Showing posts with label Nikhita Gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nikhita Gandhi. Show all posts
Fire breaks out outside sets of Pati Patni Aur Panga, Hustle; teams confirm no casualties
10:41 AM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 6, 2026)
On Monday, videos circulating online showed a massive fire at Film City in Mumbai, prompting concerns about the safety of those shooting at the location. Now, HT City has learnt that the fire broke out outside the sets of Pati Patni Aur Panga and MTV Hustle 5. While both teams have confirmed the incident to us, they have also clarified that there are no casualties and everyone is safe.
A source from the set confirms that the mishap did happen outside the sets. “Yes, there was a fire outside the sets. There is no casualty. Nobody was shooting at the set of Pati Patni Aur Panga. There was no shoot happening,” a source tells us.
Meanwhile, another source from the Hustle 5 set confirms to us that the grand finale shoot was underway when the fire broke out, with all the artists present on the sets. Badshah, EPR, MC Square, Paradox and Agsy are among the artists associated with the season. “All the artists were there. The fire happened suddenly. As of now, there are no casualties and everyone is safe,” the source tells us.
Adding, that the incident happened while singer Nikhita Gandhi’s paparazzi spotting was taking place at the location. “Nikhita Gandhi’s papping spotting was happening when this unfortunate incident happened,” the source adds.
The cause of the fire has not yet been identified. The Hustle 5 team further tells us that everyone has left the sets for now. “As soon as this happened, everybody left the sets for now. We also don’t know as of yet what was the cause behind the fire, but good thing, that everyone is safe.”
Pritam Chakraborty says I’m like a potato because I’m in every dish-Nikhita Gandhi
9:28 AM
Debarati S Sen (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 9, 2026)
Singer Nikhita Gandhi has built a career across film music, independent releases and live performances, but she says the journey was never carefully planned. Known for songs such as Qaafirana, Tere Pyaar Mein, Burjkhalifa and Do You Love Me, Gandhi credits curiosity rather than commercial ambition for shaping her career.
“I’ve never chased commercial success,” she says. Trained as a dentist, she was studying in Chennai when music gradually became her profession. She says, “Unexpected artistic choices define me as a person. They’re something I actively pursue, and that’s a big focus for me in 2026 as well.”
Pritam’s ‘Aloo’ nickname
Having worked on several songs with composer Pritam, Gandhi says their association extends beyond playback recording. “Since I also perform live with Dada, there’s a bond that’s bigger than playback singing. We’re friends,” she says. Pritam often calls her “Aloo” — a nickname Gandhi takes in good humour.
“He says I’m like a potato because I’m in every dish. According to him, you’ll hear my voice everywhere,” she shares. Nikhita adds that what she appreciates most is Pritam’s support for her work with other composers, including A R Rahman, Amit Trivedi, Sachin-Jigar and Tanishk Bagchi.
‘There’s more music than ever before’
She believes the biggest challenge facing musicians today is visibility. With streaming platforms making music more accessible than ever, she says artists are competing in an increasingly crowded space. “There’s more music than ever before, and it definitely makes it harder to break through the clutter,” she says.
For independent musicians, promotion can be as demanding as the creative process itself. Limited marketing budgets often make it difficult to reach audiences, even when the music finds appreciation. “Getting your music discovered and reaching relevant listeners is one of the biggest challenges in today’s streaming ecosystem,” Gandhi says. Despite the challenges, she believes originality remains essential. “Being unique matters more than ever,” she says.
With Arijit Singh, it’s only about the art, not about the clothes you wear-Nikhita Gandhi
10:16 AM
Torna Chakraborty (BOMBAY TIMES; April 11, 2026)
Nikhita Gandhi, who recently enjoyed an afternoon hike around Rabindra Sarobar with us over a chilled bhaanr of lassi, also wanted to spend some time with the friendly strays in the lake’s vicinity. But every single one of them seemed to be cooling off in some shaded corner, away from the scorching sun. We too settled down in a cool, breezy spot to have a candid chat about her three dogs and the unconditional love they offer every day, and why she feels that adopting Indies is important.
‘Please rescue and adopt, preferably Indies’
Nikhita revealed that her journey as a pet parent began with a rescue dog, who she co-parented with friends in Mumbai. For someone constantly on the move, the Qafirana singer admits that being a pet parent comes with its own challenges.
