What tempted you to go to Sweden?
Sweden is a small country, but there is a lot of competition happening there. They pay attention to every newcomer. When I was struggling, there were a lot of helping hands around. I've certainly learned a lot. Today, I have my own studio and an advertising agency.

How did the band happen?
The concept of this band came to me while travelling from Stockholm to Uppsala by train. I saw a car running parallel to the train. Scenes of Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore in Aradhana flashed through my mind, as did the lyrics of "Mere Sapno Ki Rani". Suddenly, the lyrics did a back-flip and the rest is musical history!

I got in touch with some like-minded guys and formed Bombay Vikings. Bombay stands for India and Vikings stands for the Scandinavian Swede.

Tell us about woh chali?
This album has only three tracks which are re-done. I've gone through a few sleepless nights in my studio to complete this album and I think my hard work has paid off. I'm happy that I've succeeded in creating a sound that is different from the one currently on the circuit. My ultimate desire was to make an album that carried good sensible music, one that was easy to listen or dance to. People think creating these kinds of songs is the easiest way out, but sorry, you can say that only before you've struck your first note in a recording studio.

Why choose music in Hindi?
I have Hindi songs to show that even Swedes can sing in Hindi. My other band members are learning how to speak Hindi. During my live concerts, I have female singers from Sweden who can sing in Hindi!

Was it the right move to show yourself in the video?
Yes, sure. I wanted to prove that it's not just through cool videos that I managed to earn the respect of listeners but through the music I make. When my last album Kya Soorat Hai was out, all that everyone talked about was the video, which kind of bugged me.

Does your music require any special effort?
Each word has to be sung in such a manner that it sounds like an English song, but out of Bollywood. It's very easy to judge the album and say that it is not a big deal, but it's when you actually start working on it that you realise how complicated things can get.

Would you have been popular in the pre-music channel phase?
Whatever I may have done at whatever time, my work would've been appreciated the same way as it is today.

Your music was stolen from your studio?
Yeah! Unfortunately there was a theft in my studio. Some equipment was stolen along with my computers and two very valuable hard disks, with Midi and Audio files of my new songs. I had to buy new equipment and start over.

Who is big in music in Sweden?
Right now music is one of the country's main exports. You have artistes/bands like Abba, Roxette, Dr Alban, Ace of Base, Robyn, The Cardigans and recent entries like A-Teens and Eagle-Eye Cherry.

Is Bollywood music available in Sweden?
There is an Asian food shop in Stockholm which is run by a Pakistani family. They have a small audio and video collection which they bring from the UK. For us, the only way to get hold of Bollywood music is to order it through the Net.