Ravi Shankar influenced me musically: Steven Van Zandt

Actor-musician Steven Van Zandt, who stars as the New York gangster Frank Tagliano in the Norwegian-American television series "Lilyhammer", has revealed that the late sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has been a big influence on him.

"I am a very big fan of India; I get very influenced by things that are Indian. Growing up with Ravi Shankar has been a very big influence for me musically, the democracy of India, it is all very exciting for me," Van Zandt said in a statement issued by FX India.

Best known as a founding member, guitarist and backup vocalist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Van Zandt is "excited" to gauge the reception of "Lilyhammer" in India.

"'Lilyhammer' is my proudest work and it's very exciting to see it come out in more and more countries and I am particularly excited about India because I think India is at a very high stature in the filmmaking world in the content world. I think India appreciates good film and TV, maybe even more than some of the other countries and India creates more content than most countries," he said.

Van Zandt, whose new record is coming out soon, said it might also get a release in India.

"I just produced a record for Columbian records which they are putting out soon and they say it might also come out in India and I am very excited about that," he said.

"Lilyhammer" airs from Monday to Friday on FX and FX HD.