“It’s a huge responsibility. I practically live in airports, but I make sure there are people to take care of them at home. We make sure that they’re never alone,” she says, adding, “Spending time with them feels therapeutic, especially when you have a bad day. They can sense it. There’s so much love in the house because of them.”
A strong advocate for adoption, she hates the bias against Indies. “All three of my dogs are Indies. Please rescue and adopt them. I believe in giving them a home. They bring immense love, comfort, and healing that changes your life,” she adds.
‘Kolkata will always mould me as an artist’
Nikhita calls herself a Benjabi (Bengali + Punjabi) and swears by how the city continues to play an important role in her journey.
“Kolkata is an artistic city. There’s an ease here, a cultural acceptance of the arts that allows you to dream freely. That will always mould the artist I continuously evolve into,” she said.
From learning Odissi as a child to training in Hindustani classical music, her foundation is unmistakably rooted in the city. The singer never misses her bhar-er chaa, even though she is a coffee person, the city somehow manages to break that habit. Growing up in Lake Gardens, her ritual was to take a stroll by the lake. She also acknowledged the strong presence of Bengalis in the music industry and said she never felt disconnected from the city.
“I have bumped into so many Bengalis in the music industry. We have been singing and dancing since childhood. So it’s a very natural course to enter the arts and to enter the music industry.”
‘With Arijit, it’s always about the art’
Nikhita’s latest track with Arijit Singh is trending, and that too after he decided to step away from playback singing.
Speaking about her association with the singer, she says, “My first song with Arijit was Raabta from Agent Vinod, and since then, we’ve been part of so many popular tracks such as Ullu Ka Pattha from Jagga Jasoos, Aavan Jaavan from War 2, and more. With him, it’s only about the art – not about the clothes you wear, or your branding – just the art. It’s a very beautiful thing for me – that I get to be a part of his legacy, and that he’s such an important part of mine.”
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I feel the bias against Indie dogs is akin to racism. It’s like you’re discriminating against our own breed of dogs
Sunidhi Chauhan Dehradun incident: Singers share their experiences at college festivals
8:07 AM
All about love and drama: From cups hurled at the artistes to students chasing the singer’s vehicles, performers tell us about their experiences at college festivals
Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2024)
For the average concert-goer, a flying bottle, students dancing on barricades or throwing water during fests is a common sight. The recent incident at SGRR University in Dehradun, where Sunidhi Chauhan dodged a bottle while performing on stage, is yet another in the line of instances that singers have faced at fests. “Fests mein aisa hota hi hai, woh thode scary toh hote hi hain,” singers tell us.
What happened?
During Sunidhi Chauhan’s recent concert (May 2) in Dehradun, a bottle was flung at her. “The bottle came flying towards me and hit the mic. Mere saath aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha, so I was taken aback. I was not hurt, and I continued singing. I realized that it was not done intentionally,” the singer told us.
Salim Merchant: These things happen, not so surprised
It happened a long time ago with me at a college in Faridabad. I think it was a plastic cup or something but a couple of them were hurled on stage. It didn’t really hit my face. These things happen. I am not so surprised and I feel in a crowd of five to six thousand people, there are always a few odd ones but because of those, others should not suffer and miss out on the musical experience that they are having. You should just ignore and let it pass like Sunidhi did.
Kailash Kher: College fests thode scary toh hote hai
In 2014, we were performing at a DU college and there was some ego tussle within two university student groups. Excitement was at its peak and all of a sudden, there were a lot of lathis and so many sharp objects were thrown in the crowd. Palak jhapakte hi kuchh log stage tak aa gaye. Humko protect kar diya wahan ke management ne, lekin kuchh log wahan chadhke narebaji karne lage. Phir humne dekha kisi ka sar phoota hua hai, humko toh jaake car mein baithna pada. Kuchh logon ko photos chahiye issliye jhagda hua. Hum car mein baithe, toh ek banda car ke peeche bhaaga aur bola, ‘Bhai chahe mera haath toot jaye, main toh haath nikalunga nahi gaadi se’. Matlab mohabbat bhi hai, pyaar bhi hai, lekin aisa scary pyaar? Toh DU aur yeh college fests mein aisi cheeze hote hain yeh thode scary hai. Woh energy bhi alag hoti hai.
