Music in Indian cinema plays a major part especially in films. And while many are involved in the process of making songs the best means to carry a story forward, one from them is the very talented Shail Hada. He is a singer, music composer and an arranger. For a man who begun his career with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s critically acclaimed filmBlack, Shail has worked with the filmmaker in films like Guzaarish, Goliyon Ki Raasleela- Ramleela andPadmaavat. And he has also worked in SLB produced film Malaal starring Meezaan Jaffery and Sharmin Segal. In an exclusive conversation with CineBlitz, Shail Hada speaks about his approach to music, what it takes to put SLB’s massive vision in practise and how working in any industry – South or Bollywood only requires Jazbaat.

How was your experience working on Malaal?

My experience working on this film was very good. I know Sharmin since she was a child and working on Malaal with Sanjay sir (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) was my comfort zone. But the pressure was high this time because we were introducing two new faces, it had to be contemporary and todays work. And the tuning between me and Sanjay sir is great, we know what works for each other.

According to you what is the USP aboutMalaal’s music album, considering you and SLB have given some unique songs together?

This time the movie is more important than its songs for me. It is a story where only if the movie works the songs will. And be it any film the songs should be the part of the story and take it forward. The tone of Malaal is Maharashtrian which called for making songs that represent the culture and are also contemporary for today’s generation. It was two newcomers, which also meant there had to be fresh tunes.

You have worked on films like Ramleela, Guzaarish, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat which have songs that strongly signify many cultures but are still relatable to today’s generation. How do you do that?

It’s very simple; you have to reinvent yourself with every film. We have to live the story to give it tunes. For every project with SLB we work for one and a half or two years approximately, he isn’t someone who tells you to rush, he marinates us in the process and thus we live the story. He puts his heart and soul in everything. The baseline for everything is we should ourselves like it first then only the world will.

From Black till Malaal, how much have you evolved as a music composer?

I have been singing since childhood. My first love has been music since ever. My singing bought me into composing songs. Which bought me in touch with Monty bhai (Monty Sharma) and that made me realize I can do the arranging as well. So I arranged songs like Udi(from Guzaarish), Ram Chahe Leela I got nominated for, Tera Zikra also bought awards, working with Sanjay sir has only bought me awards and rewards. I can say that he has made me an arranger.

How difficult is it to work with a man who looks for perfection in the smallest of things?

For me working with him is the easiest thing and in all these years I know him inside out. So, it is always like making the best than our last one. People know the end product, but they don’t know how many versions have been made in the process. For example, Ghoomar and Deewani Mastani are the final products but we had made many versions of the two. Ghoomar was a tribute from me to my culture.

What goes into making a song which has so many elements?

There is huge research that goes in the fabric of a song. I do it all myself, everyone does it for their part of the job. And then there are inputs from everyone, so, it is always a team effort. If it impresses us, then we go ahead. Feelings play a very important role in this process. You can’t work without feeling it and especially when you work is making songs. Jazbaat kaafi maine rakhte hain

So you have worked in South films, Hindi films and also Marathi, what is the difference?

My strength is my people. I have to work in a team and that helps me sail through. And music is a universal language that directly connects your heart. Give me any language, I will write it down in Hindi, frame the words and sing. The barriers don’t bother much; it is just that I might take time to get in to the nuances of the language. To be very honest, India will always be inclined to Indian music culture and that is the best part. Yes we remix, remake, the body might change but the soul remains the same.

Stay tuned to CineBlitz for more updates.

Dangal Girl Zaira Wasim who charmed everyone with just two films (including Secret Superstar) was gearing up for her third release The Sky Is Pink, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar. However, in a shocking turn of events, the girl declared on social media today (June 30) that she is quitting the industry. Yes, in a 2000 word letter Zaira explained that even though she fits in the film world, she didn’t belong here and acting distant her from her religion. So, after a battle within the actress is now disassociating herself from the industry. And like everyone even we were shocked to find this out, so we dug up an old interview of Zaira where the girl spoke about life around her, her family, the new found stardom and lot more. Reading this throwback conversation will only make you wonder what conspired behind the girl making this decision. Read on…

You have worked with Aamir Khan in your first two films and I heard you want to be like him too?

He as an actor is so passionate and dedicated towards his work, and is definitely a perfectionist, so yes, I look up to him unequivocally.

Is acting becoming an addiction for you?

Acting for me serves as an escape from reality, and when I hear the word ‘action!’ on set, while I’m in front of a lens, the feeling is liberating.

