Starry Dazzle

Nauheen Cyrusi’ latest onscreen project SIX has won her a lot of kudos but her social endeavour of opening her closet for the Covid Relief Fundraiser has won hearts.

You have recently opened up your closet for COVID relief fundraiser, can you tell us a little about the ideology behind this and what inspired you to go ahead and do this?

I’ve tried to help in every possible way I can. I’ve always tried to go the sustainable way and have started thrifting - and then I realized why not give clothes away and at the same time raise funds during these tough times. I have way too many clothes so it just seemed like the right thing to do! …So grateful and happy to be a part of the Salt Scout close sale

You have been a part of Bollywood for over 18 years now, you have worked on a lot of different projects. How has the journey been?

The journey so far has been pretty amazing. I got into this industry completely by chance and I’m so glad life gave me the opportunity to somehow stick on. I feel it is the most amazing industry to be a part of and I consider myself super lucky and I’m forever grateful.

From doing films to now web shows like Bombay Begums and SIX, how do you feel about the transition?

This is definitely the best time to be a part of the industry especially for women because the kind of scripts that are being made are so much nicer and I just can’t wait to work more. The lockdown has of course dampened the shooting schedule but I can’t wait to be back on a set super soon! Yes, SIX is out now, it’s my latest release on Hotstar and it’s a cool concept and a fun watch. And actually for the first time, I play a non-sweet girl!

Who is the one Bollywood celebrity that you really look up to in terms of their social initiatives?

Sonu Sood!

One of the most popular names in the UK music industry, Arzutraa has created a buzz by releasing two albums in a span of a year.

You released two albums in a time span of a year, can you tell us about that?

It feels incredible to say the least. I do seem to be one of the few females launching albums. I don’t know why that is but I would love to see more females out there doing the same. I have so much confidence now and I feel I can do my third, fourth and so on as easily as brushing my teeth. Of course creativity takes time but the sheer knowledge I gained from these albums has been immense. I have sat with Producers in the studio. I know the whole process of what it takes to make a song from a technical aspect as well as a creative aspect. Covid-19 and losing my father taught me never to waste time, so I guess that’s why I had the sudden urge to launch the second Album sooner than I expected to.

How did you enter the music industry?

I entered the music industry by chance. Incidentally when I started dating an actor who was aiming for Bollywood in 2010, I was so embarrassed when he would ask me about my life and it seemed my life was so boring in comparison to his. So I signed up for singing lessons just to impress him. I loved Bollywood music since my childhood and so decided to sign up in London with an Indian classical teacher Chiranjib Chakraborty who showed me such a beautiful part of music. I thought I was doing it for fun but soon realised it was becoming more than fun. I was following my inner calling. I took it one step further by starting to mingle with producers in London and working on my very first song - an English one called “Feel It”.

Have you been inspired by Indian music?

I only had a love for Hindi songs as my father used to have Bollywood films playing day and night. I never got bored although I could never understand the language and I used to love it when the songs would come on. Bollywood has been my biggest inspiration in my musical life. But UK producers would laugh at my Hindi accent and make me do English albums instead. I then got introduced to Atif Ali in Dubai and since then I never looked back. My Hindi accent was weak but I worked really hard at correcting and fine tuning it. I gave up my whole life to sing in Hindi. It was my dream and I saw it through no matter what obstacles were in my way.

How do you think your audience in the UK take your music?

I don’t feel like I totally fit into the UK Music scene mainly due to the fact that the UK is heavily bhangra orientated or Punjabi Music. Many people tell me to make a bhangra style song just for the UK market but I cannot see myself singing a Bhangra style song. I may try Punjabi as my grandparents are of Indian Punjabi descent.

I believe you faced challenges in your journey. Can you tell us a little about the backlash and resistance you faced from your peers ?

The number one backlash I had was from people saying I could not sing in Hindi as it was not my spoken language. I used to have people laughing at me when they would hear my recorded demos. I even had to undergo counselling as I lost my confidence at one point and it really started to affect my creativity. I however stuck by my dream to sing in Hindi. So I moved on from those surroundings and surrounded myself with people who encouraged me and helped me reach out to my dreams. I remember when I started to work on my own music production, my friend told me, “Women don’t produce music.” I was so disheartened that I stopped. I started working on my Hindi accent by singing to Lata Mangeshkar’s songs every day for 10 years. I signed up for Hindi lessons too. I did whatever I could to overcome any weaknesses. Most of all I let others carry on laughing.

…Any new projects in the pipeline?

I have just started working on my third album. It’s going to be a totally different vibe to my first two. I am so excited to work on this as I feel it’s a reinvention of Arzutraa. I am getting new ideas every day and feel so inspired mainly by nature this time around. I feel like the third album will be more in-tune with the real me – more Bollywood inspired melodies.