Posted:
Toshi Sabri tells Jayeeta Ganguly about the dirty world of showbiz and his feelings on being voted out of a popular talent hunt
How upset are you after being voted out of Star Voice of India?
Nobody wants to be voted out from such a wonderful platform. When I heard my name being called out, I was in a state of shock. I did not know how to react. But then reality sunk in. I am a very strong person and for the last two years, I have been struggling in Mumbai. I have not broken down. The first time I cried was when my brother Sharib was voted out from a music talent hunt contest in Dubai last year and the second time was when I was voted out. To tell you the truth, I am sad, but I am more determined now.
All the judges were very supportive. Abhijeet even announced that he is adopting you as his son
Yes, the judges — right from Jatinji, Lalitji, Adeshji, Alka ma'm and Abhijeetda — have always been supportive. They have encouraged me so much and when I was voted out, they too were in a state of shock. And Abhijeetda was amazing. He was so supportive and I am so touched by what he said. My parents were not there with me, but when he came and hugged me, I felt that my parents are right there with me. Even today, when I call him, he is so warm and helpful. In fact, I must share something with you. Right from the audition stage, I was scared of Abhijeetda. Ek tension tha, lekin jis din main out hua, unka reaction dekh ke main itna touched ho gaya, ke aapko kya kahein!
You know the audience loved your voice, yet the same audience voted you out. Are you disillusioned?
I don't know what to say. People have always been there by my side. Even today, when I walk down the road, people come up to me and say how sorry they are. There was only a difference of 25 votes between me and Abhaas. Junta janardhan hain. In fact, I am getting direct response now. Just the other day, I met Sharad Kapoor on the road and he said how he will stop watching the show from now on. I was returning from a TV studio recently, when a group of college girls saw me and they recognised me. I had to get down from the car and meet them. Mahesh Bhattji too was impressed with me. Hope something will work out there. Out hone ke baad bhi, mujhe itna pyar mil raha hai, ek newcomer ko aur kya chahiye?
Are you aware that online petitions to get you back are doing the rounds?
Yes. I am aware of that. I got to know from my sources that people want me back on the show. I am grateful for all the love. I was out due to less public votes. But if the very same public gets me back, I promise I won't let them down. I'll entertain them like never before.
There is debate going on that the voting power should not be in the hands of the audience. What do you think?
I feel that the mentors should have the power to select the top three contestants. If they can select the top 12 from those thousands of participants, they are the ones who should choose the top three. By then, these three contestants will have gained foothold and then the audience should be given the power to vote for the best from the top three.
Your father, Ustad Akram Sabri is a classical vocalist. So, was it natural for you to follow in your footsteps?
Sangeet humein virasat mein mili hai. My grandfather was a classical vocalist, my father is also one. He teaches classical music in Jaipur. Music is in our blood. See, I have two dreams. The first one is to become a successful playback singer. I am ready to struggle hard and fulfill it. Secondly, I want people to love me. Wherever I go, I want them to shout out my name. Shouts of 'We love Toshi' is what I want to hear. I have a long way to go.
Before qualifying for the contest, you were in Mumbai for two years. Tell us something about those years.
During the last two years, lots of bad things have happened to me. I have been exploited, false promises have been made. People have organised live shows in my name and then I have not been paid a single penny. You know when I was voted out I had said ke mujhe us gandegi mein wapas nahin jaana hai. A lot of people thought I was referring to my life in Jaipur. I just do not wish to go back to the dirty exploitative world. But I know I have to struggle a lot and I am ready to make all kinds of sacrifices. I don't want to leave Mumbai. Playback singing meri woh mehbooba hain jo abhi mujhse khaffa hoy gayee hain, lekin hum bewafa nahin hongey. Nothing can stop me now. +
< =text/> var RN = new String (Math.random()); var RNS = RN.substring (2,11); var b2 = '< src=\"http://adstil.indiatimes.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.timesofindia.com/Stories/index./1'+RNS+'@Right3?\" WIDTH=250 HEIGHT=250 marginwidth=0 align="right" marginheight=0 =0 =0 border=0 scrolling=no bordercolor=\"#000000\"> </>'; if (doweshowbellyad==1) be llyad.innerHTML = b2;
How upset are you after being voted out of Star Voice of India?
