the Archies is not the convention title movie everyone wants. (0:16) It's on OTT.
It's an ensemble. So, why did you choose that? (0:22) It kind of chose me. I never thought I would be an actor.
So, I'm a musician first and foremost. (0:30) And Zoya loved my music and she wanted one of the songs for the film. (0:36) And she approached me for that and we were talking on Zoom about how to fix the lyrics for some of the, (0:43) like for the fact that it's on film and there's a narrative to follow.
(0:46) And as we were editing that, she kind of looked at me sideways and went, (0:53) Do you act? And will you audition? So, that's how it happened. (0:59) And you know, there was no better debut for me than this because it's a musical and because it's set in an era which I adore. (1:08) And it's Zoya Akhtar and there's so many legends who are working on this.
(1:11) So, yeah, and also because it's an ensemble, we all became such close friends, right? (1:17) So, it was a very welcoming, homey, hearty space. So, definitely it was the right movie for me. (1:25) So, when was that moment that you decided, I'm trying to become an actor also while singing? (1:31) So, you know, honestly, initially when I started working on The Archies, I was like, (1:36) Oh my gosh, this is so difficult.
There's so many hours. You have to wake up so early. (1:40) You have to go and you have to dance and you have to do this.
So, I was like, I don't think I'll do a film after this. (1:44) But as time progressed and as I got used to it and as I started to find that, you know, I could practice at something and get better at it, (1:56) I felt pretty much halfway in, I was like, you know what, I think I can do this and I think I should pursue it. (2:04) So, yeah, so now I'm pursuing acting as well and music as well.
(2:09) What's easy, acting or singing? (2:11) For me, singing comes naturally, but both are equally fun and exciting. (2:18) What are the pros and cons you think acting has, which music doesn't? (2:24) They're quite similar in the sense of when you work, see, they're both very bodily, right? (2:31) Because your singing comes from you and your acting comes from you. It's all you.
You're creating it. (2:36) So, that's one thing. The way it's different, maybe it's that acting and film in general involve a lot more people.
(2:46) So, the teamwork that's required for a film is on another scale than the music. (2:51) And you're following someone else's vision, right? You're an instrument. (2:55) Whereas with my songwriting, I suppose I'm the person who's steering the ship and who's making creative decisions.
(3:03) So, you know, they're very different in their creative challenges and you kind of find out where you fit. (3:08) Like even writing music for a film is so different because you have to keep the narrative in mind and you have to keep the character in mind. (3:17) So, how would Betty speak? How would Betty think? How would Betty write in her diary, right? (3:22) Became my thought process for those pieces of music.
(3:26) Yeah, and acting involves a lot of seeing yourself on screen, in the mirror, whatever. (3:35) And so, a little bit has to happen where it's like, how to say it? (3:44) You treat yourself as an entertainer, right? (3:50) And you start viewing your face and your body and everything as work. (3:54) So, that's very interesting and very different.
(3:57) And I feel like every time I'm wearing a new piece of clothing, I'm that character. (4:01) I'm that person, which is different to music because music, I'm playing myself, you know? (4:06) So, when you review your own music, when you listen to your own songs, are you very objective about it or very emotional? (4:14) I'm very emotional. I can be objective when I need to be, when I'm trying to speak to my band or be in the studio.
(4:22) And I can try, but you know, honestly, it's very hard. (4:25) Even to watch yourself on screen, it's impossible to be objective. (4:29) I think, maybe once I watch the film like 50-60 times, then I can maybe be objective.
(4:37) But I don't think I'll truly be because I was part of that. (4:39) I remember, ki usse din main kidhar thi, kaunsa set tha, kya chal raha tha usse din, mere peht mein kuch kharab tha, whatever. (4:46) I remember everything.
So, it's hard to detach the process from the final product, for sure. (4:53) So, while a movie is a filmmaker's vision, your songs are your own. (4:57) So, where do you seek your inspiration from? (5:02) I'm a person who's curious about simple things, simple pleasures and people in their natural state.
(5:12) In fact, the very sweet way that these guys used to tease me on set. (5:19) See, everyone had some joke about something or the other. (5:21) And about me, the joke was that, oh, Aditi is such a romantic.
(5:25) You know, everything she sees, she's like, oh, chai, oh, that blue house, oh, that flower, whatever. (5:31) So, that became a joke. It became a running joke.
(5:34) Like, someone would say, oh, if Aditi was here, she would say this about that thing, you know. (5:38) So, yeah. (5:40) Okay, so you take inspiration from smaller things.
(5:43) Yeah, for sure. (5:43) So, can you recall any incident that actually struck the most your heart while composing, while writing a song? (5:52) Some incident that stayed, it's still with you, while composing or writing a song or while singing it or doing anything, creation of music. (6:02) I suppose, I would have to be, I've written a song called Kitchen Garden, which is not out.
(6:07) I don't know if I'll ever put it out. (6:09) But it's a song I wrote for myself, which is basically, my father passed away when I was very young. (6:16) So, you know, I didn't get to know him as an adult.
(6:22) And I find out things about him through other people who knew him. (6:25) Probably better than me, because they knew him much longer. (6:29) And I knew him in a very different context as my dad, you know.
(6:33) But my mom told me or my grandparents told me, someone told me that my dad used to have his own kitchen garden and used to grow vegetables when he was a kid. (6:41) And that was something he really enjoyed. (6:43) And I also love gardening.
(6:47) And it was something I didn't know about my dad. (6:49) So, I wrote a song about connecting with him years after he passed over something that we have in common, you know. (6:57) So, that song is very special to me.
(7:00) And it's just about the fact that I know him in a very different way compared to how other people know him. (7:06) Okay. So, this is a period of actresses.
(7:09) Actresses are ruling everywhere. (7:12) So, making a debut in this era, making an impact through a movie like Archie's. (7:18) So, do you think this is the exact bang on point you've made your debut? (7:23) And how do you see yourself or where do you see yourself five years later? (7:28) See, I have no strategy.
(7:31) I'm not trying to be anybody. (7:33) I'm not trying to do anything specific. (7:35) I just want to create good art.
(7:38) So, whether that's through music, through acting, through writing, through whatever. (7:42) So, this five year thing, I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow. (7:46) You know, okay, I do know what I'm doing tomorrow, but like next week.
(7:50) So, I have to a little bit be on my toes because as a creator, you always have to be on your toes. (7:56) And I'm not in it for anything other than the work. (8:02) So, you know, good storytelling, good writing, good musicianship.
(8:08) That's what I strive for. (8:10) Acting and music both are creative fields. (8:14) So, do you think your background in music has helped you be more expressive while acting? (8:20) No, I don't think that's the case.
(8:22) I think it was a learning process on set. (8:27) Music definitely was nice to have as a background just because number one, it's a musical. (8:32) And number two, and because it's a musical, there were always instruments on set.
(8:37) So, I end up writing a lot of music on set or in my hotel room on set while we were traveling for shoot. (8:44) And even as a team, we always used to sing together and play together, old songs, new songs, whatever. (8:51) So, there was always a piano or a guitar.
(8:54) And in fact, yeah, that's it. (8:59) Which is that one actress you aspire to sing for? (9:02) To sing for? (9:06) Gosh, I think maybe Alia or Deepika. (9:09) I don't know.
It's not really something that I've had in my mind. (9:11) I never thought I would even be a playback singer, for God's sake. (9:14) You know, it just happened.