Face Off with Asif Ali Beg

Married?

No.

Any plans to get…

"No."

Would he like to elaborate why?

"No."

(Ahem). Okay, will he tell us more about himself?

This time, the Mantra guy doesn’t say `no’ (thank god).

So, Mumbai’s newest pop singer lived in Chembur and graduated in Physics from Swami Vivekanand College. He regrets having studied the subject. "I was an arty kind of a person," he claims, "I was always treated like a pariah in the class."

So what made him take it up?

His mother. "I wanted to take up Arts but mum said it was for girls. I thought she knew best, so…"

Are we talking to a mama’s boy?

Not really, but his mother did influence him a lot as a child — he lived with her and visited his father, Shaukat Beg, once in a while.

But how did he start singing?

Cliched but true — music is in his blood. Bothhis parents are into music. His father was a singer and Asif took piano lessons from his mother. Besides he was never interested in making a career out of the subject he majored in.He started singing in Ramada Inn, Palm Grove. Stuck to that for six years and later joined a wedding band called Aqua Flow.

But wasn’t relying solely upon music for a living discouraged at some stage?

His mother didn’t discourage, she advised… And on her advice, he learnt tailoring.

Tailoring?

Because he liked putting clothes together. Then, he was influenced by a friend to get into designing. He also went ahead and completed a short course under Hemant Trivedi. He did costumes for a few ads like Amul chocolates and Onida Television (not the devil though). "I used to design for Merlyn who was then in a band called Fame," he informs. Merlyn later became his partner in Mantra.

And one thing led to the other.

He met her and the president of BMG Crescendo. The latter liked what he heard and Mantra wasborn.

Why was Mantra called Mantra?

Here’s another side to the pop artist who also designs and tailors. Besides other things, Asif is into meditation. He reads Osho. He decided to call his band `Mantra’ after one such reading. And in December 1996, he cut his first album Jantar Mantar.

What happened to Mantra?

"Merlyn and I were moving in opposite directions. She is basically into jazz and I’m primarily a pop person. We decided to go our individual ways," says Asif, as he hints at a solo album that will release shortly.

And how did he land Kaizad Bombay Boys Gustad’s assignment?

Obviously he got noticed because of Jantar Mantar. "The protagonists are young boys. They weren’t expected to sing well enough." (Confession? Gulp!). Result: Waltzing Matunga, a take off from the Australian song, Waltzing Matilda.

But how did music lead to theatre?

Asif was (probably) an expert juggler. He was into theatre too while he was still playing the piano, singing and tailoring. "Idid two plays with Aleque Padamsee and three children’s plays with Raell Padamsee. I also helped these people back stage.

But music, sure, did lead to theatre. "Lilette contacted Crescendo for the cast for Jaya." His name was suggested.

Why did the actor in him have to wait for Dubey’s Jaya?

"I was supporting myself and I thought theatre was good for well-to-do people. So I gave it up." But Lilette saw him and "she knew that her Mahabharata had got its Shakuni."

But wasn’t Asif rather disappointed about landing the role of a wicked man with no redeeming points at all?

"No. I knew I couldn’t play any of the Pandavas." Asif doesn’t forget his short build. "I’m having fun playing Shakuni."

What is this happy Shakuni most likely to say?

"Be true to yourself. Follow your instincts. You are nothing without God. God helps those who help themselves."

And least likely?

"I’m the greatest."