Showing posts with label Monica Dogra interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monica Dogra interview. Show all posts
When I was little, I was a tomboy some days and hyper feminine on other days-Monica Dogra
8:30 AM
Singer-actor Monica Dogra opens up about her sexuality and dissolved marriage
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 11, 2022)
Singer-actor Monica Dogra came out as pansexual last year via Instagram. Though she asserts she has “been telling this truth for many years”, people only took notice once her show The Married Woman started streaming. “It’s hard to love yourself if you don’t even know who you are,” says Dogra discerningly as we get down to chatting with her.
Her encounter with the Indian media about her sexuality was in 2016 when she did a crowdfunding campaign for the LGBTQIA+ community. While she had noble intentions, “a hate article” shoved her back into her shell. “My name was labelled as a joke,” she recalls, adding that the queer and indie music scenes “hated” her.
She continues, “I fell into darkest [phases of] depression. After that, I felt like I lost any expectation of having community support.” However, that ended up setting her free. Today, as she resides in Los Angeles, USA, she bares her soul for the first time, talking about her now-dissolved marriage and growing up as a confused queer girl. Excerpts:
When did you first realize that you identify as pansexual?
I only ever heard the word some five or six years ago, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s me!’ It was very black and white growing up. Either you were gay or you were straight. And if you were gay, you certainly weren’t accepted or celebrated.
Take us through your journey of self-discovery.
When I was little, I was a tomboy some days and hyper-feminine on other days. I liked to express both sides of myself. I identified with girls who dressed very boyishly or queer boys who were very feminine and wore makeup. I never kissed a girl or had a full blown sexual experience with a girl until I was in college. Later, I felt I had fallen in love with a female who was masculine presenting. That really screwed with my head. Up until that point, I identified as straight. Suddenly, I had no idea who I was. I had a bit of an “aha!” moment when I thought maybe I’m bisexual. I still didn’t know what pansexuality meant. This was six-seven years ago. Soon, I came across verbiage around pansexuality, and now I think that’s the most real fit for me.
Have you ever had a ‘coming out’ moment with your family?
I’m from a very disjointed family. My mother and I were estranged for over 11 years. My father is mostly quiet. Even if I do share anything from the heart, he doesn’t really hear it. I was married to a man — a very gentle, kind, wise, and extremely understanding man. I had to tell him I felt an attraction for my co-star in a film I had acted in. He held my hands and understood me. We have gone our separate ways and chosen to dissolve our marriage. So, there was no “coming out” moment.
While growing up, with whom were you most comfortable talking about your sexuality?
I remember when I first started showing signs of having breasts, I just wept, thinking my life was now over. I was molested by my cousins in India and touched inappropriately by a family friend in my sleep. I think I am just another story among many similar to mine. My biggest outlet for truth-telling and exploration has been my art.
Are you currently in love?
I have never talked about my love life, out of superstition more than anything. Nazar na lage. But, I can say I’ve been lucky to experience profound love in this life.
I was replaced in as many as six to seven projects; it was heartbreaking-Monica Dogra
8:01 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 19, 2021)
Best known for her work in films such as Rock On (2008) and Dhobi Ghat (2011), actor Monica Dogra has been seen in acting projects intermittently. Dogra made her digital debut recently, with the web series, The Married Woman (TMW) and has been thrilled with the response. She says, “The reactions have been positive and warm. I feel like I am dreaming. I had been shooting another web show, Cartel, and when I was offered this part, I knew I had to take it up. There are so many similarities between my character and my real life. I am an artiste, have been estranged from my mum, grew up in a troubled home, have fallen with a Muslim guy and all of these things happened with my character, too.”
Talking about gaps between her acting projects, she explains that wasn’t planned. “Nothing kept me away from acting. I got many projects and then they didn’t happen. And I didn’t know why. I went through a lot of struggle. I was replaced in as many as six to seven projects and it was heartbreaking; especially as those projects became hits. It was difficult and hard. I am fortunate that I have my music to fall back on. Sometimes, I would think, why was it happening?”
After being part of a show that talks about women being bound by societal rules, ask her how empowered are Indian women today, and she says, “There is definitely a move towards more equality but as I say that, I know we have a long way to go. If you were to ask a room full of women between the ages of 15 to 70 years, 95% of those women will say that they have been subjected to some form of sexual violence, misogyny, patriarchy, inequality in families and at work. I do feel women are stepping up and being far more vocal than before, but it is not just a woman’s responsibility but the world’s. We need men to wake up and take up the fight. We need corporations and governments to work on things that make up for all the lost time and undo the damage.”
Dogra has finished writing an EP and an album, and has worked on her music which should be out this year, she says. Moreover, she is quite excited about the boom in Indian OTT content. “A lot of our web shows have gone on to win awards on global platforms, which is awesome. The content has allowed storytelling to go to the next level. It has allowed actors who didn’t get their due to position themselves better. It is an exciting time to be an actor,” she says.
Naraye Mastana is probably my sexiest video yet-Monica Dogra
7:46 AM
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; September 23, 2017)
Singer-actress-dancer Monica
Dogra is all set to release her first commercial Hindi cross-over track
with Times Music. Naraye Mastana, is a remake of the 2003 song by the
legendary sufi singer Abida Parveen. Monica's club song, with an
infectious hook has her signature musical style and is created for dance
floors around the world.
