'India's Got Talent' season 7 winner Suleiman was not expecting to win!

Suleiman, who emerged the winner of India's Got Talent with his appreciable flute performances, says he was not expecting to win the show amid such a tough competition.

"I was not at all expecting to win the show because there were other very talented contestants. So, the final result came as a happy surprise for me," Suleiman told PTI in an interview.

The 13-year-old flautist, who is the disciple of the maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, said the win was sweeter because in a show, where generally dancers and singers are declared winners, a contestant's ability to play an instrument was recognised.

"Earlier it was the dancers and singers, who got the awards, but this time, I received it playing flute and so I feel very lucky," he said.

Talking about his own favourite performance in the competition, Suleiman said that the one he gave on the song 'Mujh me tu' in front of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was special.

"The performance I gave in front of Salman sir was the best one as the compliments I received from him saying, 'I will go a very long way and will earn a lot of praise' filled me with immense happiness," said the young artist, who hails from Amritsar, Punjab.

When asked whether he would like to make a career as a flautist, Suleiman said, "Along with my studies, I would love to learn more as a flautist and would like to make a name in this field."

Suleiman said that the judges were very cordial, loving and caring towards him throughout the show.

"The judges loved me a lot. They always motivated me to do well. Kirron ma'am treated me just like a son and even wanted to take me home. All the judges were very loving." Besides Kher, the Colors show is judged by Malaika Arora Khan and Karan Johar.

The show's finale was a grand extravaganza infused with an array of amazing performances and heartwarming comments by the special guests and jury.

Motivating and cheering the outstanding performances put forth by the finalists were Anil Kapoor, who came to promote second season of 24, and the Dishoom cast including Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and John Abraham.