In a candid, no-holds-barred moment that echoes the growing calls for gender equity across creative industries, singer Jonita Gandhi pulled back the curtain on a troubling pattern in Hindi film music - female voices being reduced in songs otherwise dominated by male leads.

Responding to a pointed question during an exclusive interview with Bombay Times, about the recurring trend where even top-tier female vocalists are often handed just a few lines sandwiched between a male-dominated melody, Jonita didn’t mince words. “Honestly, they can do better,” she said bluntly. “I don't think there's a reason why we only need to give four lines to the girl in a three- or four-minute-long song.”

Jonita’s critique cuts deep into the creative choices made by composers and lyricists who continue to sideline the female narrative in music. “Why not just make the song a male solo, if that's the case?” she asked. “If you're including a female voice, give it space, give it meaning. Not enough effort is made to flesh out the female perspective.”

Her comments shine a spotlight on a longstanding issue in the Indian music industry, where male-led songs dominate both screen time and sonic space. Even when renowned female singers are roped in, their presence is often tokenistic, just enough to check a box, rarely enough to make a statement.

“We're talking about incredible talents — Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal — we all know they're phenomenal. But what's the point of bringing them into a song just to hand them two or three lines? It’s a waste,” Gandhi asserted.

She also acknowledged the bind many female artists find themselves in: accept a minimal part or miss out entirely. “It’s not in our control. You either do it or you don’t, and someone else does. And sometimes these songs are just too beautiful to pass up,” she admitted.

Yet, the bigger issue, she says, is the scarcity of female-centric songs that could serve as a counterbalance. “It’s not happening,” she said.

Jonita’s response to this disparity is carving her own path. “That’s also why I’ve started focusing more on my own music. Because in my own songs, I’m the star!” she signed off with a smile.

Jonita Gandhi is thrilled to be opening for Dua Lipa’s upcoming concert in Mumbai. In a chat with us, she reflects on her journey so far, as she touches upon everything — from fashion to difference between performing in an A R Rahman’s and Anirudh Ravichander’s concert.

I’m excited, nervous... I don’t know how to feel. I have been following Dua Lipa’s music for years; she’s an artiste I look up to. Her growth has been inspiring to watch. Her voice is powerful, and her music is infectious; it brings people together. I know the audience will be coming there for Dua, but I hope to leave a lasting impact with my performance so that the audience ends up seeing me as well.

I am grateful to perform at the concerts of these two incredible artistes. Rahman sir’s and Anirudh’s music and audience demographics are very different, and as a performer, I get to experiment differently in both their concerts. I take both opportunities seriously, and I adapt and mould my performance style accordingly. But it’s more about the repertoire I’m singing than the artiste I’m accompanying. For instance, if it’s a semi-classical or soft song, I may choose to dress and perform it with more grace.

I feel blessed to have sung Vida Karo. The song is extremely unique; it was appreciated for being a breath of fresh air at a time when no other music like that was releasing. I felt that the song was special when I sang it, but I had no idea how much audiences would love it. I was pleasantly surprised to see the song do so well. Celebrating the success of the Chamkila soundtrack, we had a gathering of singers, and a video of us singing the song went viral. It was a beautiful experience to have such incredible musicians singing along with me.

I think I do this every day. But an example of how I used styling choices to express themes and culture is in my music video for Love Like That. We intentionally incorporated a mix of Indian and western elements in the styling to reflect the meeting of both worlds in the song. Fashion and style are a big part of everything I do as an artiste. I’ve been able to use it to express myself more in the recent years. There is so much storytelling and depth that we can achieve when we express ourselves through fashion.

I think Saajan Aayo Re from OK Jaanu. It is a beautiful and intricate piece with Hindustani classical influences. It was one of my most difficult songs to sing in the studio.

Despite a string of chartbusters to her credit including Dil Ka Telephone (Dream Girl; 2019), Sau Tarah Ke (Dishoom; 2016), Main Tumhara (Dil Bechara; 2020), it’s interesting to see that singer Jonita Gandhi chooses her less popular songs as her favourites.

