New Delhi, June 22 From Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to Vishal-Shekhar, pop star-turned-VJ-turned-playback singer Anushka Manchanda is working with all the big composers in the industry, but she is desperate to work with one man – Oscar winning music maestro A.R. Rahman.

“I’m desperate to work with Rahman. He makes super songs and his music is not only different, it’s amazing too. I would love to sing for him. I am working with all the top music directors in the industry but I haven’t been able to work with him till now. I hope it happens soon,” Anushka told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Anushka was a member of an all girls pop band “Viva” and ventured into playback singing in Tamil films after the band split.

In 2006, she got her first big break in Hindi films for “Golmaal”, in which music was composed by Vishal-Shekhar. This was followed by several other songs in the films like “Ugli Aur Pagli”, “Cash”, “Chak De! India” and “Chandni Chowk To China” among others.

The 24-year-old, who has big banner films, including “Luck”, “Kites” and “Aladdin” among others in her kitty, says she had initially wanted to be in the advertising field.

“I never thought that I would become a playback singer for the simple reason that I thought I didn’t have it in me to be one. To sing in films, you need versatility and I always thought that I don’t possess that.

“But now when I have made it, I want to sing every day of my life. I am very happy that I have got opportunities. There are so many others who are good singers but are still struggling to get a chance. So it makes me feel great that I have come this far,” said Anushka whose “Golmaal golmaal” became a chartbuster.

Anushka is critical of herself and says she was a very bad singer five years ago, but has learnt a lot since then.

“I think, I was a pretty bad singer five years ago, but now I have become better… I have matured, I understand music much better… I’ve learnt in these years and will continue to do so,” she said.

So which heroine would she like to sing for in future?

“I want to sing for all the famous heroines. I want to become their voice. If you sing for big films and famous heroines then that helps you.

“I never thought that my voice would suit Kareena but when I sang ‘Tu sala’ (‘Golmaal Returns’), it became hugely popular and my voice completely suited her. So now I think my voice will suit most girls,” said the singer.

When asked whether formal training is a prerequisite to become a successful singer, she was quick to reply: “I don’t think so. It helps if you sing songs which are completely classical based, where I take more time, but it’s not something you can’t do without. Kishore Kumar never had formal training but he was a great singer and hugely successful.”

Ruchika Kher