I didn't like myself in 'Don' song: Sunidhi Chauhan

It was a big moment in Sunidhi Chauhan's life when she got to sing Asha Bhosle's boogie-classic 'Yeh mera dil' in 'Don' but, she is not too happy with the outcome.

'My version of 'Yeh mera dil' can't hold a candle to Ashaji's original... If you look at the original song, situation, dancing -- everything was fabulous. No one can replicate the original. We weren't even trying.


'We did the song in a completely different way and I failed. I sang the song according to the requirement of the scene. I wanted to infuse a certain brightness into this low-key number, but I couldn't,' Sunidhi told IANS.


The singer wanted to re-do the song.


'I didn't make that request though I wanted to. See, we never set out to be one up on 'Don'. In fact, the old version is to this day fresh and contemporary.


'I was so thrilled when I got to record a song that I had sung on stage since my childhood. To do one of Ashaji's best tracks was a great challenge. I decided I'd give my shot to 'Yeh mera dil'. But I was bound by the character and situation, which is fine because there's a special challenge in singing within character.'


Sunidhi says she failed to bring brightness in the number.


'When I sang 'Yeh mera dil', I found it lacking in brightness. That's okay. Eminent scientists make mistakes. Who am I? Frankly, I'm neither happy nor disappointed. But I'm all for Farhan Akhtar's vision. Let me add, I didn't sing 'Yeh mera dil' with Ashaji in mind.'


Sunidhi, who has sung one of her best songs, 'Bhaage re man', in 'Chameli' for Kareena Kapoor, is slightly disappointed by Kareena's costume in the song.


'I'm no one to comment on this. Kareena knows how to carry herself. She's exceptionally beautiful and expressive. She can play anything -- from a goddess to a vamp. I just wish she had worn a black or red gown instead of a golden one for the song.


'Helenji gobbled everyone up with her eyes. Kareena could've done the same... And I wish Shah Rukh had gelled his hair and made a ponytail. He'd have looked like a full-on don. I've been on world tours with Shah Rukh. Trust me, he'd have looked stunning.'


Why is Sunidhi singing fewer songs these days, and why not more love ballads?


'Not at all! I'm singing two-three songs every day. There was a trend of chartbusters from me. Then there was a lull in release, not in my singing. Now, let me tell you I've sung a love ballad for Ismail Durbar in an English-language film called 'Interminable'. It's a semi-classical song.


'I can't believe Ismailji has tapped that quality in my voice. Then I've sung for a non-film album with Ustad Sultan Khan called 'Ustad & The Divas' with songs composed by Sandesh Shandilya. I wish some of my ballads were as successful as the brisk numbers. They clicked in an earlier era. And singers then were fortunate to belong to that era. But I'm lucky to be getting and being accepted in both kinds of songs.'


Why is she so low-profile?


'You'll never catch me at parties and music launches. My presence makes no difference to these. I won't go where my presence isn't respected. I'd any time go to a Vishal-Shekhar music launch. But others treat me just like a vocal tool. Why should I be where I'm not so indispensable? As long as people are happy with my work, I don't need to be visible.'