Introducing, Sachin, the singer

The baby-faced Sachin has finally made his mark. No, not as an actor, nor as a director. But as a singer. Yes. You read right. Sachin is ...

The baby-faced Sachin has finally made his mark. No, not as an actor, nor as a director. But as a singer. Yes. You read right. Sachin is hosting a music programme, Picnik Antakshari (DD1) — a launching pad for him as an anchor-singer. So watch out Annu Kapoor.

It may surprise many viewers to watch Sachin singing; even more amazing is to hear him singing so well. But singing is not a new territory for him. Anchoring Picnik Antakshari is simply a logical extension of Sachin’s little-known musical career. Unknown to most people, he has been singing for Marathi films. He has also sung all the songs for his film Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai. The song, Yeh Ho Raha Hai from his first directorial Hindi film, Prem Deewane, was also moderately popular. In addition, he has lent his voice to the title songs of his serials Tu Tu Main Main and Hudd Kar Di.

How does it feel to be a TV anchor? Sachin replies excitedly, “It’s been a wonderful experience to anchor a musical show before a live audience.” For Sachin, the saddest part is that not many people seem to acknowledge his singing abilities. “Though people praised my song Yeh Ho Raha Hai in Prem Deewane, they did not know that I was the singer. I am basically a low-profile person and against self-promotion,” he claims.

It’s not entirely the fault of audiences. The name Sachin, conjures up the names of films he acted in such as Satte Pe Satta, Avtaar, Geet Gata Chal, Trishul and Nadiya Ke Paar; the name Sachin makes you think of popular serials that he directs like Tu Tu Main Main, Ek Do Teen and Hudd Kar Di on STAR Plus and ZEE, respectively. What made him switch from films to television? “The journey so far has been progressive and, moreover, I like to try out different things. I don’t worry whether it will be successful or not,” says the actor-director.

About his serials, the actor says that while Hudd Kar Di is his favourite, he enjoyed making Ek Do Teen, a countdown show. He admits that Tu Tu Main Main, based only on two characters, a sas and bahu, was very difficult for him to direct. Asked if it was hard for him because he has to work with his wife Supriya (who plays the role of the daughter-in-law in the serial), the quick-witted actor says: “It is easier to work with her than it is to live with her!” About the serial being such a success on both DD and subsequently, STAR Plus, he says: “I never expected it as it was based on a common subject.”

For this multi-faceted artiste, who has directed 11 Marathi and four Hindi films, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Vijay Anand and Tarun Majumdar have been his favourite directors. But as an actor, he found his role in Ankhiyon Ke Zharoke Se as the most challenging. “As it was a heroine-oriented film, making my presence felt was my job, not the director’s or the writer’s,” he says.

Sachin is so busy that taking on this singing anchor’s role couldn’t have been easy. He is currently working in a TV serial Meethi Meethi Baatein. He has also been signed by Zee TV to direct the first six episodes of a new serial, Muskurahat. He has just finished an ABCL film, Naam Kya Hai, and plans to direct another in the near future. Moreover, to give more voice to his singing career, he may even cut an album or two. So move over Sonu Nigam.