Rush from live music concert is better than skydiving: Farhan Akhtar

For Hindi cinema's multi-faceted celebrity Farhan Akhtar, performing a gig in front of a live audience gives an adrenaline rush comparable to skydiving.

In GQ's November 2016 issue, Akhtar spoke about his live music performances, in an interview to Uday Benegal, frontman of Indian rock band Indus Creed.

"Performing is just such a release," the actor-filmmaker said. "[It's] Like skydiving, but the rush lasts longer. You'll put in those hours in the studio, making sure you get a good song. If that connects with people, that's the prize. Because then, when you go up there and everyone sings along with you – man, what a feeling that is!"

Akhtar was seen performing a skydiving sequence in his sister Zoya Akhtar's film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).

An actor, writer, producer, director and singer, Farhan Akhtar is awaiting the release of the sequel to his 2008 hit film Rock On!! And in the eight years between the films, it is interesting how he has established his footing as a singer with his own band. He has also been touring widely.

Talking about what ignited the desire to get on stage while maintaining a busy career in the film industry, Akhtar said the seeds were sown in 1988 when Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Youssou N'Dour, L Subramaniam and a 24-year-old Tracy Chapman performed in Delhi at Amnesty International's 'Human Rights Now!' tour. Akhtar was 14 then.

It was seven years later that he got his first guitar and became "obsessed" with it. "I made it my mission to be able to play all the chords from Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' from start to finish. I got a book from [Mumbai music store] Bhargava's Musik which showed you how to play chords," he said.

GQ's November 2016 issue will hit the stands on Monday.