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Singer Kamakshi Rai readying herself for an acting debut in Bollywood?

In an exclusive interview, singer Kamakshi Rai talks about her struggle with record labels, debuting as a Bollywood singer, acting in plays, her big screen debut and much more

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Kamakshi Rai shot to fame with the singing reality show The Stage in which she was the runner-up.  Apart from being a singer-songwriter, she’s also an actor and a dancer and has played lead roles in big musical productions like Balle Balle and Sing India Sing. And now she is finally making her singing debut in Bollywood with Vasan Bala’s Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. As she gears up to storm the industry with her beautiful voice, we talk to Kamakshi about her journey so far and her aspirations

How did life change post The Stage (Season 1)?

It was my first brush with cameras, reality TV and the industry. I was quite naive, but fortunately, we were in good hands and it was a productive environment, where inspite of the regular insecurities and competition, everyone worked well together. Finishing the show as a top 3 finalist gave me a lot of studio work and live gigs, so I could quit my job of managing a recording studio for someone else.

What’s your take on the emotional stories of the participants we see on most reality TV shows? Did it happen while you were on The Stage?

Luckily, none of that forced masala-making happened during season 1 of The Stage. They built on real-life events and experiences we’d had. However, I have met people from different shows who’ve point-blank been asked for sob stories at the audition level itself. It’s unfortunate because talent speaks louder than anything else in my book. While tough experiences do give you depth, the lack thereof doesn’t mean that your voice is any less expressive. It’s the responsibility of the trade to keep the game clean.

Who are you excited about working within Bollywood?

I listened to a huge amount of AR Rahman and used to sing songs from Roja and Rangeela as a kid. I loved the voices of Hariharan and Kavita Krishnamurthy. I’m also a big Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Vishal-Shekhar fan. Vishal Dadlani’s versatility as a vocalist is something I aspire for! It would be the most incredible thing to sing for Karan Johar, in any of his films. I’d be over the moon. I’d also love to sing for Sara Ali Khan. She’s got a unique vocal texture that I feel my voice would suit very well, and I’m a fan of her work.

Who do you admire in the international music circuit currently?

I listen to a lot of John Mayer, Kaleo, and The Weeknd. Although I have to admit, I start my day with the classics – Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Sinatra, and Fitzgerald.

You have sung two songs in Vasan Bala’s Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. How did it happen?

I sing for a lot of TV commercials – you would have heard me as the voice of Tanishq, Raymond, Oppo, Engage, and many more. That’s how I met Karan Kulkarni. We worked on some commercials together and he really liked my voice. He’s not just a fantastic composer/director but also a really nice human being. So even if he called me to sing the alphabet, I’d gladly oblige!

I was initially supposed to sing only one song for the film, titled Tere Liye – a Hindi duet with Vishal Mishra. However, when Bala Sir met and heard me in the studio, he said he wanted my voice for another part of the film as well… It was supposed to be a small part of the background score, which grew and ended up being a full-fledged English jazz number called Dreamtime which is now on the album. Needless to say, I’m psyched!

How was the experience working with Karan Kulkarni and director Vasan Bala?

Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for better people to work with on my Bollywood playback debut. Karan is a gem, and astoundingly great with melody. Vasan Sir literally walked me through the song and described exactly what he needed and it made me put my heart and soul into the track. Even Abhimanyu Dassani was there for the recording of my first song, and his friendly demeanour put me right at ease.

Have you faced any resistance coming up in the industry?

This line of work comes with a side helping of uncertainty and a dash of instability. I’ve had bad experiences with record labels, and with people, who constantly want you to work for free, knowing that you’re struggling and this is your bread and butter. But I feel there is a shift in the industry. I think the people in it are trying to make it a better, more fulfilling place for everyone involved. And we all need to do our bit to make it a healthy environment. There’s very little job security in film or music – you may have an epic project today and no work tomorrow.

What would be your advice for young talent aspiring to make a mark for themselves?

Find your calling, and be obsessed. No matter how low you think the chances are of ‘making it’, all you need to do is be convinced you can, despite what anyone else says. The two things that I personally think matter the most apart from your natural talent are discipline and an insane work ethic.

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