There was a time when Indian reality shows dominated the TRP charts, and so did their victors. Among the most beloved personalities were the singers from reality TV. Abhijeet Sawant, the 1st Indian Idol winner, is one such well-known celebrity. Abhijeet Sawant’s victory in the Indian Idol platform was a major achievement. He became a household name overnight, but maintaining that success was difficult. There were numerous ups and downs throughout Abhijeet Sawant’s career.
The musician recently talked extensively about his journey from the moment he first started singing. Abhijeet Sawant’s interview on Jay-Ho! The Jay Kumar Show is all about his struggle and success he has endured till now. Abhijeet’s life story is one of the motivational stories you will ever come across. Check out the chat between Jay Kumar, the host of the show, and Abhijeet Sawant to learn more about the singer’s hitherto unrevealed secrets.
Abhijeet Sawant began by describing his upbringing and the role his uncle Sanjay Sawant played in helping him pursue his dream of becoming a musician. He would also receive assistance from his mother Manisha Shridhar Sawant and father Shridhar Pandurang Sawant. Abhijeet Sawant continues by mentioning his family, “My father is also a musician. He used to play the guitar. But because he was employed by the Bombay Municipal Corporation, he was not directly involved in this on a professional level. My father had doubts about my ability to succeed in the music industry.
“I decided to pursue a career as a singer. I told my parents that I wanted to be a singer and asked them to help me find a decent instructor or school. And for this reason I began studying music a little later than I should have. However, this was still early in my career.
Abhijeet Sawant elaborated in-depth during the conversation on his career. He talked about his difficulties following his victory on Indian Idol.
Q: Did Your Parents Never Pressurize You To Become A Doctor Or An Engineer?
Abhijeet: I wasn’t very excellent in school. Fortunately, my uncle worked as a professional artist, so I had support who could help me choose the right path for my career. Alongside my music-making, I was doing computer programming. At Mumbai University, I studied sound engineering, IT, and software. I consistently kept my backups. Today, things are a little different, and people believe that music may support them financially. Their careers are secure, whereas, our time was a bit difficult.
People worry that music won’t help them accomplish their goals. They and we both share this as our greatest dread. Even though I am working right now, I still worry that I should have a secondary source of income aside from music. Some people leave their jobs and change careers. However, other people, like us, continue to work in the industry and try their luck. Give your all if you have a single profession or career in which you firmly believe.
Q: How Do You Manage Your Fears For Failure Or Winning Or Meeting People’s Expectations?
Abhijeet: I can relate to this fear and everything because I’ve worked in this field for such a long time. I understand that having such worries and anxieties regarding any issue is crucial. You quit working on that craft if you don’t have that fear. But when you feel that anxiety, you accept someone else’s point of view, which is how you develop your trade. I’ll constantly try to create something fresh in music, but the listeners will be the ones who judge it. I therefore think that fear and worry must exist. When your confidence battles with it, the result is fantastic. However, it shouldn’t be so low or high that it causes you difficulties.
Q: How Do You Balance Your Fear And Not Allow It To Overshadow Your Work And Life? What Is The Source Of Your Spiritual Fitness?
Abhijeet: I learned things from my experiences, which began in my school years. I was having trouble with my studies, little presents, and sweets. You cannot learn spiritual fitness from anyone. You and your thoughts get strong as a result of your experiences. Everyone experiences minor or major problems in life, but until you learn from them, you cannot relate to the difficulties of life. I’ll use one as an example. My uncle used to advise me to practise riyaz every day when I was younger. But I used to be careless about it.
I later came to the realisation that I could have performed significantly better than what I am currently doing if I had practised and performed the riyaz. Many years later, I realised its importance. And today’s youth share this sentiment. They are sometimes mentally numb. Because they lack experience, they become confused about their careers or personal lives. Therefore, I think that experience has a lot to teach.
Talking about his spiritual fitness, Abhijeet compared his Indian Idol journey to the hit movie Slumdog Millionaire. Why, let’s see.
Abhijeet: My experience on Indian Idol was similar to the movie Slumdog Millionaire, especially from day one till the victory episode. The winner in the movie would recall each question from his experience and then respond. Similar to this, I reflect on my experiences and consider where I erred and where I was correct. I might eventually reach a better place. But because of your experiences, you must possess that confidence. Because of this, all difficulties you encounter in life will benefit you in the long run. I discovered my spiritual fitness in this way. I attend a lot of events and meetings, practise yoga, and meditate, all of which are really helpful. But even with that, you become strong and fit because of your experiences.
When asked if he believes in God and is superstitious, Abhijeet responds, “I used to be superstitious, but then I overcame my fear of being superstitious. I once wore numerous rings made of various planets, opal, diamonds, etc. Then one day I stopped doing everything and resumed my normal life. I no longer even wear my wedding ring. My entire existence is suddenly on display. And yes, I pray every day and I do believe in God. I also experience fear. I don’t want to alter my way of life or my way of being.
