Singer Navjot Ahuja says he struggled to write after the recognition for his song Khat

Navjot Ahuja. Pic/Instagram

Tender songs have always been Navjot Ahuja's signature style. But it's only with Khat that the indie singer-songwriter found wider recognition, as the track resonated with listeners for its emotional honesty. But success also briefly affected his process of making music. As he returns with his latest single, Aankhein, Ahuja talks to mid-day about pouring his feelings into songs and navigating newfound attention.

Excerpts from the interview.

What inspired Aankhein?
After a long day, we were finally home, and I had cooked dinner for us. She was sitting on the bed, waiting for the food. After getting onto the bed, when I looked into her eyes for the first time that night, I saw life and death. That moment inspired me to write Aankhein. It's a song about the wide range of emotions that love makes us experience.

Has Khat's success changed the way you write?
For me, writing music is a form of expression and a way of processing emotions. The success of Khat has changed a lot of things for me externally, but internally, nothing has changed. My songs usually spring from real-life stories, either from my own experiences or from stories I hear. When I'm writing, I can't think about a song's commercial performance. I simply focus on expressing what I feel.

Did you find it harder to write something personal after Khat became a hit?
I found it harder to write for a while after Khat - not because I felt pressured, but because, for the first time, I was surrounded by so many people and getting so much attention. While absorbing all the love, I think my connection with myself became weaker, partly because I wasn't spending as much time alone anymore. I find my deepest connection with myself when I'm alone, when I have the space to process my emotions. So, I eventually uninstalled Instagram for a while and went back to my old routine. I started writing again only when I felt like I had found my calm, authentic self. In June, I wrote four songs, one of which was Aankhein.

Why are love and longing recurring themes in your music?
My personal life experiences have played a significant role in shaping my sound over the years. I've released non-romantic songs in the past. Khud Se Mohabbat is about self-love, Kyun Na Jaane is about the oppression of women, and Ye Waadiyan is about mountains, nature, and finding forgiveness within yourself. I'm not intentionally sticking to any particular theme. I write what feels honest to me at that point in my life. So, you might even hear a pop dance track from me tomorrow! [laughs]

Navjot Ahuja's biggest hits

. ‘Khat'
. ‘Dhun'
. ‘Ye Waadiyan'

Did you know?

Navjot Ahuja reportedly revealed that two big music labels had rejected his chartbuster ‘Khat'