So what do you bring to the table?
A clean slate in terms of no political background. I have been involved in some political and party work in the last two years. I have been involved in a lot of humanitarian work for the last three years.
My entire USP is going to be the city of Mumbai. I am gonna tell the youth that today your city contributes Rs 40,000 crore to the central exchequer, through various taxes and excise. And you get Rs 500 crore back. Do you think this is justice? No. South Mumbai is the biggest contributor in this Rs 40,000 crore. And I am going to talk to the voter -- not just the young or the old -- and ask them, 'Do you feel you have got what you deserve from your elected representative?' If not, it's time to vote for a change, to vote for someone who will bring back a lot more to the city and to South Mumbai. And I really believe that South Mumbai has been neglected.
You have been talking of how your youth is an asset. There is also the possibility that your youth could prove to be a liability.
But how can youth be a liability!
Well, you have no hands-on experience in politics. Do you have an idea of your own party apparatus?
I know everything about my party apparatus in South Mumbai. You can talk to anyone in my party, they will tell you I am neither naïve nor am I a greenhorn.
But yes, with regard to political and administrative experience, this is the first time I am contesting an election. Everyone has to contest an election sometime. Of course, there is the issue of limited experience, but that doesn't mean you ignore the person. People win for the first time also, it is really not an issue. As long as the person has experience working for the public, as long as the person has experience working for the party -- the latter is a secondary issue -- as long as the person is comfortable working for the public, there really is no harm.
You also have another image, the Page 3 person. How does sit with your political aspirations?
What one does with his or her own personal life has nothing to do with public life. Page 3 is associated with lack of credibility. It also depends on what you come on Page 3 for. If you are there nursing a drink or hugging someone, then yes, you lose credibility. But if you come on Page 3 for something else there's nothing wrong with it.
And you are a musician and perform at cafes and restaurants. Will that continue?
I also love music and play at various places. Certainly I will continue to play. Whether I will have the time to perform I don't know, but I will continue to play music.
Who's had a greater influence on you, mom or dad?
Both. As an artist, musician, in my creative areas it's my mother. But my father has also been of great help.