'Fans will remember me for my fantastic hats!'-- Shafin

Illustration: Aloke

Any nickname?
Muna.

What's a perfect day?
Getting up by 8 on a crisp morning, going to work after a hearty breakfast, returning home for lunch, finishing office by six in the evening then getting back to music. This could be for recordings, shows or rehearsals till 11-11.30 pm. Back home before midnight and a sound sleep of seven to eight hours. That's my idea of a perfect day.

How do you handle a crisis?
I am not a bookworm, but I have a habit of reading books on self-development. The authors are not always well known, but write from experience on how they face difficult situations. Books are my survival kit and I get engrossed in such books during a crisis.

What would you like to inherit?
I have been most fortunate to have inherited the musical talents of my parents'--Kamal Das Gupta and Feroza Begum. They are the legends in the realm of Bangla music.

Is your mother your toughest critic?
Definitely! She listens to every track we make, and calls a spade a spade. Which means she praises us when she likes it but also lets us know when she doesn't.

What's the worst part of being a celebrity?
As a celebrity you have to act as a "cool dude." The worst thing is having to keep your cool in tricky situations. Imagine someone bumping into your new car and you still can't punch him on the nose.

Are you involved with social welfare projects of any sort?
Very much so. Only a few months back our band members, in our own humble way, lent a hand for a Cancer Hospital to be erected soon at the outskirts of Dhaka. On February 13, the major bands of the subcontinent will hold a concert at Mumbai for the tsunami victims. Miles has been invited at the gala fund raising concert. We like to extend our support for such endeavours.

Best awards received so far
Miles received the Best Band award a couple of times. We won the popular band award in Meril-Prothom Alo award. I also won the "Number 1 Male celebrity awards of Bangladesh 2004" voted globally by fans through the Internet.

Countries where you received greatest response during a performance?
Our band has travelled to a number of countries but surprisingly we received the greatest applause in the USA and India. We having been frequently staging shows at Kolkata.

Since our albums were released there, the numbers are very popular and we are invited to perform almost every month.

Why will your fans not forget you?
Firstly, because of my compositions which have been smashing hits. Secondly, because of the fantastic hats which I wear during my performances!