India, April 25 -- When the song Jiyein Kyun from Dum Maaro Dum released in 2011, it became more than just a melancholic tune in a thriller film - it was Papon's breakthrough in Bollywood. The song, composed by Pritam and penned by Jaideep Sahni, stood out for its emotional depth and simplicity. For the Assamese singer, it opened doors to a string of soulful hits in Hindi cinema, including Moh Moh Ke Dhaage (Dum Laga Ke Haisha), Kyon (Barfi!), Humnava (Hamari Adhuri Kahani), and Bulleya (Sultan).

"Jiyein Kyun was my first big break in Bollywood. Technically, the first song I sang in Bollywood was Sajana from Let's Enjoy (2004), but Jiyein Kyun changed everything for me," he tells us, adding that before that song, Bollywood was never his ...