Faiz Mustafa on collaborating with AR Rahman for Gandhi Talks: ‘Feels like a blessing that has come full circle’

Faiz Mustafa with AR Rahman; (right) The singer with his grandfather Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan

Life has a way of coming full circle. Composer AR Rahman was mentored by late Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, and in a happy coincidence, today the musician has collaborated with the Padma Vibhushan awardee's grandson Faiz Mustafa. The singer, 25, has lent his voice to Zara Zara, a track in Gandhi Talks that stars Vijay Sethupathi and Aditi Rao Hydari.

For Mustafa, voicing a Rahman composition is always a matter of pride. He says, "When I first heard the composition, I was thankful to the Almighty that Rahman uncle chose me for it. After the recording, he asked me, ‘Are you the same little boy who sang Aao Balma?'"

The singer was only 13 when he joined his grandfather and Rahman as they performed Khan's composition Aao Balma on the third season of MTV Coke Studio. Since then, Mustafa has often worked with the maestro, regularly performing at Rahman's concerts. He says, "At 14, I had my first stage performance with him at a Dubai show. Rahman uncle is like a father figure. For me, this feels like a blessing that has come full circle. My grandfather taught Rahman uncle, and today I am learning from him."