She started her journey with a talent hunt show and is now a popular singer-composer with several hit songs to her credit. In this exclusive interview, Jasleen Royal talks about her song and cameo from ‘Gully Boy’, working on ‘Hichki, which was her first film as a solo composer, the pros and cons of being an untrained musician and upcoming projects.
How did Gully Boy happen?
I met Zoya at the wrap-up party of ‘Baar Baar Dekho’. I went up to her and told her that I am a big fan of her work. She had heard my songs from ‘Baar Baar Dekho’. I met her at her office and made her hear a couple of my songs. She asked me where do I come from and what are my influences. She told me she was working on a film and will get in touch with me if she has something for me. She had a very positive vibe and I looked forward to meeting her again. After two months, I got a call from her office asking me to come down for a meeting. I met Ankur Tewari, the music supervisor, and he told me about the kind of song they were looking for.
You have done a cameo in ‘Gully Boy’. You play this singer-musician who gets booed by the college crowd. Did you have any apprehension while playing this part?
I had faith in Zoya’s sensibilities and knew that she would not put me through something ridiculous. I was playing a character in the film. The crowd in the film was making fun of me because of something stupid. It took us days to shoot that scene because they had to take shots of the crowd, Alia and Ranveer looking at the concert from another part of the college etc. By the time the shoot got over, I told Zoya that my self-esteem has taken a hit and if somebody is rude to me now, I will break my guitar on his head (laughs). The actors were very sweet to me. They came to me after the shoot and said they love my music and felt terrible about having to boo me in the film.
‘Hichki’ was your first solo film soundtrack as a composer. It was supposed to be a three-song album but eventually ended up having seven songs. How was the experience of working on the film?
I get emotional when somebody says good things about the music of ‘Hichki’. Not many people appreciate original music these days. I was doing some work at Yash Raj Studios when Maneesh Sharma saw me and asked me if I have five minutes to spare. We sat down and he asked me about the kind of music I like and what I want to do as a musician. When you go to a meeting, they ask you how many songs you have in your bank, can you make a wedding song etc. But, the conversation with Maneesh was very different. He wanted to understand me as a person and whether I can do justice to the world which Naina (Rani Mukerji) belonged to in the film.
Do you wish to do more films as a solo composer?
Doing a full film and working on just one or two tracks for a film are very different experiences. I lived with ‘Hichki’ for a year. The songs take the story forward and I was involved with the complete soundtrack. I was meeting the team every day. It was a very enriching experience. I do not have any apprehensions doing a multi-composer soundtrack either. I did one song in ‘Gully Boy’ and working with Zoya and the team was a very memorable experience.
You had participated in ‘India’s Got Talent’. Do you think it gave you a good platform to showcase your talent?
It definitely gave me a head-start but it was not like my life changed completely after participating in the show. You get some recognition as you are seen on TV. After I got out of ‘India’s Got Talent’, I got a few small shows to do. My first gig after the show got over was for a couple’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary in a lawn (laughs). I got paid Rs. 7, 000 for it. I did a few shows after that. Reality shows do not change your life but they give you a platform and then, it depends on how you take it forward as an individual.
You started out as an independent musician and are now doing Bollywood films. Do you identify yourself more as an independent musician or as a Bollywood composer?
I have never really differentiated between the two. I have been doing what I love to do. I have been busy with both Bollywood projects and independent songs. Apart from doing film music, I will be releasing two singles this year.
Apart from singing your own songs, you have also lent your voice to songs composed by other composers. You sung for Amit Trivedi in ‘Dear Zindagi’. Are the two very different experiences?
Yes, every person has a different way of approaching music. I find it very interesting to see how other people work. When I worked with Amit, I was observing him keenly and how he worked. Working with another composer is a great learning experience.
You are associated with a certain kind of a sound. Can we expect something unexpected, maybe something like a classical song from you?
Of course, why not? I have not listened to hard-core Indian classical music but I have grown up listening to the melodies of S.D Burman, R.D Burman and Laxmikant-Pyarelal. I would love to compose something in that space.
Do you see your lack of formal training as a disadvantage?
Being an untrained musician is both an advantage and a disadvantage. I do not follow a set of rules while composing music. That brings a sense of purity to the whole thing. At the same time, since I am not trained I have certain limitations as a composer. I hope to overcome them with time.
Tell us about your song from Akshay Kumar’s ‘Kesari’.
It is a very special film for me as I come from a Sikh family. The song that I have done takes me back to my childhood and the time I used to spend with my grandmother. I did not know how to play the harmonium but I would go to her room and just hit the keys without having any knowledge about the instrument.
What are you doing next?
I will be releasing two singles this year. I have also worked on Sunny Deol’s film ‘Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas’ which launches his son Karan.