“Even when I was in school, I would come home from singing classes and play the tunes on the harmonium,” he reminisces.

Recognising the son’s potential at an early stage, his father thought that it was a decision that would have to be taken by Rahul himself.

Like any youngster, Rahul went through his stages of indecision and confusion. He knew he wanted to be associated with music but, till the age of 17, he did not actually give a serious thought to following in his father’s footsteps.

“I wanted to become a music director at one stage, but realised that success in the field of commercial music is superficial, depending upon whether the film is a hit or a flop,” says Rahul, who assisted his father in composing music for movies like Lamhe, Darr and Chandni.

Rahul was 13 when he seriously began learning the santoor from his father. “My father,” he says, “always encouraged me to develop my interest in music, but my mother was keen that I concentrate on academics.”

Once Rahul completed his graduation in Economics from Mithibai College (“with pretty good marks too,’’ he adds), he was clear about his future. “You get more time then by bunking lectures,” he explains with a grin.