Watch any of the Indian music channels on television these days and chances are high that you will see the seductive Hindi hit, 'Sun Zara' being broadcast. But, hang on, isn't that Boudha and Thamel in the background? And isn't that the hirsute hero doing vippasana meditation?

Yes, Sun Zara was shot on location in Kathmandu because it was sung by none other than former Miss India, Ritu Singh Vaidya, who married and settled down in Nepal. Even before winning the pageant in 1992, Ritu was already modelling in her student days and was well known for her sense of style.

But music has always been her passion and she missed not singing. So, after a decade in the country, she decided to mix Nepal into her songs. "I always admired my mother's music, but my songs have also been inspired by the beauty of the land and people I have found in Nepal," Ritu says.

Always the optimist, Ritu knew it was never too late to fulfill her passion. While in Nepal, she went through a rigorous classical music training and practice under Gurudeb Tamath. She worked with Nepali musicians for six months to compose her songs. Ritu came up with poignant lyrics to accompany the soulful music of Prakash Gurung, Chris Masand and Harry Anand. Sun Zara was released by Times Music in May with all her songs recorded in Kathmandu and the final mixing done in France and India.

Since the release of her album, Ritu has received rave reviews in music columns in Indian newspapers. The music video with its exotic Kathmandu backdrop is regularly shown on MTV and Channel V.

Ritu finds spoken Nepali mellifluous and easy on the ears and hopes to write and sing her own Nepali songs one day. This may not be too far away, given that Ritu's twin loves are music and Nepal.