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Food fit for an idol
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Abhijeet Sawant speaks about life after becoming the Indian Idol over lunch with URMILA RAO
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The potatoes became so mushy that aloo-sabzi turned into bharta. I had to eat all of it : ABHIJEET SAWANT
His elfin charm is intact, his temperament remains mild but his confidence has vaulted.
Abhijeet Sawant, as scores watched some weeks back waltzed away with the coveted Indian Idol title. Not only his talent, but his sunny smile and modest demeanour won many hearts. He is much the same - quaintly demure, smiling and non-garrulous.
On his first visit to the Capital after coming out tops in the reality show, sitting at New Delhi's Le Meridien dressed in a white T-shirt and trousers, Sawant looks fresh. His innocent eyes, seraphic personality and succinct replies suggest he has not given himself any overweening airs, a trait so common of parvenus.
The lunch he orders is much to one's expectation - rice, yellow dal, aloo achari and mixed vegetables, his favourites.
"I have not been experimental with other cuisines yet. But if the need arises I will try," he smiles.
Has he put his culinary skills to the test any time? "Yes, I can make omelette. I am also good at making tea and I like tea that I prepare myself."
His debut album, Aapka...Abhijeet Sawant is a spiralling hit. Rarely off key in singing, one wonders if he has been out of tune in any of his cooking stints?
"Once I was making aloo-sabzi. The potatoes became too mushy and at the end the sabzi turned out to be bharta. I had to eat all of it." A non-vegetarian, he loves to dig into tandoori chicken. "I can also make ande ki sabzi," he adds.
A jalebi and rasgulla lover, Sawant recalls his near-perfect stint of dal preparation.
"That day, there was no one in the house. I made dal taking its recipe from my friend over the phone. It came out okay," vouches Sawant, rather modestly between spoonfuls of dal-rice.
Taste of success
How is the taste of success?
"It feels good. I had worked very hard for this and I am enjoying the success. The responsibility has increased. Now I have to perform even better."
Sawant found his moorings in singing rather late in life. Shares the 24-year-old, "No one in my family was into singing. I was on my own. After finishing B. Com., I was struggling to find a toehold in the industry. I did some stage shows and felt the need to learn classical singing. I was 20 when I started learning classical."
After toiling for four to five years, luck beckoned, opportunity knocked, and his struggle paid off. A face that would have gone unnoticed just a couple of months back, now stands out in the crowd.
Settling down to the sudden swoop of attention and limelight was not much of a problem for the new star.
It was smooth, he proclaims, but admits life has changed since he bagged the title.
"I get a lot of fan calls now. I want people's love to remain. Of course, there is pressure to do better. When people stand for hours in sweltering heat to see me perform - as it happened when Amit Sana and I were in Delhi. I want to match up to their expectations."
It is clear that, no way does the Idol intend to rest on his laurels.
Eligible bachelor
A next-door lad he was, fame has made him an eligible bachelor now. "Marriage proposals have been countless. There was not a single proposal prior to my win though," he chuckles.
The singer will don a new look very soon. By now we are all too familiar with the term makeover, aren't we?
Wait till you see Sawant's makeover. He might just eclipse Jassi and the like very soon.
Well, Sawant, there will be many more falling for you, maybe all over again.
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