Farhan Akhtar to rock Mumbai

After performing live at concerts in Delhi and Bangalore for automobile brand he endorses, Akhtar will now do a show on Mumbai this Saturday. Farhan Akhtar will perform at live shows with rock group Parikrama across India. While he has already performed in Delhi and Bangalore and this Saturday (November 7) he will perform in Mumbai at the Chitrakoot grounds in Andheri.
The idea for him to perform live rock concerts across India was suggested by the car company that Farhan endorses. It is the concept of a star-rock generation series of concerts in three cities — Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

The actor-singer says, "They wanted a kind of branding which goes with the car's brand — a young, confident, new age person, who is a bit of a rebel and has something to say and thought I fitted the bill." He adds that they got a response in Delhi and Bangalore, and now intends to invite his friends and associates for the show in Mumbai. Parikrama will open the show and Farhan will join them. Akhtar will sing a song or two from Rock On!! "And later, we'll cover some eternal classics like Where The Streets Have No Name by U2, Hard To Handle by Black Crowes and Daytripper by the Beatles."

Farhan says that though he's not nervous about his live performances, he needs about 10 minutes to himself before starting every show. "I rehearse as much as I can about an hour at home whenever I get time. And before the show begins, I take about 10 minutes to be completely alone in my van or backstage to remain calm, focused and so I don't suffer from anxiety pangs. When we did shows for Rock On!!, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy would say a little prayer before going on stage. I like that too."
Farhan recalls that the first time he performed live in a mall in the city, he was really nervous, "My nerves had become terribly frayed and I thought I was going to be sick and that's when Shankar Mahadevan told to just go and sing and forget everything else. Now I love performing in front of a live audience. It's an immediate reaction and gives such a high! It's a buzz performing live."

Though Farhan performs to the title track of Rock On!! and to Socha Hai, a personal favorite from the film is the song Phir Dekhiye. "I love it, even though I haven't sung it myself." Next, he will be seen singing in the romantic thriller Karthik Calling Karthik which he's producing and acting in. Deepika Padukone co-stars.