'Someone was trying to imitate me'

As a playback singer, Kumar Sanu may not be busy in Mumbai. But his performances in America are always much appreciated. He has been to the United States at least thrice in the last 18 months, and says he always gets a big thrill facing live audiences, irrespective of the number.

He recently performed with Alka Yagnik in several US cities. And while the latter spoke in interviews of how she had made a transition from standard to modern-day recording, Sanu -- who recently turned composer and producer with the ill-fated Utthaan last year -- sounded bitter. He said it was difficult to distinguish one voice from another in today's movies.

Sanu, who was seen as a Kishore Kumar clone two decades ago, also said he is often complimented for a song or two in recent films. "It took me some time to realise that someone was trying to imitate me!"

He went on to complain how there aren't many good-looking male stars around to do justice to a good voice. A journalist who wasn't amused by the comments was itching to ask Sanu if he had ever heard the diminutive Kailash Kher, whose voice has a bigger volume than the veteran singer's. But he didn't get an opportunity to pose the question.