Kailash Kher launches new singers on his birthday: He left home at the age of 12, people used to wonder how a priest came into the industry

Padma Shri Kailash Kher has created a special place for himself in the hearts of people with the magic of his voice, but his journey to reach here was not easy. He left home at the age of 12. When he came into the industry, people used to wonder where a priest came from.

During a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Kailash Kher told that he launches new singers on his birthday. He got the inspiration to do so when he came to Mumbai to try his luck. Kailash Kher says that in Mumbai, no one holds anyone's hand easily. When I was going through a difficult phase in Mumbai, I took a vow that if God makes us successful, then I will give a platform to new talents.

Kailash Kher, born on 7 July 1973 in Delhi, is celebrating his 51st birthday today. On this occasion, let's know some interesting facts about him from his own words…

Cake is not cut on birthday, rituals are performed

From childhood till today, cake was never cut on our birthday. I was a judge in the Indian Idol show. Suddenly, a cake was cut and given as a surprise on our birthday. It was the first time in my life that I had cut a cake. That thing did not touch my heart, because even though I am in this era, I am living the life of thousands of years ago. I celebrate my birthday with yagya and havan. There are rituals on our birthday.

Let's launch a new singer on his birthday

I do another auspicious thing on my birthday. I know that when someone comes to Mumbai, no one holds his hand easily. The same happened with me. When I was going through a difficult phase in Mumbai, I took a vow that if God makes us successful, I will give a platform to new talents.

Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi call him crazy

There have been many great musicians and film makers in India, but no one has ever held anyone's hand. I started Nayi Udaan 9 years ago. Under this program, we give a platform to new talents. We launch new singers, which has never happened before. Once Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi ji came to our program. They said that only a crazy person can do this work of creating his own competition.

left home at the age of 12

I left home at the age of 12 and had to live like an orphan. I roamed around Delhi for 8-10 years. I left home thinking that if I do some work, I will be able to help my parents. 20-30 years ago, in ordinary Indian families, if any child left home with some passion, then it would come to his mind that he has to make his situation better than what it is today. I will give my parents a good time by earning.

What Swami Ji said proved to be true

Let me tell you an incident from my childhood. I was 5 years old. Swami Chetanand ji was at my home. Seeing me, he said that I will take this boy with me. We will educate and nurture him because this boy is a little extraordinary. Father did not say anything, but mother became emotional and started crying. Mother felt that they wanted to make my son a saint.

At that time Maharaj ji said that you are still in attachment, you will not understand right now, but remember this child will not stay with you anyway. He also said that he will come to the Mahatmas only. His words proved true and I left home at the age of 12.

Did not get salary even after working for one year

When you run away from home, the world looks at you differently. Whether you earn money or not, the experience you gain by observing people's behavior is a very valuable income. I did many small jobs in Delhi. I worked in a printing press for the first time, but did not get paid even after working for a year.

I did journalism for a short time. I also taught tuitions, I used to get 150 rupees a month. At that time, that money seemed like a lot and I thought that now I can survive. The effect of lack is what shapes your nature.

The lack of resources created the seeker

A boy left home with a lot of passion, but had no direction. I did not know how many obstacles would come my way. Challenges kept coming and those challenges created me. Today's Kailash Kher may be Padma Shri Kailash Kher, but the lack of resources created a seeker. If I had got the resources before time, I would not have been a seeker.

If I had been successful in business, I would have given up music

I studied through correspondence from Delhi University. By the age of 21, I had become a very big exporter of Delhi. I started a handicraft business with a friend. God gave me a shock and my business shut down. I see positivity in that too, if I had been successful in business, I would have left music. I would have earned money, but would have lied and manipulated, because without this you cannot do business. That shock broke me at that time, but breaking is also very important. That person had gone into a little depression.

Came to Rishikesh to overcome depression

I came to Rishikesh and used to sing at the ghat there. When I used to sing during the aarti in Rishikesh, the saints used to dance waving their shawls. Then a thought came to my mind that I do not know anything but when I sing, the people who are dearest to me start dancing. One of them was Swami Paripoornanand ji Maharaj. He said one thing that son why do not you laugh? When you sing, the light ignites. Laugh, God has given you a very different light. Take full advantage of that light and live well. An album should be made of whatever you sing. I will give you an address.

People thought the industry Where did the priest come from?

From Rishikesh, I brought the address of a Sanyas Ashram located in Vile Parle, Mumbai. I stepped into Mumbai with full confidence that I had got a place to stay, but when I met Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishweshwar Anand, he said that there would be no arrangement for staying here. Then I stayed in Khadi Gramodyog's lodge in Vile Parle itself. When I started meeting people for work, people used to laugh at my style. People used to wonder how a priest came into films. I started singing film songs by chance. I had come here to release my album.

I got a lot of rejections initially

The kind of album I wanted to make was not in vogue at that time. Initially, I got a lot of rejections, but God does what he wants to do. I first sang jingles. When I started earning money from this, I started gaining a little confidence and started living in a rented house instead of a lodge.

I was rejected saying that I don't have a voice like a hero. When I got a chance to sing in a film, I was very surprised. As soon as 'Aalha Ke Bande' became a hit, the people who rejected me started giving me work. My first album Kailasa was released on 7 March 2006.

Don't think of becoming like someone else

I did not come here with the dream of becoming the voice of any actor. I will not give advice to anyone. If any person is trying to become something else, then understand that he has less faith in God. Let me tell you an incident. I was judging a show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs. Jatin Pandit of Jatin-Lalit came as a guest judge in that show.

I asked a 12-13 year old boy to remember Mohammad Rafi and sing like him. I said Panditji, his name is Vaibhav and let him sing like Vaibhav. Only Rafi can sing Rafi.

People will try to imitate him by following him, but there is only one Rafi. This is how it should be, God has sent everyone with his own brilliance. Jatin ji got a little excited at this. I lovingly asked him to give some water to Pandit ji. This way there were some fun moments. I want to say that whoever comes to this city of Mumbai, should not come thinking of becoming a playback singer, come to become a singer.