15 February,2026 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Swanand Kirkire plays an ageing singer in ‘Bandwaale’
If there's one thing Swanand Kirkire has shown us, it's that creativity can be channelled in many forms. Over the years, he has juggled the roles of a lyricist, composer, singer, and even an actor. With Bandwaale, he has taken on a bigger punt - Kirkire has taken up the roles of creator, writer, lyricist, composer and lead actor in Prime Video's latest musical drama.
"It's the first time I haven't compartmentalised my creativity," said Kirkire, who leads the show along with Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey. "Usually, I am either writing lyrics, composing music, or acting. Here, I allowed myself to be everything at once. It wasn't about proving that I could do multiple things, but about trusting that all these skills come from the same emotional core."
Jointly created by Kirkire and Ankur Tewari, Bandwaale tells the story of three artistes in a small town. As a co-creator who doubled up as the lead actor, Kirkire found himself constantly "shifting between perspective and performance". Juggling different roles not only fuelled his experimental side, but also made him feel liberated as an artiste. "Managing so many creative dimensions wasn't easy. There were moments of doubt and fatigue, but there was also immense joy in seeing an idea evolve from the page to music and finally to performance."
Swanand Kirkire has won two National Film Awards for Best Lyrics. In 2019, he won his third National Film Award, for Best Supporting Actor for âChumbak' (2018)
