Behl Done, my Boy!

Ravi Behl -- film actor, TV producer and now, Indipop crooner -- is obviously no new kid on the entertainment block. Which clues us in to...

Ravi Behl 8212; film actor, TV producer and now, Indipop crooner 8212; is obviously no new kid on the entertainment block. Which clues us in to why he8217;s as relaxed as his crushed comfort-fit jeans, about his eponymous first album. But, seated cross-legged and twinkle-eyed in his hotel room, he insists, 8220;I8217;m really excited about it. It8217;s a reflection of whatever I8217;ve loved in my life.8221;

The album, released by HMV, is indeed infused with the pep and joie de vivre Behl8217;s person emanates. Raju Singh, he of the Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si fame, who8217;s composed the music for Behl8217;s dream run on Sony he produces Boogie Woogie set the nine songs on Ravi to music.

In fact, the entire process of discovery of the melody stored in his vocal chords began on the sets of Boogie Woogie two years ago, when Behl sang the show8217;s signature tune 8220;paise bachhane the. The rest, though not quite history yet, followed the beaten music track. Egged on by ace music video-maker and college-mate Ken Ghosh, who8217;s shot five videos for this album, including the first, Ladkiyan not to be confused with Krishan Kumar8217;s video of the same name, which is already on air, a willing Behl began recording, song after song.

8220;My mom hit me with a bartan when she heard me singing Ladkiyan,8221; says Behl in mock anguish, pointing to the Band-Aid on his forehead. 8220;She said I should sing ladki!8221; But nah, this 32-year-old Mumbaikar isn8217;t marrying yet 8220;when the right woman comes my way, I won8217;t let her go!8221; And until she does, Behl8217;s happy to court song and dance, his two biggest loves.8220;I grew up dancing around the house, doing Michael Jackson steps in my lungi,8221; he says.

Professional dancing happened in college, when he was appointed choreographer. And then after a detour into films it was on to Boogie Woogie, along with the Jafferi brothers, Jaaved and Naved. 8220;We wanted to encourage dancers from across the country, and Sony just loved the idea,8221; this star/co-star of Bollywood flicks Narsimha and Agnisaakshi says.

Acting, however, has taken a backseat now, and Behl suffers no regrets. 8220;I loved the appreciation I got as an actor, but what you require in film is a parallel talent, and that8217;s your PR.8221; And though the result doesn8217;t quite blow your mind with its originality, the sounds are groovy, fast-paced and CLEAN read easy-on-the-ears. Behl8217;s fav, however, is Har Pal, a ballad coined from 8220;personal experience.8221;

Plugged into his I8217;m-happy-to-exist mode, Behl isn8217;t really worried about 8220;which way who8217;s going. I8217;m just drifting.8221;