She is well known for her work in Bollywood, Tollywood and Kollywood.
She is certainly a name that’s hard to miss when it comes to Indian and Punjabi Folk music.
But for the Indian kid who grew up in the 90s, she is one of the first-ever Indian pop girl bands – VIVA!
Read on for FACE’s Managing Editor, Neha Sachar Mittal’s fun chat with her namesake.
1)VIVA was a very interesting chapter of your life… let’s begin there… How did it all start? What was the experience like and was it a little ahead of its time for India?
Viva was a perfect start to my career because I wanted to be a pop star and Viva was a pop band and one of its kind. A cult in itself, definitely an iconic and sensational start to my career. All great things are ahead of their time because they have to set the tone for the generation to come so I think it was a great time and a good experience. There were a lot of good, bad, and ugly things that I learned and it wasn’t easy. To most, it seemed we were served on a platter but we were literally thrown into the world of A-listers and there was a certain expectation that everybody had from us to deliver and actually we were just really kids who were finding their way into the world.
2)Your social media account shows that you like dancing as much as you like to sing… You were a part of Shiamak Dawar’s troupe as well once…is there maybe a wish to diversify career-wise?
I’ll always be a singer first and then a dancer but I’d much rather call myself a performer. I love dancing and singing together more as it gives me a sense of empowerment when I’m on stage to have that extra talent to be able to express through my body. And it’s art at the end of the day there’s no need to diversify. I would love to judge a dancing competition and be a part of it in some way. There are such great dancing competitions happening in the country. I’m not saying that I am the “most qualified” but I would say that “I’m qualified enough”. I love dancing and If there’s another dance show like “Jhalak Dikhlaja” I would love to participate or judge or be a part of it in any way.
3)You have been a part of a lot of reality shows – participating, hosting and judging. What is it about the genre that excites you?
Well, I started my career as a reality show contestant and then I became a part of a band. I also feel it’s a great way of connecting with your audience. Television is literally the heart of India and it’s a perfect opportunity to connect and direct your audience towards your art and your songs and broaden your horizon. I like that.
4)You have often been described as Fiery, frank and fearless…so we would love to know your take on the following –
Trolling on the Internet: I feel the internet has become an anonymous pool of crap and everybody feels like they’re entitled to have an opinion and do something anonymously which is hurtful, rude and downright disgusting.
Body Shaming: I think the best way that people use to target somebody’s self-confidence is to shame them for their body and I again feel like it’s something that really hurts and affects people, it’s affected me in the past and it really breaks your self-esteem and people should be mindful about what they say and since we can’t change the way people think I think it’s important for people who are shamed to stop taking that shame and guilt upon themselves.
Bigg Boss: It’s a very life-changing experience for people who participate in it, for the people who watch it I’ve never understood why they do it because I do feel it’s a very voyeuristic platform and kudos to the makers because I feel it’s a one of a kind show.
Gender Equality in the industry: Far away from it but I think it’s quite improved but still very far away.
5)Your body of work is very impressive but is there one particular track that’s very special to you? And why?
It’s very difficult to pinpoint one and since I’ve sung in different languages and every song has changed my life in a different way but I personally like the composition of Dil Diyan Gallan, I love that song. Also, Dhunki was life-changing for me from my own Folk songs. I love Madhaniya.
6)Your sartorial and eclectic fashion choices often end up getting a reaction, would you say it’s yet another way for you to express yourself?
Yes my fashion choices aren’t common or ordinary and I’ve been shamed, shocked and spoken of in not very nice ways in the past but I think people are starting to understand now that what I’m doing is not to make a statement this is part of who I am and I’ve always been out of the ordinary when it comes to fashion since I was actually very young but now that I have the accessories and access to the right clothes I can push the buttons. And yes it is a way to express myself and clothes and fashion are one of the best ways to have fun, to enjoy, to exhibit yourself the way you see yourself and for me, it’s like art.
