Mumbai, November 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Playback singer Kumar Sanu has said the blockbuster album Aashiqui helped him step out of the shadow of legendary singer Kishore Kumar and establish his own identity in Hindi film music.
Speaking to IANS during the promotion of his new song Suniyo Zara at his residence in Mumbai’s Andheri West, Sanu recalled that he was often described as a copy or clone of Kishore Kumar in the early stages of his career.
He acknowledged that the comparison was understandable because he used to sing cover versions of Kishore Kumar’s songs and tried to retain the essence of the late singer’s voice. However, he felt that following his idol’s style would limit his growth and that he needed to develop an identity of his own.
“I tried a lot to separate myself from Kishore Da with ‘Aashiqui’. Before that, I was dubbing all the songs of Kishore Da as I was doing their cover versions. I thought if I follow the footsteps of Kishore Da, then I can only go to a limit. I had to achieve something of my own to go beyond the boundaries,” he told IANS.
Sanu said Aashiqui gave him the opportunity to showcase his own vocal style. He noted that listeners could hear elements of both Kishore Kumar’s influence and his distinct identity in the album, which went on to become a super hit.
He added that legendary singers often begin by following their idols before using the right opportunities to establish their own identities through their voices and talent.
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