Soul curry

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">UK singer Darius, in India for the MTV Immies Awards, dwells on his spiritual side</span><br /><br />Uneasy lies the mix of pop-stardom champagne and karma cola? No, just <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">kismet</span>, says UK singer Darius. The iGen star, who has seen the musical merry-go-round replete with the screaming teen fans, the incessantly popping flashbulbs and the heady lifestyle, says he doesn''t care much for the bubblewrap excess."Pop culture is empty. I''d rather celebrate life, be appreciative of relationships -- that''s like a prayer," says the 24-year-old singer behind platinum hits like <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Colourblind</span>. <br /><br />Coming from a former Pop Idol finalist, the words merit a second take. Darius, who did a Britney Spears cover, was witness to some choice remarks by Mr Mean Simon Cowell on the show, but had the last laugh when his record hit the popularity wave. Darius, who was in Mumbai for the MTV Immies Awards, says the experience was humbling. "They didn''t want me to play an original song and I realised I couldn''t be a puppet to marketing managers. I have no regrets, it taught me humility."<br /><br />Coming from an East-West background (his Iranian father Dr Booth Danesh is a prominent doctor in the UK and Scottish mum Avril is a GP) he says spirituality has always been part of his life. So much so that when his father was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, the family included prayer sessions, meditations and music as part of his therapy. "They told him he had six months to live. Six months later, he''s had a miraculous recovery," says Darius. More than a miracle considering that the singer gave up a place at Oxford to study Literature in Edinburgh and well against the wishes of his father who wanted him to be doctor -- call it karma or kismet. Darius recalls, "When I went to University, I asked for my parents'' blind faith. This year, I realised that for all the trappings of success -- the car, the house, the record hits -- I''d give it all up for my father to be healthy.'''' <br /><br />Sitting by his father''s side, playing music and praying with the family was his routine this year -- very different from the usual pop star itinerary of roadshows and media soundbytes. In between, the iGen-er also worked with cancer charities in the UK along with Geri Halliwell and Ronan Keating. "How do I reconcile the pop star image with all this? If I can use the fame for a better end then it''s worth it."</div> </div>