MUMBAI: Ayushmann Khurrana is part of the growing breed of actors singing songs in their films. However, this is not something that 'Saadi Galli Aaja' singer expected to turn into a trend when he first opted to sing for his debut movie.

“I never thought it would become such a huge trend when I sang ‘Pani Da’ for ‘Vicky Donor’ (2012). But it was a welcome change. If you are singing for your own on-screen character, it feels more credible. Lip-syncing is a very Indian trend. No one does it in the west,” he says.

The actor, who has sung several songs in his movies, and has even released a few singles, considers himself “an actor first and then a singer”. He says, “Singing is a parallel vector for me. I am not just a singer, as I compose and write my songs too. So, there’s a whole new dimension.”

Many other actors such as Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha, and Shraddha Kapoor have also started singing songs in their films. While, there are others like Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, and Hrithik Roshan who continue to sing for their films occasionally. “It is a great PR plug too. This attracts more fans,” says Ayushmann.

The actor-singer recently returned from a successful music tour in the US. He says he felt “like a rock star there”. “Singing in a studio and on stage are very different experiences. My eight-city US tour was a successful one with packed auditoriums,” he says.

Ayushmann feels that Indians who live abroad like having an Indian connect, and cinema and cricket bring them closer to their country. “My performance was surprising for many. I have a different personality on stage. It is not subtle. I performed on the rock versions of some ‘90s songs. I created rock and dhol versions of ‘Pani Da’ as well,” he adds.