Nikhita Gandhi: This has happened to me particularly in Delhi colleges
This has happened tons of times at my shows too, particularly in Delhi colleges. I was initially oblivious to it while performing, and then my bandmates told me that during several of our shows, bottles, oranges, and other random objects had been thrown around both in the audience and on stage. A bottle almost hit me once. It’s really sad and scary that people can get like this during concerts. It can cause accidents to both them and the people on stage.
Akriti Kakar: Don’t know how I’d feel if a bottle was thrown at me
This has never happened with me in all of my performing career. But people have said nasty or borderline nasty things sometimes. And back in the day, I was too chicken to reply but now I am not. So that’s one change I have brought in myself to handle situations like these. But honestly, I don’t know how I’d feel if someone would throw a bottle or something else on stage. As an artiste, that is devastating and that’s not why you display your art and talent in front of people. You want to be loved, appreciated and respected. If something like this happens, I think what Sunidhi did was absolutely praise-worthy. She handled it with utmost grace and so beautifully with a great presence of mind and I think I would like to salute her for it. Some artistes can be temperamental, call off a concert. One can shed a tear, one can get angry, there are so many ways to handle a situation like this, but what she did was incredible.
Rahul Vaidya: A host at a private party threw a glass with alcohol on stage
I was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, it was a private party and the host got really drunk and I think he had a pattern of getting violent after having alcohol. He threw a glass with alcohol on the stage angrily which ended up hitting almost the right eye of my keyboardist. The injury was so bad that he had to get 12 stitches on his eyebrow. There was blood all over the stage, we were helpless because we were in a foreign country. And when someone invites us, you really can’t do much about it.
Vidya Balan would be the right choice for my biopic; Bhumi Pednekar is also fantastic-Usha Uthup
8:56 AM
Anna Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; March 28, 2024)
Padma Bhushan Usha Uthup recently went viral on social media for her rendition of Miley Cyrus’ hit track, Flowers. “It made me a huge hit with the youngsters, and isn’t that marvellous?” she asks.
The pop icon, who has sung in 17 Indian and eight foreign languages, and has had performances across the globe, adds, “I will sing anything and everything that people love. I’m a people’s singer.”
Usha Di, as she is lovingly known, was in Bengaluru recently to perform as part of the Alive India concert. This was her first concert in the city since winning the Padma Bhushan. In a chat with us, she expressed her wish of Vidya Balan doing her biopic, her dream of collaborating with artistes who are “diabolically different” from her and more. Excerpts:
‘WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC, WHAT GOES AROUND ALWAYS COMES AROUND’
Just like life itself, music is cyclical. You’re never going to hear, say, Kishore Kumar or Lata Mangeshkar come up on stage and sing. But you will see the younger generation taking to these songs, and the melodies of these legends will live on forever.
‘INSTAGRAM HAS BEEN MARVELLOUS IN HELPING ME REACH SO MANY PEOPLE’
I’m grateful for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and any other arena that allows us to showcase music. They say it’s fleeting, but I think it’s important if it helps you celebrate music. It’s the same with AI; I don’t know how successful it is going to be, but if there’s a good reaction to it, then it’s great. If it’s not useful, you will know immediately by the manner in which the younger generation takes to it. Only what’s truly good will endure.
‘YOU CAN PLEASE SO MANY GENERATIONS BY DOING COVERS’
Singing with other bands and artists is crucial in my eyes and I’ve been doing it for ages. If you work only with yourself, there is no challenge to it, and I’m always up for a challenge. Covers, too, are a great way to reach a broader audience and please so many generations. I sang Miley Cyrus’ Flowers and Adele’s Skyfall which went on to become huge hits among the younger generations. Besides, I’m always trying to see how better I can do the same thing.
'WOULD LOVE TO SING AMAZING GRACE WITH HARIHARAN'
I would love to sing with artists who are diabolically different from me. There’s Nikhita Gandhi, who I think is absolutely fantastic. I would love to do something with Shankar Mahadevan and Hariharan, our styles are in contrast to each other, especially Hariharan and myself. Say, for example, if I were to sing a song like Amazing Grace, and Hariharan did a version of a Bhajan, it would be so exciting. They’re different kinds of hymns, yes; but I don’t believe genres can be different all the time. There are seven musical notes and somewhere down the line they have to blend.
