I was a common man and I will always remain a common man. No amount of stardom will ever consume my soul. Money comes money goes. Fame comes fame goes. I believe every human being is a celebrity in their own right.

I have too many responsibilities and principles. Theres no time for guilty pleasures.

Bollywood music is definitely a big part of Indian music and can be a great way to introduce people to the sound. But I hope to continue to incorporate other types of Indian music into my work.

I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself What would the audience want to hear? and Why would they buy my CDs? And the process of answering these questions through music follows. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it backfires.

Your inner voice is the voice of divinity. To hear it we need to be in solitude even in crowded places.

Some things are very low profile but if they excite me creatively I accept them. Sometimes there are high-profile projects and you have to do it. We all have human limitations. It is a painful decision to turn things down. Even accepting Slumdog Millionaire was a decision that I had to sacrifice another project.

Music is the only passion I shamelessly indulge in. However for recreation I enjoy watching movies. Wizard of Oz was the first film I ever saw followed by the Bond movies. I also watch a lot of World cinema through DVDs mostly brought by one of my best friends whos now based in Toronto.

I believe that whatever comes at a particular time is a blessing from God.

The more I compose the more I know that I dont know it all. I think its a good way to start. If you think you know it all the work becomes a repetition of what youve already done. I try to make sure that I dont repeat my music.

Success comes to those who dedicate everything to their passion in life. To be successful it is also very important to be humble and never let fame or money travel to your head.

So long as you do it truthfully music is not to be judged.

I am the kind of person who does not like to carry baggage. In fact I dont go back and listen to my own music. I believe in closing chapters and moving forward. Thats what gives me peace.

The institution of marriage works better when theres a spiritual connection. If youre marrying just for the sake of the woman then you may lose interest in each other very soon. When we marry in the interest of the Holy Spirit with the intention of serving God and humanity then it gives a much larger perspective.

When you do something with a lot of honesty appetite and commitment the input reflects in the output.

Every time I sit for a song I feel I am finished. Its like a beggar sitting waiting for God to fill your bowl with the right thought. In every song I ask help from Him. Everybody around is so good so to create music that will connect with so many people is not humanly possible without inspiration.

Beautiful film music can be made relevant to any period.

Each one of us has our own evolution of life and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn things from each others experience. On a spiritual journey we all have the same destination.

A musician is a professional whether he or she is successful or not. The profession itself must be regarded as a stable job.

If you respect a language and culture it shows in your work.

Sometimes a remix is good because it reaches a whole new generation. But when it gets too much its irritating. Also the original composer needs to be credited properly.

For me there is no day or night for music. I often work through the night – without phone calls disturbing me.

The idea of music is to liberate the listener and lead him to a frame where he feels he is elevated.

If there is no criticism you become lazy. But it should be constructive and it should be the truth. If its biased and theres no truth in it then I dont care about it. If its true it helps me grow.

I think music in my opinion is not about motivation in the way its – its not a running base. Its art. And my whole philosophy of music is different. Its almost like cooking and serving to people seeing them smile and enjoying the food really.

Its like driving your car. If you drive too fast on the highway you will topple so you better maintain your speed. Life is similar to that and thats the way you have to control your head.

My mother insisted that I pursue music. I rented out my fathers musical equipment and earned some money. As a child I wasnt sure about a career goal but I was always fascinated by electronic gadgets specially musical equipment.