Talking about the song she says, “The tune is a remake of the sufi song by Abida Parveen. She is an artiste I have a tremendous respect for. I basically wrote a song around my own understanding of the meaning of her song and I relate to its meaning. I consider myself a seeker, and at times an accidental rebel because my seeking leads me to walk the unpaved path. It explores styles ranging from global bass, to trap, to dub.“
The music video has been directed by Ra Dreyfus and features choreography by Ehizoje Ezike (who was a dancer on Beyonce's last tour). The producer Marc Chenail, has worked for Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliott and Beyonce. The stylist Adolfo Sanchez, has made clothes for some of Hollywood's finest, including Khloe Kardashian.
Monica says, “This is probably my sexiest video yet and definitely the most pop, stylistically. I hope to hear this single bumping every club across the nation!“
Talking about the song she says, “The tune is a remake of the sufi song by Abida Parveen. She is an artiste I have a tremendous respect for. I basically wrote a song around my own understanding of the meaning of her song and I relate to its meaning. I consider myself a seeker, and at times an accidental rebel because my seeking leads me to walk the unpaved path. It explores styles ranging from global bass, to trap, to dub.“
The music video has been directed by Ra Dreyfus and features choreography by Ehizoje Ezike (who was a dancer on Beyonce's last tour). The producer Marc Chenail, has worked for Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliott and Beyonce. The stylist Adolfo Sanchez, has made clothes for some of Hollywood's finest, including Khloe Kardashian.
Monica says, “This is probably my sexiest video yet and definitely the most pop, stylistically. I hope to hear this single bumping every club across the nation!“
I have literally paid festivals to perform-Monica Dogra
7:48 AM
Kasmin Fernandes (MID-DAY; September 19, 2016)
Fresh off the release of her music video Trouble with Malaysian singer Resh, singer-anchor Monica Dogra resumes judging duties for the second season of English singing talent hunt, The Stage, which went on air on September 17. A major supporter of the English music scene, she talks about why she’s taking a step back. Excerpts from an interview:
What are you looking for in the contestants of The Stage?
Star quality and being a captivating performer are two of the things I am looking for. In India, there’s a culture of karaoke and cover bands, but we are trying to launch India’s next international superstar.
Who are you rooting for?
There are so many elements that go into deciding the winner that it’s hard to predict.
Are you taking a step back from live performances?
Yes, in the past, I have literally paid festivals to perform. I don’t think that’s fair. I have always been a supporter and a proponent of the scene. I have done things for little to no money in an effort to grow what exists today. But now, I need to move beyond that. I need to earn money and produce my own work.
What’s next?
Shiver releases this month end. It features Adhuna Akhtar to trans activists to designer Elton J Fernandez. Doing it all on my own without any backing or help from a record label took a lot of time and effort. I am writing a new EP with producer Abhimanyu Malhotra.
Kiran Rao told me, you are amazing with your hippy hair-Monica Dogra
9:20 AM
Singer, actress Monica Dogra talks about her new fashion line, a solo album and films...
Manish Mishra (DNA; February 2, 2014)
It’s hard or rather unfair to bracket this femme fatale in one category. Like the different roles she so seamlessly essays — singer, actor, writer, and now a fashion designer — her personal style too, is a collage of many influences. Monica Dogra reminds me of a multi-layered Cubist painting as I meet her at a coffee shop in Bandra. Her textured, highlighted hair is carelessly undone. The Bombay Electric addict has opted for a kitschy top, vintage style sunglasses (both picked from Colaba causeway), a pair of denim shorts (which are 12-year-old and which she cut herself) and Forever 21 patent lace-ups for this interview meeting.
The new fashion line
Over the years people have either loved what she wears or they have hated it. Recently, her admirer and friend Anjana Sharma (COO and fashion director of Stylista.com) approached her to come up with a designer line to be retailed from her website. This line is basically a reflection of Dogra’s closet, which she has redesigned and re-imagined. “It reflects female independence. It’s rock and roll, very street. It’s for the girls who go to rock concerts, know their culture and are well travelled,” says Monica. She feels that style, music, films — are all interconnected.
Personal style
“Boho. Rocker. Chic. A bit androgynous.” She admires Masaba Gupta, Manish Arora, Bhane, Huemn and Bodice. “When Dhobi Ghat released, Kiran Rao was like, ‘don’t dress up and do your hair. You are amazing as you are with your hippy hair and combat boots.’ All the papers started writing how I looked grungy and I didn’t know how to wash my hair. This over-manicured look which every actress has — I find it quite boring.”
Evolution of audience for alternative music
When I came to India, there was no infrastructure for non-Bollywood music. “Now you have shows like The Dewarists, Coke Studio and Sound Trek. and many music festivals. It was never our goal to change Bollywood music but to create space for non-film music. Now that’s been created and what’s happening is — Bollywood is reaching out to us to make music for them. When you have an identity then you’re truly an artiste.”
Bollywood projects
“I am doing a film with Vivaan Shah and Naseer [Naseeruddin Shah] sir. It’s a semi-biopic film, about the underworld in the ’8os. I’m the only female character in the film. I play a troubled soul,” she laughs. Her other film Fireflies with Rahul Khanna and Arjun Mathur has created a lot of buzz too.
New solo album
“I, for many years, wanted to sit with myself with no agenda, put out something, which is purely me. The reason being — I’ve been pushed and pulled in many different directions. I’ve collaborated on many other people’s albums. For two years, I’ve been working on Shaa’ir By Monica Dogra in all my free space. I have collaborated with Gaurav Raina from Midival Punditz and Prashant from Engine-earz, a UK-based band. Inadvertently, it became dance-y which is great even though it’s very acoustic and organic. I am just that sort of a person. Even though it is electronic, it is very minimal and cinematic,” she concludes.
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