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I’m a complete South Indian and proud to be one. I just love returning to Bengaluru. Here, people come for a show ready to enjoy themselves and they know their music
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Usha Uthup, on her iconic look:
The saree, bangles, bindi, flowers in my hair, – when I was starting out singing in nightclubs, this was never intended to be a statement; it was just my middle-class upbringing. But now, I'm really grateful to God for being born in India and for giving me this look that has become so powerful to me
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In a biopic of me, the obvious choice to play a young Usha would be Vidya Balan. There’s also Bhumi Pednekar who I think would be fantastic
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Usha Uthup, on her Padma Bhushan:
If I were a classical singer, dancer or instrumentalist, then to get a Padma award would be quite a natural development. But I am just someone who enjoys good music and wants to make people happy through it. So, to be recognized for that by my country was a fantastic feeling
We need more solo songs, say female playback singers
8:27 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2023)
While Bollywood has always had a significant number of talented female singers who have made remarkable contributions to the music industry, the number of solo female songs in Hindi films, overall, has been much lesser in comparison to the number of solo male songs and duets. And, in the last few years, this discrepancy has only increased.
Even duets often feature the female vocalist for the last one minute of a three-minute song, case in point -- the recent popular number Tere Pyaar Mein from Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi. The song sparked a debate on this subject, and many female singers believe that, ‘It’s the society, more than the film or music industry, that is responsible’.
‘Still a long way to go for female solo songs’
While Nikhita Gandhi has had two solo Bollywood songs this year, she believes that there is definitely a disparity. “There is a slight tilt towards male songs in Bollywood playback. There is usually a lot of male-centric music in Bollywood. Having said that, I wouldn’t say that there isn’t any female song at all, because I just sang Mushkil from the film Blind (for Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes) and Banjaare from Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat. There is still a long way to go for female solo songs.”
‘There is some kind of a subconscious choice which a creator has’
Shreya Ghoshal, who has sung the maximum solo songs in Bollywood in the last three years, says, “I think somehow there is some kind of a subconscious choice which a creator or producer has, which stems from the society we live in. But now, things should change. There are girl bosses everywhere. It’s the time for women, but the same is yet to reflect in our films, stories and music.”
‘Songs depend on the importance a female lead has in the narrative’
Music composer Jeet Gannguli agrees that there is a dearth of female-led songs in the Hindi film industry. “It all depends on the heroine’s character and the importance she has in the narrative. In all of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s works, female solos are beautifully used because they have significant roles. And female-oriented action films do not have much scope other than background music and title songs.”
‘Female singers want to explore various kinds of songs’
Shilpa Rao is among the few female singers who recently had a big solo hit, Besharam Rang from Pathaan, but understands the need for change. “We need to have more voices, and by voices, I mean perspectives. Every gender has its own voice that needs to be represented. The story will be incomplete otherwise.”
‘Films are male dominated, so more songs are sung by men’
Harshdeep Kaur explains that the lack of female voices is because there aren’t enough female protagonists in our movies. She says, “Most films generally are male dominated and that’s why there are many more songs that are sung by men. Unless an entire film is women-centric, with women protagonists, there won’t be many solo songs for female vocalists. Even at big music festivals and music concerts, the headliners are usually male singers.”
‘Even if it is just four lines, the male perspective is prioritized’
Composer Shantanu Moitra says, “In most Bollywood films, directors, producers and scriptwriters are male, and therefore, the narratives are from the male perspective. Today, the overall usage of songs has anyway reduced in films, even in that limited space, the point of view given out is that of a male, hence, you are listening to more male songs. Even if it is just four lines, the male perspective is prioritized. There are exceptions of course, but it all depends on the subject of the film. And that is the snapshot of India – for the average woman in non-urban India, the narrative is controlled by the man. And the representation of a voice comes from there. Sickening but true.”
