The slate of projects that demand the Merchant Brothers' attention doesn't seem like work for two. After wrapping up the 2019 musical, Umrao Jaan, they began to give finishing touches to their passion project, Bhoomi 2020. In the interim, they pulled off production work on a documentary on Karsh Kale with such deft that it earned multiple titles at the Golden Gate International Film Festival. And despite their chock-a-block schedule, the duo still found time to cater to the demands of the music industry's Big Daddy — Bollywood.

Salim Merchant is run off his feet, and can only afford a call when en route to fulfil another work commitment. But, when discussing his latest endeavour, Bhoomi 2020, he is unhurried and accommodating. Set to release today, the album's third song pairs the Merchant Brothers with the music powerhouse, Arijit Singh. As though reserving the best for Singh to helm, Salim says Zinda dili mirrors the duo's individual personalities. "Suleiman and I think about the present, and that is the spirit that we have tried to capture in this song. We enjoy the thrills that are offered by activities like skydiving. The best term to describe this song is, nonstop. It encapsulates all that [one should] feel if it were their last day. Given that it has elements of Indian classical music, and contemporary pop rock, we wanted someone as versatile as Arijit to back it."