Abhijeet Bhattacharya is one of the most iconic voices in Bollywood, having lent his voice to several memorable tracks for Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, and Salman Khan. His voice became synonymous with Shah Rukh Khan in many hit songs. He won the Filmfare Award and the Screen Award for Best Singer for his song "Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon" from Yes Boss.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Abhijeet discusses what's wrong with the music industry, as Auto-Tune and artificial intelligence are increasingly taking over. He also shares untold stories about legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammad Rafi. Going down memory lane, he reveals why he chose to pursue a career in singing.

Abhijeet also speaks about Sanatana Dharma, A.R. Rahman, and his controversial relationship with Shah Rukh Khan.

Audio Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:53 – Singing as a Career

05:45 – Stories of Lata, Kishore, & Rafi

08:10 – Childhood Stories

15:40 – How Directors Choose Heroines

22:45 – How the Music Industry Evolved

26:45 – Accent Influence in Singing

33:02 – Singing with Jatin–Lalit

35:18 – Udit Narayan Kiss Controversy

39:15 – Ranveer Allahbadia Controversy

41:25 – Udhayanidhi's Remarks on Sanatan Dharma

43:05 – PR Advice

46:43 – Pakistani Actors & Singers

49:58 – Gandhi–Pakistan "Father of Nation" Row

54:40 – Love for 90s Songs

56:19 – Clash with Music Directors

01:01:10 – Hit Songs

01:05:40 – Songs for Shah Rukh Khan

01:07:25 – Kishore Kumar & Mukesh Songs

01:10:41 – Meeting Old Friends After Fame

01:13:20 – AI in the Music Industry

Sonal Man Singh is a former Rajya Sabha MP, an Indian classical dancer and a Guru in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance styles. She received the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonal Man Singh shares untold stories about Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and the challenges artists faced during the 1975 Emergency. She also discusses whether art can be separated from the artist.

She also speaks about today's cancel culture, how she got into dancing, the relationship between a Guru and Shishya, and what it takes to become a great dancer. She also shares her thoughts on whether today’s younger generation is losing interest in Indian classical dance.

00:00 – Introduction

00:56 – Dancing as a Career

05:58 – Rajya Sabha Experience

17:44 – Running Away from Home

24:02 – Divorce

24:55 – Kelucharan Mohapatra as a Guru

30:29 – Guru-Shishya Parampara

33:52 – Learning Odissi from Kelucharan Mohapatra

37:56 – Support from Family Members

39:18 – Story of Second Marriage

42:34 – Experience Meeting Indira Gandhi

47:57 – TM Krishna Getting Subhalakshmi Award Row

49:43 – Limits of Artistic Expression

53:59 – Inspiration to Be Creative

57:41 – Interacting with Pupul Jayakar

01:00:32 – Industrialists Backing Artists

01:08:26 – Living a Private Life

01:09:39 – Padma Award Story

01:17:26 – Why She Was Sacked from Sangeet Natak Akademi

01:20:10 – Cancel Culture

01:31:38 – Personal Relationships

01:35:51 – How to Handle Tough Times

01:37:21 – Favourite Cities for Performance

01:43:14 – Can an Atheist Emote Divinity in Dance?

Tigmanshu Dhulia is a filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and casting director, best known for Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011). His films, often critically acclaimed and explore human relationships, social issues, and the nuances of Indian culture.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tigmanshu takes a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his childhood in Allahabad- now known as Prayagraj- and what makes the city so special to him. He reflects on his days at the National School of Drama (NSD), his friendships with those who made a mark in Bollywood, and how he got his first break as a director. He also shares how legendary filmmaker Shekhar Kapur played a crucial role in shaping his career.

Tigmanshu doesn’t hold back in criticizing corporate influence in Bollywood, calling out how films are often sold even before they are made. He also shares untold stories about Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan Khan.

From rising ticket prices to his upcoming Bollywood project, this conversation is a straight talk about the Hindi Film Industry.

00:00 - Introduction

00:22 - Childhood Memories of Allahabad

05:13 - Recalling NSD Days

10:44 - Working as an Assistant Director

12:22 - Getting Credit as a Casting Director

17:12 - Collaborating with Shekhar Kapur

23:17 - Experience in the TV Industry

24:49 - Working on Dil Se

30:24 - Impact of Irrfan Khan’s Demise

36:34 - Working with Favorite Actors

45:17 - Experience in Gangs of Wasseypur

50:02 - Corporate Interference in Filmmaking

58:48 - The Cult of Sanjay Leela Bhansali

01:04:57 - Lack of Focus in Today’s Actors

01:09:06 - Working in the OTT Space