Bollywood has about four-five songs in the film albums these days and female songs are much lesser than before. But it all depends on the heroine’s character and the importance she has in the narrative
Jeet Gannguli, composer:
Today, the usage of songs has reduced in films, and even in that limited space, the point of view given out is that of a male, hence, you are listening to more male songs
Shantanu Moitra, composer:
Most films generally are male dominated and that’s why there are many more songs that are sung by men. Unless an entire film is women-centric, with women protagonists, there won’t be many solo songs for female vocalists
Harshdeep Kaur:
I think narrative-wise, people tend to just adhere to more male vocals. A lot of it is also due to the fact that our society, in general, is like that. In India, we are sort of just pre-conditioned to listen to the male voice, including ads and documentaries. I think that it’s society, more than the film or the music industry, that is responsible
Nikhita Gandhi:
We need to have more voices, and by voices, I mean perspectives. Every gender has its own voice that needs to be represented. The story will be incomplete otherwise
KK’s death has made us more cautious; Now, first aid, ambulance and doctors are a must at concerts, say singers
8:09 AM
Artistes are now demanding on-ground medical assistance, besides prioritizing their health, while also ensuring that they as well as their teams get enough rest ahead of performances
Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; June 18, 2022)
After KK’s sudden death following his concert at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata, several reports stated that the venue was overcrowded, while those present at the concert added that the singer was seen sweating and complaining of uneasiness. After making his way back to the hotel, when KK’s discomfort did not subside, the he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead’. A subsequent report quoted a doctor who conducted KK’s autopsy as saying that he “could have been saved if CPR was administered on time”.
Shocked and shaken following the artiste’s demise, several singers are calling for stringent safety and emergency facilities at concerts. As a part of their pre-requisites, they are now requesting that doctors, medical experts and assistance be on standby at the venue.
ARTISTES NEED TO PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN, WALK OUT THE MOMENT THEY DON’T FEEL OKAY: AKRITI KAKAR
Akriti Kakar says she was deeply disturbed by the news of the singer passing away, and has not performed since the incident. She says, “Now, I feel that, most importantly, we artistes should start putting our foot down and walk out the moment we don’t feel fine physically. It could something be as simple as a strange headache. We should never take our health lightly.”
She adds that “as a mandatory requirement, we are asking for ample fans on stage for the band and myself. We are also asking for a medical expert to be present at all times for any assistance. ”
ANYONE CAN FEEL UNWELL SINGER, BAND, AUDIENCE: SHILPA RAO
Shilpa Rao shares, “Honestly, we didn’t think about this much before, but now I feel it is necessary to take precautions to avoid any sort of health-related issues at the venue. It can be for anybody – the band, an audience member or the organizer. Be it first aid, a doctor, oxygen or an ambulance – I think all of this is a must at any venue, especially for large capacity events. ”
I ENSURE MY TEAM GETS AMPLE REST & CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCIVE FOR US TO FUNCTION SMOOTHLY: RICHA SHARMA
“Following the sad demise of our friend KK, I think our entire fraternity should be more cautious. We are already insisting on having medical assistance and emergency facilities at every show. I have become much more careful about my routine during shows. I make sure that I and my team get ample rest and that the conditions are conducive for us to function smoothly. A performer puts in more than 100% on stage for each show and I feel all organisers should take utmost care of performers who work with them regularly,” says Richa Sharma.
ORGANISERS NOW PREFER OUTDOOR VENUES, WE REQUEST FOR MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY: NIKHITA GANDHI
Nikhita Gandhi, who was set to perform at the same venue as KK in Kolkata, says, “Organizers are now avoiding indoor venues for Bollywood acts, as they attract a large number of people, which can get unmanageable. Following KK’s death, there was a lot of discussion about how the venue (where he performed) was overcrowded and not sufficiently ventilated. From the venue where KK performed, our show shifted to an outdoor space, and we were quite thankful for that. We have now also requested the organizers for our upcoming shows to make medical facilities available at the venue for any kind of emergency.”
Omicron scare: Covid-19 forces artistes to call off live gigs, again
8:20 AM
Debarati S Sen and Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; January 9, 2022)
In light of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the unprecedented increase in the number of Coronavirus positive cases in Mumbai, and the curbs set up by Maharashtra government to curtail its spread, most concerts, private gigs and stage events in the city stand cancelled or postponed.
