Music director Bappi Lahiri says he never visited Pakistan

Bappi Lahiri may have a number of friends in Pakistan, but the popular music composer says he never visited the country on the advice of his father. "My father, Aparesh Lahiri, was also a great musician. He used to advise me not to go to Pakistan. So I never went there, but travelled to most other countries," Bappi told reporters here on the eve of Malwa Sangeet Samman, a golden crown which will be given to the Bollywood composer at a function in Ujjain tomorrow. Bappi was asked to comment on the recent war of words between India and Pakistan on Shah Rukh Khan's security and whether it would affect the relations between artistes of the two countries. The 60-year-old disco king said that there should be no tension between the two countries and government level efforts must be fruitful. "I do not want to indulge in any politics. I have a number of friends in Pakistan. I do not hate any country or its people. A number of Pakistani artistes including Mehdi Hassan used to visit us. India is great with its culture and tradition. We welcome everyone," he said. When asked whether he tried to find a substitute to the late Kishore Kumar, Lahiri said, "No way. Nobody can be an alternative to him. He was a versatile hero, singer and a great human being." Replying to whether songs like his 'Oohlala' composed for the movie 'Dirty Picture' have had an adverse affect on the youth, Bappi said that the song was needed in the movie as per its script. "We should view it only in that perspective. Of course, the lyrics were not as good they used to be in the old movies. But what can I do? The public seems to like such songs and they seem to be popular," he said. On his passion for gold ornaments and blue sunglasses, he said, "Gold is lucky for me, and glasses are my style."