Arjun Kanungo has been in the music industry for over a decade, but it was the 2015 song 'Baaki baatein peene baad (Shots)' that changed his fortunes. The song became a party essential. He followed it up with many romantic numbers, peppy tracks and more.
It wasn't easy for him to break into the industry but he believes that it's not impossible for outsiders to make it big.
"I came from outside, I made it on my own, I feel that you have to keep on trying, keep working, and you need to have a positive attitude about it. If you feel like you are not going to make it, you are not going to make it. You have to keep trying and one day somebody will give you a shot, and you have to be ready. So you have to keep working towards that and hope for the best because there is no plan B in this industry. For me, I wake up in the morning, I breathe music," Arjun told IANS.
He said he didn't have anybody creating roadblocks in his career.
"I don't have any enemies as such. I feel if you are nice to people, they are nice to you. As an outsider, yes it was hard, I worked very hard to be where I am right now. I have been in the music industry for a little more than 10 years. It took me about five or six years to just get noticed. That's the kind of timeline that you have to come to the industry with, like you have to have that passion, 'Okay I want to do this so badly that I am willing to work for five years or seven years to be there. There are no shortcuts," he said.
It took him a few years to get noticed but he says there is no survival trick, and despite all the success he is unsure if he is going to survive in the music industry for the next three years.
"You have to be genuinely deserving to be here. You have to love what you do, you have to be passionate and humble. I am not sure if I am going to survive for the next three years, I don't know if I am going to be an artiste who survives Bollywood or the non-film world for even three years. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow," he said.
As of now, his new song 'Fursat hai aaj bhi' is fast gaining popularity. The video of the song features Arjun with actress Sonal Chauhan. The two had also featured in his 2016 video, "Fursat".
"I have always had a special place in my heart for 'Fursat'. As a music video, it was game-changing for me and my career. I have always wanted to work with Sonal again. When I wrote 'Fursat hai aaj bhi', with ‘fursat' in the title, even though it had nothing to do with the previous song, I thought of Sonal and I felt we should work together again -- especially since the chemistry in the first video was so good," said Arjun.
During the lockdown, many singers released new music. Now that people are adjusting to new normal and returning to work gradually, is he willing to hit the stage again?
"I can't imagine having a stage show at least till November. Our first enquiries are for November and December. Who knows when the government is going to allow it? I haven't received any offer before November," he said.
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