Bhupiji’s voice was haunting. I always used to say he was blessed with a unique tonal quality. There are many singers who sound like Kishore [Kumar] and Mohammed Rafi saab, but I have never heard another voice like Bhupiji’s. We sang many songs together, but some — like Shama jalaye rakhna and Raahon pe nazar rakhna — remain etched in my heart.

It’s rare that a singer is also a musician and composer. He played the guitar brilliantly. [When composing], he would also imagine the arrangement. Bhupiji would compose music for all our albums. When he would make me hear it, we would sometimes fight [as I would question his composition]. He would then tell me that I don’t understand. And sure enough, after the song was recorded, it sounded divine.