Palak Muchhal: I owe a great deal of my success to Salman sir

Says 22-year-old Palak Muchhal about singing Jumme Ki Raat with Salman Khan in Kick
How did Jumme Ki Raat (Kick) happen? What was the brief given to you?
Both Salman (Khan) sir and Himeshji (Reshammiya) have been pivotal in my career. It was my dream to sing alongside Salman sir. I had told him casually once that I want to sing with him some day since he is a very good singer.I’ve always lent my voice to romantic numbers and didn’t expect Himeshji to consider me for this song, as it is such a commercial number. Himeshji always gives a free hand, and allows me to add my own variations. The basic brief was that it’s a peppy number with a slightly intoxicated feel. I was told jhoom ke gaana. Whenever I sing for Himeshji, I derive an unbelievable amount of energy and enthusiasm since he’s all charged up during recordings. I also knew that it was the first song to be released, and hence it had to be grand. Since it was Salman sir’s song, I put all my heart into it.
What did Salman say about your part in the song?
I was blown to bits when I heard Salman sir sing Jumme Ki Raat. He told me that he loves my part. Every time he likes something about my song, he smiles. So, even if he sends a smiley to me, I know I’ve done something good.
READ: 'I consider Salman Khan as one of the biggest blessings in my life'
Your first association with Salman?
The first time I met him, I was 14, and he’d told me that I would soon be singing for his film. The first song was Meherbaniyan in Veer, which wasn’t included in the album but was in the film. I met him when I came to Mumbai, and he called me for the TV show Dus Ka Dum, and then Lapata (Ek Tha Tiger) happened. I owe a lot to him. In fact, no one knows that he has also helped me in my mission of financially assisting poor children who are suffering from chronic diseases.
How did you get your first break?
My first break was Damadamm with Himeshji. However, I consider Lapata as my first break. I got a call from Sohail Sen and went on to record it without knowing which film it was for. I was 20 at that time. Singing in Salman sir’s film was a big dream come true. Lapata gave me an entry into Bollywood. I recorded for Aashiqui 2 immediately after that, and since then have recorded a total of 142 songs.
Tell us about your association with composer Mithoon.
I had already recorded two songs with Mithoon sir before Aashiqui 2, for a film that is yet to release. Thereafter, I recorded Chahu Mai Ya Na. I was very excited since the music of Aashiqui (original) was blockbuster. With Mithoon sir, I feel very comfortable. He has a very different style of working as he gives free rein to his singers.
How did you start singing?
When I was two-and-a-half years old, there was a family function at home where all my cousins were performing. I sang Chalri Sajni Ab Kya Soche by Lataji (Mangeshkar), when mom expected me to say a poem. It was a shock to her that such a young girl could sing such a complicated song. Since then, my mom has left no stone unturned to make me learn music. I started learning classical when I was 4. In Indore, I was learning Urdu from Maulavi sahab, I would come to Mumbai once or twice a month to learn classical singing from Pt Satyanarayan Mishra. When I was 14, we shifted to Mumbai, and then I started learning Urdu from Iftaar Ansari and voice culture from Brijbhushan sir.
You sing in 17 different languages.
Although I started learning Urdu when I was very young, whenever I performed abroad, people there urged me to sing in their local language. This inspired me, and I got a lot of support from listeners as well, since they helped me understand the meaning of the lyrics. That’s how I started singing in different languages. I got Photocopy (Jai Ho) after Salman sir told Sajid-Wajid that I sing in 17 languages. Every time I listened to a song, I would first learn the lyrics and then understand its meaning, which became easier with practice. When I went to Dubai, I sang in Arabic, when in Nairobi, I entertained the audience in Swahili, and sang in Malay in Singapore.
Which genres would you like to sing in?
As of now, I’ve been singing in all types of genres — from Bollywood to classical to ghazals. However, I would love to sing something like a Lag Jaa Gale by Lataji. She is my idol. I am eager to hear what she feels about my work.
WATCH: Kick: Jumme Ki Raat Video Song