Live performances that had picked up quite well in the last quarter of 2021, have all quieted down to a large extent under the current circumstances in Mumbai, despite it being the season for live music shows, concerts, events, college festivals and wedding gigs. The Maharashtra government has banned large gatherings and also put restrictions on the number of people that can attend events. That apart, in the last few days, Mumbai’s singer-musician community has had multiple Covid-positive cases including Sonu Nigam, Vishal Dadlani, Shankar Mahadevan and others. While musicians agree that the situation is tough, they urge fans to mask up and stay safe, and also talk about how this current phase will impact the music industry, once again.
ABOUT 80% OF THE EVENTS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED; IT’S DIFFICULT FOR MUSICIANS AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS: RAHUL VAIDYA
“About 80% of the events have been postponed. It is extremely saddening for the people who work in the live entertainment industry, especially those who survive on daily wages. It’s also very difficult for musicians. I have already started getting messages from people who are worried about what’s going to happen, but I am positive that this won’t last for very long,” says Rahul Vaidya.
WAS IMPORTANT TO CANCEL OUR UK TOUR FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FANS: JUBIN NAUTIYAL
Jubin Nautiyal, who cancelled his December 2021 UK tour, shares, “It’s just unfortunate that we are once again facing this situation, but postponing the concerts was a conscious decision taken for the safety of my fans. A couple of shows in India have been cancelled too.”
Jubin adds that it is important to follow the guidelines that are being issued. “One thing we have learnt recently is to work from anywhere. Last time we were not as prepared, but now, with many of us fully vaccinated, we all have to be responsible and follow whatever guidelines are being issued by our government and health experts. That is the only way to keep moving ahead,” he says.
UNPREDICTABLE IS THE NEW NORMAL AND WE MUST ADAPT TO THAT: SHALMALI KHOLGADE
Shalmali Kholgade says, “I just got back from a holiday, ready to begin working again, but it looks like I will have to wait. Although I would have loved to get back to it, several of my shows are either cancelled or postponed. Unpredictable is the new normal and we must adapt to that as well, just like we’ve adapted to other things in the past. I’ve decided to focus my energies on completing my album.”
IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR ARTISTES WHO DEPEND ON LIVE CONCERTS FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD: KAVITA KRISHNAMURTI
Kavita Krishnamurti shares, “All my engagements have been cancelled. Though concerts were beginning to start a couple of months ago, the pace was still slow compared to the pre-COVID scenario. It’s going to be very difficult for artistes who depend on live gigs for their livelihood. The situation is really bad now and I do hope that some organisations raise money for these artistes through online events and fundraisers.”
THERE’S LOSS OF WORK DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AGAIN, BUT WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT: ARKO PRAVO MUKHERJEE
Arko says, “I’ve just arrived in LA from Chicago after a music video shoot and judging a singing competition. My recording has been cancelled as my music producer and family tested positive. So, I understand the loss of work due to this pandemic again. But we have to be patient. A couple of years of difficulty will be forgotten in the long run, but we can’t afford to be ‘penny wise pound foolish’ by ignoring the health scare.”
THESE MONTHS ARE CRUCIAL BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING: SALIM MERCHANT
“Just as we began to go back to normalcy, events started to get cancelled. But, this is something that we have to live with now. Musicians and performers have to work out a way to live and we have to work out an alternate way of life. The performance industry has really suffered in the last two years and it’s about to suffer some more now. These two to three months are crucial for us because there are a lot of weddings, concerts, college festivals that usually happen. The earnings of musicians, performers, people in the events industry, stage artistes are affected. Having said that, I’m still performing at some events and I feel grateful about that. These are small private gatherings and weddings in smaller cities,” the musician shares.
IF THIS PHASE LASTS FOR TOO LONG, IT WILL SEVERELY IMPACT THOSE WHO DEPEND ENTIRELY ON LIVE GIGS: AKRITI KAKAR
Akriti Kakar says three of her gigs have been cancelled in January itself. “Just when we felt that things were getting better, with artistes travelling extensively, and weddings and concerts returning, this new variant came in to walk all over us again. I hope this phase passes soon and we can resume our work again. If it does not, then it will severely impact those who depend solely on live gigs, just like in the first and second wave,” she shares.