“I always pick the underdogs, that were not chartbusters. A lot of times what happens is, the song which is the most special ends up being least heard. So, whenever I am asked my favourite song, I think of the lesser known ones,” she tells us, adding that Kahaan Hoon Main from Highway (2012), her first song for music composer A R Rahman, “will always remain closest to my heart”. And what about some good songs that don’t get their due, because of the whole number game on streaming platforms?

The 31-year-old explains, “Under the umbrella of commercial music, there is music which majority of people remember. Then there are songs which only musicians can connect with more, or people who are well versed and technically sound. Others don’t appreciate it much. At the end of the day, it’s about how music makes you feel.”

Talking about her latest single Main Janoon Na, Gandhi says that the song was created a year ago during a jam session with music composer Arjuna Harjai. “I’ve been working with him (Arjuna) for years now. We liked the vibe of the song, it was different then. It was sitting around for a while, and then we realised we needed to make it, and we recorded the vocals,”she shares.

Indo-Canadian singer Jonita Gandhi was first noticed when her cover versions of Hindi film songs gained popularity on social media. She made her debut in the world of playback with the title track of Chennai Express and followed it up with tracks in Highway and R...Rajkummar. Her latest track Sau Tarah Ke from Dishoom is a hit among music listeners. The young singer reflects on her journey, how she looks at competition and her association with A R Rahman.

Chasing her dreams...
I had always been inclined towards music since childhood. The real interest in music came from my father who is passionate about it. I was seven years old when I performed for the first time at one of his gigs. Growing up, I never studied music. I just learnt by listening to Lata Mangeshkarji and Asha Bhosleji's songs. I finished my education in business before shifting base to Mumbai.

Shifting base to India...
After my graduation in 2012, I was a part of a musical tour which was led by Sonu Nigam. It was then that I decided to come to India. The plan was to test the waters and try my luck at playback. I always associated Mumbai with Bollywood. Since I was brought up in Canada, moving to Mumbai was a whole new change. It was a huge culture shock.

The big break...
With the help of a friend, I managed to meet composer duo Vishal-Shekhar, who were working on Chennai Express at that time. They asked me to record a scratch of the title track. They loved my voice and ended up using it in the album. That's how my Bollywood debut happened.

Firangi accent...
Initially, people are apprehensive when they hear me speak as I have a heavy accent, but later when they hear me sing there are no complaints. I have been singing Hindi songs all my life and I grew up in a house where we speak in Hindi and Punjabi. I have sung many tracks in Tamil and Telugu and that has been a big challenge. I try and connect instantly to the melody which guides me and makes my job easier.

Favourite genre...
I have a soft spot for romantic numbers. I'm good with romantic songs, so composers often approach me for such numbers. I like melodious compositions with good, meaningful lyrics. At the same time I try to be a versatile singer. I want to come out of my comfort zone and try different genres.

My all-time favourite songs...
I sing Lag jaa gale (Woh Kaun Thi) in all my shows. My other favourites are Aap ki nazron ne samjha (Anpadh) and Aji rooth kar kahan jaiyega (Aarzoo) which is also my mom's favourite. As NRIs, we try to stay connected to our culture and one of the ways to do it is by listening to old songs.

If not a singer, I'd be...
I probably would have been a corporate banker because it's a high-paying job (laughs).

For me, competition means...
There is a lot of amazing talent which is coming up in Bollywood and it is a good thing. The industry has been forthcoming and many budding and deserving people are getting a chance to showcase their prowess. At the same time, I don't pay much attention to competition. I'm confident about my abilities and am always eager to learn and perform. I'm aware that I still have a long way to go and have to deliver consistently to be on top of my game. I don't wait for the next playback opportunity to come to me. I record a lot of my own singles, collaborate with international artistes and be busy with several musical tours.

An actress I'd like to sing for...
I'd love to sing for Alia Bhatt. Although I did two songs in Highway none of them were lip synced by her. I am a huge fan of her. She is immensely talented and is getting better with every film.

A R Rahman inspires me...
He is a huge inspiration for me. Working with him is a unique experience as each time I learn something new. He encourages me to try different things and has taught me to stay grounded as a human being. I am extremely thankful to him.