated.