I speak Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, and English.
I began my career with Gujarati and Hindi plays in 1973.
I have done 33 films in one year, for which I hold a Guinness Book World record. Plus I've done songs for all languages from Hindi to Malayalam, Punjabi to Telugu, and Kannada to Oriya.
I learnt to sing in Bengali, my mother tongue, then went on to sing in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and every possible Indian language.
I can manage in six languages - Marathi and Gujarati, in addition to Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and Bangla.
I have sung some songs in Telugu and Malayalam. And I want to sing in Tamil, too.
I grew up, as many Indians do, in an archipelago of tongues. My maternal grandfather, who was a surgeon in the city of Madras, was fluent in at least four languages and used each of them daily.
Among the various vernaculars that are spoken in different parts of India, there is one that stands out strongly from the rest, as that which is most widely known. It is Hindi. A man who knows Hindi can travel over India and find everywhere Hindi-speaking people.
There is a wealth of readership for regional language literature in India that is not given importance. We must give respect to our own languages.
Now we say there's, well, another place in the world-there's India. Wonderful place - except for its people.
After doing the Bengali 'Antar Mahal,' I felt I should work with all Indian languages.
If an offer comes my way, I would love to sing in every Indian language. It will be like an ode to my fans from every corner of the country.
Yes, I think I have some good knowledge of India. I have lots of Indian friends in the chess fraternity.
I am an Indian, and I know what India is. I know Indian culture. I know Indian constitution and democracy.
Besides Hindi and English, I can speak in Maithli, my native language, and in Bangla and Nepalese too. But I can just about make a smattering at Marathi.
Foreigners have no idea of the diversity of India and its culture. We hope to be able to give them a glimpse of that diversity.
My Hindi is OK. I think I am better with Tamil. I remember the Tamil words.
India is a special country in so many ways and I have always had the desire to go to India.
My mother is half Malayali and half Tamilian. I can speak Bengali and Tamil, but can't read or write.
I enjoy singing in different languages, be it Telugu or Bengali. I would like to sing in Malayalam too.
I watch all kinds of Indian cinema. There are many good films in Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam.
I don't have much knowledge about Indian culture, but I try to keep a tab of what's happening down here.
India I have visited a great many times, though there is a lot about it I will never understand.
I have a great affection for Indian culture and music.
My interest in India began with my interest in Indian painting and music and that grew.
