Looking at musicians who are pursuing interests outside of the recording studio
The creative space today is undergoing an interesting phase of fluidity. Artistes are no longer pigeonholed — actors are taking to the mic, directors are doing bit roles in films and singers are dabbling in filmmaking. Earlier this month, singer Dr Palash Sen made his directorial debut with Jiya Jaye. As the creative lines get blurred, we look at B-Town musicians who have actively pursued other interests.
Shankar Mahadevan
One third of the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Mahadevan had his first brush with acting in the Marathi film, Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (2015). "I realised that acting is much more than delivering dialogues. I am used to facing the camera during interviews and videos, but transporting myself into the character was the greatest challenge," says Mahadevan, who is working on his next acting venture – a musical comedy featuring Sunidhi Chauhan and Papon. "I am also producing a Marathi film."
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Mika Singh
The singer ventured into acting in 2010 with the Punjabi films, Mitti and Wrath Kapoor. The 2014 film Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaya marked Singh's Bollywood acting debut. He also turned producer with the movie, which tanked at the box office.
Anushka Manchanda
Manchanda realised she was a natural in front of the camera when she signed Angry Indian Goddesses (2015). "It won critical acclaim and released in over 70 countries. I featured on the list of 15 breakout actors from all the films screened at the Toronto International Film Festival," she says.
Babul Supriyo
While singing remains his first love, acting held an enigmatic appeal for Supriyo. "When I was recording for a song for Tarun Majumdar's film, he asked me if I wanted to act. That's how Chander Bari happened," says the singer, who made his acting debut with the 2007 Bengali film. Besides acting in Bengali films like Hitlist (2009) and Ogo Bodhu Sundori (2010), he made his Bollywood debut with Mr Joe B Carvalho (2014). "I also played a pivotal role in Posto," says the politician-singer, who has two more Bengali projects in the pipeline. He has also written the screenplay for two Hindi films.
Shekhar Ravjiani
Following his acting stint in Neerja (2016), Ravjiani says he is also interested in filmmaking. "I'd love to direct a film. I have a few ideas, and I'm hoping to get cracking on them soon." Acting is not off the table either for the composer. "I followed my Neerja act with a play in the UK. I am considering some more acting offers," he says.
Gippy Grewal
A sensation in Punjab, the singer made his acting debut with Jimmy Sheirgill-starrer Mel Karade Rabba (2010). With 16 films, including two Hindi releases, Second Hand Husband (2015) and Lucknow Central (2017), in his filmography so far, Grewal has struck a balance between his acting and music career. He also directed a Punjabi film, Ardaas, last year. Says Grewal, "It became a huge success in Punjab, encouraging me to make more films."
Himesh Reshammiya
Had it not been for his successful career as a singer-composer, Reshammiya says he wouldn't have found a foothold in Bollywood as an actor. "I could do so many films as an actor because I became a popular face as a composer," he says. Reshammiya has produced four Bollywood films so far — Damadamm (2011), Khiladi 786 (2012), The Xposé (2014) and Teraa Surroor (2016). He also wrote the screenplay for the first three movies. Although 10-films-old, Reshammiya hasn't been able to taste success as an actor.
Others bitten by the acting bug
> Sonu Nigam £ Lucky Ali
> Yo Yo Honey Singh £ Shaan
> Atif Aslam £ Vasundhara Das
> Monica Dogra
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