SINCE THE LAST WEEK THINGS HAVE GONE QUIET: NIKHITA GANDHI
She says, “It was exciting to start travelling again for concerts. Things were picking up in November 2021 and it felt incredible to be on the road. But, things have gone quiet again and almost everyone I know seems to be catching the new variant. I find myself feeling low quite often and it's counterproductive. There’s a lot of studio work to do from home, but the heart is hurting from all of this, making it hard to make music.”
IT’S DEPRESSING AND SCARY, BUT HEALTH IS A PRIORITY: MAHALAKSHMI IYER
“It’s heartbreaking to see that just when we were all gearing up for a good season, events are getting cancelled or postponed. It’s both depressing and scary. But yes, health is a priority, so let’s hope we get through this quickly. Everyone please mask up and stay safe,” the singer urged.
WE ARE HOPING THE COVID SITUATION IMPROVES BY APRIL-MAY: SACHIN-JIGAR
Composer duo Sachin-Jigar shares that they have cancelled many of their gigs keeping the current situation in mind. “The whole live entertainment industry will take a hit because of this situation. January to March was slated to be the peak shaadi season, but we are hoping the situation improves by April-May. The last two years have been terrible. We know a lot of musicians who left Mumbai and went back to their hometowns for alternative means of income.”
Are Kanika Kapoor’s actions a reflection of criminal negligence? Singers and composers open up
8:18 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 23, 2020)
On March 9, Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor landed at the Mumbai airport from London, UK. After spending a couple of days in the city, she flew to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on March 11 to help her family move into a new house. According to her father, Rajeev Kapoor, she took a trip to Kanpur on March 13 and then came back to the Capital to attend two parties.
But the date that upset the applecart was March 20 when she was tested positive for Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Ever since, the Baby Doll singer has received massive backlash on social media where many have labelled her actions as “criminal negligence”. On March 21, an FIR was lodged against her at Sarojini Nagar Police Station, Lucknow. “An FIR might be an overreaction albeit understandable because the price for her negligence will be paid for by several innocents,” says singer Sona Mohapatra.
Ashoke Pandit, director IFTDA, says that he has spoken to Ashok Dubey, president of FWICE, and they’re going to take an action against the singer. “Our office is shut, but the members have had an internal discussion and we are planning to take a strict action against Kanika. Her behaviour isn’t acceptable,” he says.
Pandit adds that the FIR filed is justified. “In a hypothetical situation, if any person present at the party gets infected and passes away, she should be held responsible for murder.”
Musician Jasleen Royal believes that the problem lies with organising a party at a time like this. “All of us need to stay indoors and not meet people. I believe that it was wrong to be organising a party in the first place,” she says.
Divya Kumar who collaborated with Kapoor for a song in Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015) asserts that attending a social gathering amounts to “criminal offence”. Reverberating Royal, Kumar says, “She went to a party that was also attended by politicians who have constantly been telling us to not go to any social gathering. All of them should be accused of criminal negligence and not just Kanika ji. The ones to be blamed the most are those people who’ve organised the gathering.”
For Mohapatra, the larger problem lies with how the cream of the upper class societies functions. “The real problem lies with our toxic celebrity and VIP culture which mollycoddles famous, rich and powerful people into thinking that they can operate by different rules. Senior politicians and leaders, who ought to have been ‘walking the talk’ of social distancing, attended these parties.”
Veteran music composer and vocalist, Bappi Lahiri, who has worked with Kapoor, opines that attending a party with the symptoms of Covid-19 makes for “irresponsible behaviour”. He says, “It’s an unfortunate incident. She should have taken precautions, but the same time, it’s a medical emergency and I hope she recovers soon.”
Nikhita Gandhi, singer, in a similar vein, says, “People are shaming her on social media. If it’s really that way, then it’s careless and irresponsible of her to socialise.”
Mohapatra adds that celebrities not obliging with airport officials for a medical check-up is also an issue that needs to be addressed. “The privileged and entitled elite of this country misbehave with officials in the airports if inconvenienced for a check. They complain about quarantine facilities as if they deserve to be kept in a five-star hotel,” she shares.
When contacted, music director Tanishk Bagchi says, “I don’t want to comment on it. I want these things to get over as we need to work. We have to be safe and at home.”
(With inputs from Sonil Dedhia)
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