I started playing the sitar when I was only three years old. At that age I could not play the normal sitar. And so I used an instrument that was especially designed by my father, Ustad Vilayat Khan, for me. Although I knew that I would be carrying on the generations-old family tradition of music, I never felt any pressure. I enjoyed playing the lovely instrument. In fact, I started giving public performances when I was only six.

My best childhood years were spent at the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. Being in boarding school, I was away from the spotlight and lived like a normal child of my age. I was very active in school as far as sports were concerned. I played cricket and learned swimming, later representing my school in both the sports. I also enjoyed weekend picnics in and around Shimla. I had a lot of fun during these years and made some great friends.

I was naughty but never ill-mannered. As a result, my teachers hardly ever punished me.

I was a very ordinary student. English and geography were my favourite subjects but I hated maths and science with a passion. In fact I dreaded them. I just prayed that I would pass in physics and chemistry so that I would be promoted to the next class without a fuss.

When I was around 12 years old, I started spending six to seven hours practising the sitar every day. I also devoted a lot of time to my singing. I did it all with total dedication. My father was a strict disciplinarian, but he never pressured me. And since I was very sure that I wanted to become a musician, I put in all the effort I needed to.

My parents would take me on holidays to different parts of the world. We travelled twice a year. I had visited almost all the continents by the time I was 15. I feel that this was the greatest gift my parents could have given me at that age. I saw and met many people and this widened my horizon.

The habit has stayed with me. I still love to travel.