Radhe’s Dil De Diya Singer Payal Dev: ‘Salman Khan Couldn’t Even Recognise That It Was My Voice In The Song Initially’-EXCLUSIVE
Payal Dev, the voice behind Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez’s latest song Dil De Diya from Salman’s upcoming Eid release, Radhe, talks about its success, giving voice to Jacqueline again after last year’s Genda Phool, her wish list of actresses for giving playback in future and more
Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez recently reunited on screen for the song Dil De Diya in Salman’s Eid release Radhe. The song became a success overnight and in an exclusive conversation with Spotboye.com, singer Payal Dev, who has given her voice in the song, talks about its success, giving voice to Jacqueline again after last year’s Genda Phool, her wish list of actresses for giving playback in future and more. Read excerpts from the interview:
How does it feel to witness the success of Dil De Diya?
It is a very nice feeling when somebody praises your work, and the song is being appreciated all over. It’s a result of every artist’s hard work and when people like it, that is what makes it more special.
You gave a chartbuster for Jacqueline last year with Genda Phool. How special is it to be able to give another successful song where you are her voice?
It is very special. I have met Jacqueline quite a few times and she is a sweetheart. During Genda Phool when I met her, it didn’t feel like I was meeting a star. We spoke a lot about the song and life. And every time we meet, it’s always very good. Last year, during lockdown we had Genda Phool and this year we have Dil De Diya.
Do you feel Jacqueline’s moves make your song more special?
Absolutely. She looked extremely different in Dil De Diya than what she did in Genda Phool. The song obviously has my hard work as a singer, but she has to act and bring it to vision, so her efforts are way more and she has to work so hard for that. She has done full justice to the song. Himesh sir has created it and he is known to create blockbusters. Every time I sing for him is special for me. Also, an association with Salman Khan is out of this world.
Talking about Himesh Reshammiya, you have collaborated with him quite a lot over the years. What makes this collaboration so special?
I have sung a lot of songs for him. He knows my voice and how and where to use it. I have sung in different zones for him and when he was signed for Radhe, he approached me first saying that he wanted to do the song with me only. He was really sure about it and that gave me confidence as well. He was very happy after the recording and said that I sang it exactly the way he imagined it. It was such a homely feeling with him and Kamaal Khan ji, with whom I have sung this song. The vibe is only different with them.
As a playback singer, how important is it for you to sing in such big films like Radhe?
It has a lot of advantage as wherever you go, the song has reached there and it will be forever associated with you. Seeing big stars perform to your song is amazing. I always dreamt of meeting Salman Khan. I remember seeing him at an airport during Wanted and at that time I just wished that I could meet him. And by God’s grace me and my husband developed a beautiful relationship with him. He is like a guardian to me, always advising me and even my husband on what to do and how to do.
What was Salman’s reaction to the song after he heard it?
I recorded the song with Himesh ji, so when the next day he made Salman sir listen to it, he couldn’t even recognise that it was my voice in the song. I sound very different in this song and when he got to know it was me, he was pleasantly surprised. When we met later on, he complimented me a lot. Knowing him and working with him has all been like a dream to me.
In such a competitive industry, how do you make sure to establish yourself as a dependable artist?
A lot of factors matter here. A singer needs to be prepared and be versatile. If you have sung a fast track, you should be able to sing a slow track as well with the same conviction. You need to have a different zone. There are several singers who sing amazing when live but their voice texture changes in recording. All our legends, be it Lata Mangeshkar ji, Asha Bhonsle ji, Kumar Sanu ji or Alka Yagnik ji, all of them have had such different textures and I think that is what is needed the most.
Who is your favourite actress to give playback to and the ones that you want to in future?
It’s very difficult to choose and I have a long list of actresses that I want to give playback for. I want to sing for Jacqueline again since she is my favourite and amongst the actress I haven’t sung for yet, I really want to sing for Katrina Kaif. I see her a lot when we go to Salman bhai’s house and I really want to give my voice to her. I also want to sing for Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma and Priyanka Chopra. I had sung a song for Priyanka in Bajirao Mastani, but unfortunately that song didn’t come out. I want to get that chance again.
You are one of the very few female composers in this industry. How challenging does it get to make your place in a field that is usually more male-dominated?
I feel that any composer needs to be good, irrespective of their gender, and the songs should be commercial that can appeal to the audience. In today’s time, people support female composers. When Tum Hi Aana from Marjaavaan released, a lot of music composers called and appreciated me. Now the environment is not that discriminatory, and it should be the girl’s choice what they want to do. I wanted to do something different and felt that I had the potential of being a composer. And when I had that confidence, I started doing it.
So, in which future projects will we get to hear your voice and compositions?
There are several projects lined up, including songs in Bhuj, Satyamev Jayate 2 and Sonam Gupta Bewafa. I am also composing in the latter two. You will also see a lot of my work in the independent section as well. I am working a lot on that.
Image source: Kush PR Agency, SpotboyE archives
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