with father Pandit Jasraj

What was it like directing her father? "Besides being my father, he's also my guru. But he gives me the creative freedom. Initially, I would be scared of telling him what to do, what I wanted of him. But after working together for "Utsav," the barrier broke and he understood my vision of things. Today, he takes pride in what I do, and that's very encouraging," she says with a smile. ("Utsav" is a 26-episode series shot for STAR Plus, which focusses on Indian classical music. It's expected to be telecast in the U.K., U.S. and Australia. However, viewers in India may not get to see it!)

As for the other musicians, "I have known them all my life. So it was easy to relate to them." She adds, "One person who has been a great influence on me, besides my grandfather and father, is Zakir Hussain. When we were kids, I remember spending a lot of time with him, playing cricket or travelling. I share a great relationship with him."

Unconventional thinking

Talking of influences, Durga singles out her grandfather, the legendary film maker V. Shantaram, as the man who put discipline into her life. "He was unconventional in his thinking and taught me to think just like him. I was very fond of him." She made her debut in acting and singing under his direction "for a Marathi film."