Nobody wants to be voted out from such a wonderful platform. When I heard my name being called out, I was in a state of shock. I did not know how to react. But then reality sunk in. I am a very strong person and for the last two years, I have been struggling in Mumbai. I have not broken down. The first time I cried was when my brother Sharib was voted out from a music talent hunt contest in Dubai last year and the second time was when I was voted out. To tell you the truth, I am sad, but I am more determined now.
All the judges were very supportive. Abhijeet even announced that he is adopting you as his son
Yes, the judges — right from Jatinji, Lalitji, Adeshji, Alka ma'm and Abhijeetda — have always been supportive. They have encouraged me so much and when I was voted out, they too were in a state of shock. And Abhijeetda was amazing. He was so supportive and I am so touched by what he said. My parents were not there with me, but when he came and hugged me, I felt that my parents are right there with me. Even today, when I call him, he is so warm and helpful. In fact, I must share something with you. Right from the audition stage, I was scared of Abhijeetda. Ek tension tha, lekin jis din main out hua, unka reaction dekh ke main itna touched ho gaya, ke aapko kya kahein!
You know the audience loved your voice, yet the same audience voted you out. Are you disillusioned?
I don't know what to say. People have always been there by my side. Even today, when I walk down the road, people come up to me and say how sorry they are. There was only a difference of 25 votes between me and Abhaas. Junta janardhan hain. In fact, I am getting direct response now. Just the other day, I met Sharad Kapoor on the road and he said how he will stop watching the show from now on. I was returning from a TV studio recently, when a group of college girls saw me and they recognised me. I had to get down from the car and meet them. Mahesh Bhattji too was impressed with me. Hope something will work out there. Out hone ke baad bhi, mujhe itna pyar mil raha hai, ek newcomer ko aur kya chahiye?
Are you aware that online petitions to get you back are doing the rounds?
Yes. I am aware of that. I got to know from my sources that people want me back on the show. I am grateful for all the love. I was out due to less public votes. But if the very same public gets me back, I promise I won't let them down. I'll entertain them like never before.
There is debate going on that the voting power should not be in the hands of the audience. What do you think?
I feel that the mentors should have the power to select the top three contestants. If they can select the top 12 from those thousands of participants, they are the ones who should choose the top three. By then, these three contestants will have gained foothold and then the audience should be given the power to vote for the best from the top three.
Your father, Ustad Akram Sabri is a classical vocalist. So, was it natural for you to follow in your footsteps?
Sangeet humein virasat mein mili hai. My grandfather was a classical vocalist, my father is also one. He teaches classical music in Jaipur. Music is in our blood. See, I have two dreams. The first one is to become a successful playback singer. I am ready to struggle hard and fulfill it. Secondly, I want people to love me. Wherever I go, I want them to shout out my name. Shouts of 'We love Toshi' is what I want to hear. I have a long way to go.
Before qualifying for the contest, you were in Mumbai for two years. Tell us something about those years.
During the last two years, lots of bad things have happened to me. I have been exploited, false promises have been made. People have organised live shows in my name and then I have not been paid a single penny. You know when I was voted out I had said ke mujhe us gandegi mein wapas nahin jaana hai. A lot of people thought I was referring to my life in Jaipur. I just do not wish to go back to the dirty exploitative world. But I know I have to struggle a lot and I am ready to make all kinds of sacrifices. I don't want to leave Mumbai. Playback singing meri woh mehbooba hain jo abhi mujhse khaffa hoy gayee hain, lekin hum bewafa nahin hongey. Nothing can stop me now. +
comment:
p_commentcount