I did not record for O P Nayyar, but that was for the best. The singer has to be comfortable with what she sings. I feel perhaps I wouldn't have been able to sing his songs to their full potential.

I did some of my most important early work with Naushad like Uthaye ja unke situm (Andaz); Jaane wale se mulaqat (Amar); Na milta gham (Amar), Mohe panghat pe nandlal, Beqas pe karam and Pyar kiya to darna kya (Mughal-e-Azam); Dhundo dhundo re sajna in Ganga Jumna.

Among contemporary composers, A R Rahman is very talented, but we have collaborated rarely. I love Jiya Jale (Dil Se), Khamoshiyan gunguna lagi (1 2 Ka 4), and O Paalan Haare (Lagaan).