Q: You were the first Indian Idol winner and the audience’s favourite. You’ve enjoyed being a superstar. Do you believe that your stardom has been consistent or has it decreased over the past few years, particularly?
Abhijeet: To be really honest, I was just a regular kid before Indian Idol. I have no ties to Bollywood or any celebrities. And there was no social media back then, so things were less transparent. The public had little knowledge of stars. Celebrities can now interact with their fans on social media, although we didn’t have this option back then. I thus went there when Indian Idol was on the scene in quest of a venue for showing my musical talent. We need the stage as musicians and artists because we don’t focus on the reward when we win. I was trying to find a place where I could meet other vocalists. My competitors will be known. Fortunately, I was selected for the show, and I won it. The adventure I began, however, changed after that.
The Fall After The Rise!
Winning the competition and entering into Bollywood are not the same thing; they are two different things. Additionally, playback singing is a must for singers in India. You must be a playback vocalist if you want to succeed in the music industry. In India, pop singing is nonexistent. But I released two albums after Indian Idol. One of Sony Music’s best-selling albums. The two of my albums are the most popular ones. Pop music completely declined during 2007–2008, leaving mainly Bollywood music, which is like a sea full of large sharks. Legends like Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu, and Sonu Nigam were well-known at the time, and competing with them was challenging. I lacked a godfather, a link, or a mentor. I was failing and picking myself up. My progress was therefore exceedingly slow as a result of such obstacles. My career was moving slowly because of this.
8 Years Of Struggle…
After 15 years, I felt confident that I can pull it off. I received my third album, “Farida,” sometime between 2011 and 2014. I travelled to Houston to shoot the video. And I produced a top notch sufi album. However, the album’s market was practically over. Like us, every pop singer was either at home or performing playback singing. It’s very challenging to get playback singing. You need to establish a cordial atmosphere with other music directors through various marketing and PR efforts. So, certainly, as a musician, those 7-8 years were challenging for me.
Not The Music Industry But This Helped Abhijeet Earn Pretty Well
The stage, though, was there to support me. I was well-known thanks to Indian Idol. People connect Abhijeet Sawant and Indian Idol. People have a unique bond. There are tales of how folks paid money to watch my show and vote for me. So, because of people’s love, performing on stage was never empty for me. In the past, I would put on 8–9 shows per month. And I do it today as well. There were constant shows. Maybe I wasn’t visible on screen, but I was making progress and making a good living for my family behind the camera.
Q: What Are The New Projects And What Is The Progress?
Abhijeet:Since I believe that this is the ideal time for original music in India, I am focussing on it. My own YouTube channel, which I recently launched, features my original music. My brother and I work together to write, compose, and perform them. I’ve learned from my mistakes, as I’ve already mentioned, so I don’t have to rush to become wealthy; instead, I just need to maintain producing quality music and work. One of my videos just came out, and another is on the way. I travelled to Uzbekistan for a concert, which is where this video was recorded.
Q: Is There Any Groupism In The Music Industry? What Is Your Opinion On That?
Abhijeet: I personally discovered that a singer or artist likes to work with their friends and likes to be in their comfort zone when I started working with music directors since I had nice and pleasant relationships with them. I won’t say that it is groupism in my opinion, but if I have to go to work, I will first ask my friends. Now, I want a positive environment when I perform. A musician’s sole weapon is their thoughts. He won’t be able to work the magic in the song if his mind isn’t in the right place. Consequently, I wouldn’t describe it as groupism, but it is this way only. I have a vague belief that whatever I receive is sufficient. It has my approval. It is similar to working with people you feel comfortable around.
Q: Are You Satisfied With Your Work? Is There No More Hunger For Work Or Money?
Abhijeet:I still have the desire to succeed, but for now I want to work at my own pace and with my own perspective. When I previously mentioned a figure in terms of money, I was referring to my work, specifically my songs, which I could have done far better. Before entering that line of work and living that kind of life, I was considering how much money I would need to meet my needs. And I believe that a musician’s thirst for work never subsides. Maybe not for financial gain, but maybe they now want to produce high-quality work. The money calculation is finished now. I want to work so that I can produce very excellent stuff. No matter if I am paid less or not. I want to create the kinds of music that people will remember decades from now. I still have a thirst for producing quality work.
Q: What Is Your Opinion On The Indian Idol 2021?
Abhijeet: I’ve heard some singers, and they’re excellent. They are quite brilliant. The generation of today is refined and educated. They experience considerable pressure at times. Playback singers lack the musical education that reality show vocalists do. It takes them years to develop their skills. They learn good music and perform it here.
