"I won't use the cliche of having wanted to do something different with my debut album. I have gained recognition being what I am, so why should I want to be different?" he asks. While films are a priority, Mr Baral maintains that private albums allow the viewer to concentrate on the song-thanks to the video, not despite it. "In a film you have other distractions. You might concentrate on Salman Khan dancing or be awed by the director's reputation. But a music album belongs to the singer," he observes.

Still, he shares the credit for the success of Khoya Khoya Chand with the other artistes who worked on it. "It was a dream team. My co-singer was Alka Yagnik, the lyrics were by Sameer, and music directors Sajid-Wajid had already hit big time with Sonu Nigam's Deewana. Plus, the music company, Tips, had the expertise of the Taurani brothers who are in command of the economics of the business. What more could I ask for?"

Mr Baral has a special word of praise for Sajid-Wajid, whose intricately patterned tunes in Khoya Khoya Chand will pass the test of time. "In fact, I was called on the scene after the songs were prepared and the tracks composed," the singer says. "I knew at once when I heard the compositions that this album was tailor-made to suit my voice and style."

And although he does not feature in it, Mr Baral admires the velvety video produced by Farah Khan for the title song. Incidentally, the publicity campaign depicts Khoya khoya chand as a duet, whereas the song has been separately sung by Mr Baral and Ms Yagnik. The solos have been amalgamated as a promotion strategy. The singers create such an impact with Ab raat din meri aankhon mein, Yeh sama pyar ka and Zindagi mein ek bhi lamha that it is surprising to learn they recorded separately.

Mr Baral says Khoya Khoya Chand has given him a chance to prove that he is adept at soft, melodious numbers apart from the peppy film songs he has sung in the past year. Fortunately for him, he has escaped becoming stereotyped.

He sang for Mr Hrithik Roshan in Kaho Naa Pyar Hai, Mr Abhishek Bachchan in Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya and Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, and his popular songs in Hello Brother and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke have been picturised on Mr Salman Khan.

Of course, Kaho Naa Pyar Hai was a milestone in his career. "I like to remember Mr Amitabh Bachchan's statement in the film Mili. He said people would sing his praises, and then softly ask him about the incident related to his mother's death. Similarly, when I became successful, people would come for autographs and photographs, and then softly ask for Mr Hrithik Roshan's cellphone number!" he says and laughs good-naturedly.

Mr Baral's folks back home in Kolkata are surprised at his success. They weren't happy when he left home and a promising job at Standard Chartered Bank to make a career in playback singing. This despite the fact that he was trained under his grandfather, noted composer N C Baral, since childhood, and had won a record number of inter-collegiate events in music. Mr Baral says, "I believe in the maxim `One life one chance'. So I arrived in Mumbai in 1993 as a raw struggler. The taxi driver fleeced me of Rs 350 on my first trip into the city! I had no godfather and knew nobody. But I knew myself. I had the will to make it in life. And I did do a good five-six years of struggle."

But the past is where it belongs. Now, Mr Baral has a full schedule. He records until he is ready to drop, and the telephone rings itself hoarse. Not that he's complaining, though. "For me, my work is pleasure. In fact, it is when I return home that I have to sign cheques and attend to paperwork!" Mr Baral takes care to point out that he wants to be a satisfied singer at the end of the day. Satisfied, not successful. "I choose my words carefully.

The phone may not ring 10 years from now, but I'll slink away before that. I won't give people a chance to reject me," he says.