My singing potential untapped in Bollywood: Jaspinder Narula

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Singer Jaspinder Narula, who is back after a prolonged break from the playback scene, says her singing potential and versatility have not been utilised well enough in Bollywood.

'My personal style of singing has never been used. I feel my voice is suited best for romantic and softer songs. But I have never been given a chance. Now I am looking forward to good work,' Jaspinder told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

Currently a participant in NDTV Imagine's new music show 'Dhoom Macha De', Jaspinder feels that singers in the Indian music industry are underestimated in terms of their versatility and calibre.

Jaspinder shot to fame in 1998 after a duet with Remo Fernandes in the Kajol- Ajay Devgan starrer 'Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha'. Since then, she has been offered only folk or energetic and loud numbers in films.

She said: 'I have worked with a number of music directors but unfortunately I have always been offered to sing 'dhoom dhadake' (loud and peppy) numbers only. The directors should explore the full potential of a singer.'

Among the present lot of music directors in India, Jaspinder loves the music composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Pritam and Vishal-Shekhar and would like to work with them in the near future.

So is Shankar Mahadevan in her list of favourites because he is a judge for 'Dhoom Macha De'?

Jaspinder clarified that her association with Shankar went back to the time when both of them were struggling to carve a niche as singers in Bollywood.

'I don't think he will be partial towards me,' she said.

Asked why she decided to participate in the TV show, Jaspinder said: 'Dhoom Macha De' is a unique reality show. It was a chance for me to share the stage with many of my contemporaries and basically it is a lot of fun!'

Jaspinder, who was in Canada for the past few months, is also pursuing a PhD on the influence of Urdu and Persian on Hindustani classical music and will be receiving her degree soon.

She hopes to bring back the real aesthetics of Indian music, which she says is getting lost due to the influence of Western music.