You have successfully created a niche for yourself in the industry. How do you look back at your journey so far?
I am happy that you said I have carved a niche for myself in the industry. I look at this journey as a bitter-sweet, emotional and tough journey. I have said this earlier too that just because I have never spoken about my struggles, it doesn’t mean that it has been a bed of roses with no thorns. I have paved my own way and I have been independent largely. I started my journey as a superstar and I had nothing for many years. I rebuilt my career from nothing and with no Godfather. Of course, I had people who supported me throughout but I have stayed here for 21 years and I am really proud of myself.
Many celebrities in the industry are trying to spread body positivity in an age where we have so many false beauty standards around us. You are one of the people who have led by example. Your thoughts…
I came into this industry very body positive and also very confident. However, when I entered this industry, I was made to feel like I am nothing. I was body shamed, slut shamed and was told that I am fat and ugly. I have had ten years of body image issues and eating disorders. I tried to cope with it all in the public eye. It was not something I came with, to Mumbai. Even after two decades of being in this, I still feel the fear that it would all come back. We are afraid to be of a certain size because we are told that is not good. But I have indeed led by example. I have shown my flaws upfront, I have accepted my insecurities. I have bared my body even when it was not perfect and I still do it. I always try to show the humanness in me.
We grow up idolising stars and we just see perfection and stardom. We wonder why we aren’t like that. I have realised there is no such thing as perfection. We all have our good and bad and it is okay to be that way.
Name one of the chart-topping songs you’ve sung and explain why it’s special to you.
I have had many chartbuster songs in my career and it is very difficult to name one. Today, when I was running on the treadmill. The guy next to me looked at me and smiled at me. He showed me what he was listening to and it was very special because it was my big Bollywood song which came out in 2008. Somebody in 2022 was still listening to it and it made me feel special. People still listen to ‘Dhunki’ which came out in 2013. In Bollywood, if a song runs for over 10 years, it is considered a hit.
You are quite active on social media, where you command a huge fan following. How do you deal with negativity and trolls?
I have allowed the trolls to affect my mind for way too long. I have waited way too long for the validation of society and the industry. I have led my life on my own terms and I wondered why I was hated for it. Then I came to the point where I said, ‘Na mujhe aapki gaaliyan chahhiye, na taaliyan’. I feel your art and your existence should not be driven by what the world thinks about it. I have allowed the trolls to destroy me for a long time and now I have risen above it. They are just random strangers who don’t know me and my struggles. I am just a girl living my dream.
What’s next?
What’s next is life full of great music, joy, performance, live concerts and world tours. My mind is open to acting too. I am releasing singles and also my English music now. This is my third decade in the industry so I am just going to live my dream.
