What made you decide to do the show?
Basically I love the concept of the show and when I was in London I used to watch the show regularly. Also I was missing television badly and hence I decided to get back with a show that is exceptional from the others of that kind.

Your try in Bollywood has not clicked very well as expected?
Actually I am just three years old in the industry as an actor and hence I am in no hurry to get on top. I am happy with the work I have done till date and I am not a son of a producer or director that I could be casted in any number of movies. I can always try my best in singing. Also I do not spend on my PR and tell where I am on a holiday or what am I doing at the spiritual level etc. Since I am a new guy I do not have any big expectations.

Do you think that anchoring is what you are meant for?
Anchoring is something that I had not planned. I have always tried out different things. I have  tried singing and composing as well. I have been getting offers from other shows and even this season of the show that I had hosted earlier.

How different is X Factor from other singing reality shows?
There is a huge difference because it is not a conventional playback singer hunt show. The participants have to come and give their best and they should have the X Factor that we are looking for. And the show is not just for a solo performer but for people who sing well in duets, for three people and could go on to a big team. Age is no bar in the show and the interesting thing is that each singer has a different story to tell. Today people look for performance and the presentation also matters; so that's what we are looking for in the show.

How different was it for you?
The show gave a first hand opportunity for me to go for the auditions and be with contestants. Normally for other shows, I would be with them after the Gala round, but here its absolute fun. During auditions I used to peep inside the room and it is actually really nice to be a part of the whole journey.

A memorable moment?
There was this lady who had come for the auditions. She used to do riyaz very early in the morning and her children even do not know that she came for the auditions. She had come secretly.

You are going to host in front of Bollywood biggies like Sonu Nigam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Salim Merchant; are you nervous?
Not really because I know all of them since my childhood and I have interacted with them. I am really looking forward to having all of them on board together.

As an anchor one of the main tasks is to handle the differences of opinions of the judges; how do you tackle them?
All the judges have their own school of thoughts and there is actually an exchange of knowledge going on. And for this I have taken a new stand that I am with the contestants, come what may (laughs).

Have you ever felt any situation unmanageable?
No, not really because there is no glamour in the show and it's just pure music. The judges have a great knowledge of music and they have a great experience and sometimes there will be differences. But that is the learning process for the contestant as there is an exchange of knowledge.

You have been an anchor, actor as well as a composer; what do you enjoy most?
Acting is something that I am really passionate about and actually I enjoy all of it and that's why I do it.

Reporter and Author: Saranya Valsarajan