“Sensational Singer” Issue with Nkhita Gandhi
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NIKHITA GANDHI
1. How would you describe your singing journey in Bollywood so far ? It’s been incredible, serendipitous and overwhelming! If you told 12 year old me that I would be singing in films, for the biggest music directors and biggest projects and doing music for a living, I would think you had lost your mind! Being someone with no singing reality show exposure or any such preparation for entering the big leagues, I really do feel grateful each and every day. I thought I would be practicing dentistry right now and here, I am travelling the world with my tunes and performing on magnanimous stages. I honestly only have one goal, and that is to always put my best foot forward and do music with full honesty. 2. What are your favourite style hacks from contemporary fashion trends ? I love styling myself and preparing looks for shows and events. I think one’s personality flows out on many canvases and music being one, clothes are also a huge form of expression for me. I’ve always been a chubby kid growing up and though an extrovert and confident, felt a little conscious of my physical self. I love that I get to break that now and own each and every curve. I think fashion for me is all and all personality. A big T and boots is red carpet worthy for me as much as a gown. It’s who you are that matters. I love up cycling my old clothes and re-imagining styles from within my wardrobe as well. A lot of my statement jackets and accessories have been made by me in my spare time, including those braids that everyone keeps asking me about! 3. What are some of the challenges you face when performing ? Technical hurdles aside, I think it’s vibe- gauge that can be the most overwhelming! It’s sometimes so hard to understand if the audience is on the same, pulse as you if they are far away and you can’t really hear them. But I think I’m mostly in a trance on stage… I try to keep re-inventing our show so, that it constantly evolves and has new things each time. In India though a lot of the time the heat can be very challenging because I love wearing jackets on stage (LOL) 4.What is your idea of fitness ? Feeling great and strong and happy. A lot of people ask me how I manage to not be a smoker living in a chaotic city like Mumbai, but honestly I love the chaos. I love playing sports and staying active through dance as well. I think fitness comes in different shapes and sizes, and a lot of people keep telling you what you SHOULD do but always ALWAYS listen to your own body. It has it’s own rhythm and the moment you match it, your fitness is optimal. 5.Do you have any ideal workout routine ? I love starting my day with a run or a good game of badminton. II try to mix it up so that the workouts are fun but am more of a sports person than a gym person. Because of all the travel it’s difficult to stick to one thing, so I usually choose workouts that can be done anywhere. 6.What has been the best performance of your career so far? There was a very special performance I did in Lady Andal in Chennai. I remember performing there once when, I was a nobody in the industry and a lot of people praised that performance. And last year I was back there ( and pretty nervous for having to come back to the same stage) and the response was out of this world. It was also very sentimental for me as I began my musical journey in film with Rahman Sir in Chennai. 7.Do you think one should dress to impress? I think one should dress to slay. Impress no one but your inner child. 8.Talking about fashion, What is style for you personally? Also how do you define fashion? Style is feeling like a BAWSE in absolutely anything. I love breaking norms and finding my own language. Like with our shoot for this magazine, I was very excited to try out the saree look the way I had envisioned it. If I break it down for you, I think you would see how each and everything has a connection with my personality. I’ve spent 13 years in my childhood learning Odissi in which our uniform was half saree. So the saree is very effortless for me and a huge part of who I am today. The corset is something I absolutely love right from my emo-goth pre teen phase. The shades were a homemade addition where, I wanted to add my Athleisure touch with the rustic silver jewellery. Every piece in that look had a story, and that to me is fashion. 9.What’s next for you in 2023? Music music music. I have a lot of my own compositions in the pipeline that will see the light of day this year. You’ll get to see me dance and perform in many music videos too!. 10. What is your favourite place to travel to? Are you a beach person or a mountain person ? Anywhere Iv’e never been before. I’m a mountain person ( though I love beaches too). I’m actually a hiking person, I love the wonder that comes with the mountains. I have many fond memories in the Himalayas, one was a trek where we climbed a peak in Pangarchula ( near Nainital), in knee deep snow and another was Tumling where you wake up at 5am to catch the clear sunrise, hold a steel glass filled with piping hot chai and watch the Kanchenjunga, range enchant your eyes in it’s magnificence and devour you in it’s glory. 11. What is the one thing that you do to take a pause from your fast and famous life? I think we get a lot of pauses naturally. I try to do creative things like paint and make new clothes. Sometimes disappear into the mountains ( as you can clearly see I love them). Having said that, I love being busy and on the go. 12. How do you stay motivated when practicing and performing ? Everything motivates me. The craft, the people, the listeners and their undivided love. 13. Who is your idol singer? I look upto many singers. I don’t have one Idol and I love to learn from everyone. 14. What type of music do you prefer to sing? I leaRn towards a lot of RnB and soul. I love to sing Jazz too. I truly enjoy a lot of genres though. From Indian semi classical to western pop. Through me in any genre and I’d love to find myself in it :)