Minutes before she goes on stage for a concert, Usha Uthup, Indipop's original diva, takes a breather to talk about her remarkable 42 year-long musical journeyu00a0-- from Hare Rama Hare Krishna to the current rage, Darling... ankhon seu00a0-- and the thrill of playing a maid in 7 Khoon Maaf

From singing the title song of Hare Rama Hare Krishna for Zeenat Aman to Darling for Priyanka Chopra.. it's been a long journey.

It's been a wonderful journey that started in 1968. I would make sensational copy if I told you a hard-luck story, but I have no struggle to talk about. It has not always been easy, but I have been a compulsive optimist and have never harped on the downside.

I started off as a nightclub singer, and had no godfather in the Hindi film industry. I was singing at the Oberoi Intercontinental in Delhi, and the Navketan gangu00a0-- Dev saab and RD Burmanu00a0-- was there. That was the first time I met them professionally. They asked me if I'd want to sing for Hare Rama Hare Krishna.