Ghazal singer Talat Aziz had a live video chat after he was ousted from Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa where he shared a few secrets. Here are excerpts from the chat...

Question : What was your most memorable moment in Jhalak?
Answer: Your question is interesting and it is very difficult to answer. One of the most memorable moments in 'Jhalak...' was when I finished my first performance and Madhuri-ji just said ‘Swagat’ and asked me to hum a few lines.

Q: Did you always want to be a ghazal singer?
A: I used to sing ghazals when I was a kid but I never thought that I would take it up as a profession. I was, in fact, a cricketer and not many people know that. I am talking about the mid 70s. But as they say, destiny takes you along and so it took a turn and I met Mehdi Hassan saab. The rest is history.

Q: Would you want to pursue dancing in the future?
A: Maine isse ek challenge ki tarah liya hai. Sikhne ke liye kiya hai. Bas aur kuch nahi.

Q: Ghazals today are not as popular as they once used to be. Do you feel that it is a dying art? What, do you think, can be done to revive interest in ghazals in this rock n roll era?
A: I do not agree that ghazals aren't that popular. Bahut log abhi bhi ghazal sunne concerts mein aate hain. General media mein aapko ghazals sunayi nahi deti par uska ilaaj toh mujhe nahi pata. So, we have started this new thing, Mehfil-e-Sama. Hum ek mehfil arrange kar rahein hai. Invited audience aate hai, ab September mein aisi ek mehfil hogi aur naye talent bhi aayenge gaane.

Q: How popular will ghazals be five years down the line?
A: People normally think ghazals are all urdu so they will not be able to understand them, but that's not the case. The language is very simple. Yes, some of the ghazals contain old Urdu lyrics but nowadays it's different.

Q: Who do you think will win this season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa?
A: I really don't know. It's still too early to say. There's Isha, Ravi and Shibani, but Jayati is also doing well. All of them have a good chance…

Q: Is your niece Sania Mirza seeing your performance?
A: I doubt it. She's busy and so I am going to send her a clip of my performance.

Q: Will you ever take part in a dance show again?
A: Jhalak ka main theme jo tha, woh hai ki jo celebrity dance nahi jaante woh sikhte kaise hai aur perform kaise karte hai. Doosre shows meing aisa nahi hota.

Q: Do you think that you were a better dancer than Sanath, but were still eliminated before him?
A: Yeh aapko kisne kaha? Maine jo kiya, apni mehnat se kya. Judges ne mujhe jitna diya, I'm happy with that.

Q: What's the one song that would define your experience in JDJ?
A: That's a very difficult question, but I think 'Har Mulakat Ka Anjaam Judaai Kyun Hain' would suit it best.

For the complete transcript of the chat click HERE

To go to the Colors site click HERE