Escape from reality?

Yes, it is. Also, as I’m not a brilliant actor, I cannot always get under the skin of a character and play pretend.  I act it is my own feeling I bring out my own emotions I just cannot pretend.

Your mother travels with you but what was your father’s reaction?

Although my parents don’t make it evident in front of me and give me compliments, they are very proud of me. These days, they go out showing almost everybody my videos and keeping them updated as to what I’m up to these days.

How much has the environment around you changed?

It’s almost the same, except for the fact that when I head out, people shower me with truckloads of love and affection, which is very overwhelming.

A lot of Kashmiri youngsters want to be like you so what do you want to say to them?

I don’t agree with the idea of people looking up to me or my journey. I want them to experience their own share of life, and walk their own path. They would be delusional if they would try to do what I did because everybody is different and the dice will not fall on the same side for everybody. It’s great to see people with aspirations, and it gives me a significant amount of joy to know that I have sparked a flame of confidence in people, but I want them to have their own ways of achieving their goals, and not look up to mine.

Which part of your life do you want people to know now that you are already a celebrity?

There is nothing as such that I find necessary for people to know about me. I’m reserved, and at the same time I’m an open book. There are some things that I’ll not share about me, and somethings that I will. Also, I would never want people to cut out a sorry image about me.

You scored a whopping 90% in your board results, what about education and how will you juggle between acting and the same?

Education is always going to be my first priority before everything else. I have taken up Arts, and I will balance it with acting just the way I’ve been doing until now. I have been oscillating between Jammu, Mumbai, and Srinagar. I know there are people that support and cooperate with me, and they have to do the same because they don’t have a choice!

 Don’t you want to go abroad and study acting?

I don’t have an intention of studying acting, I plan on letting things be just the way they are, and I will perhaps let experience be my teacher.

Shoojit Sircar is against children acting in films, what do you have to say to that?

I reckon it is up to the parents to decide if it is good or bad for their children to act. Also, there are so many super talented kids out there that deserve a platform.

You seem like a headstrong person?

I’m actually very sensitive, and most often I tend to empathise with the people around me. My biggest fear is that of hurting them, and I put them before me. If at all I end up hurting somebody, I apologise a million times, until I don’t have any more apologies to give.

What do you have to say to those who are spreading hate?

All I want to do is ask them why they’re spreading hate, and what it is that they really get out of it.

We respect Zaira’s decision and wish her luck for the future, but we will even miss the brilliant actress that she was. For more updates from Bollywood, stay tuned to CineBlitz.

TV actor Karan Oberoi – who was arrested in May on charges of rape and blackmailing – was finally granted bail earlier in June. The actor was in police custody for almost a month, and now that he is out, he is trying to bring about a change for men. In an exclusive conversation with us, Karan revisits his ordeal, speaks on the charges against him and also reveals his plans of #MenToo movement

How was it seeing your friends and family support you so steadfastly?

It started with my best friend Pooja Bedi… I feel very blessed. Pooja and my sister are the two Baahubalis of my life. I have come through this ordeal is all thanks to the two of them. The tremendous support they got for me, people who knew me, who associated with me at some point in life have contributed to this.

Did you ever imagine a right swipe on Tinder would put you in so much trouble?

Absolutely no, it came as a shocker to me. For me it was traumatic, horrendous, terrifying, something I am still coming to terms with it. It turned my life upside-down; it was something I never expected would turn this way. But the good thing is that truth is prevailing, the reality has come out. It is sad though that nobody is safe, and to see how anybody can manipulate the law to such an extent.

Pooja Bedi started the #MenToo movement in your support and you are now taking it forward…

Absolutely, I have a social responsibility. Pooja is doing it because she wants to bring in a change that will affect thousands and lakhs of men. I told her the inside story of 600 people that were along with me and 80-90 per cent of them were false cases. They were very similar to mine, but they didn’t have the kind of love and support I had.

Being a celebrity, such strong charges sabotage the image. How do you do the damage-control then?

Yes, but what can one do? This thing is completely out of my control. All I can do is wait for justice to happen. The good part is that anyone who has known me for 20 years was not willing to buy any of these charges. So, that support was overwhelming to say the least, people outside the prison might have believed it. But inside, I was surrounded by 92 inmates in Taluja, not one person was ready to believe this and they didn’t even know me. I couldn’t eat or sleep there, the conditions were appalling and inhumane, so I just went off-food and off-sleep. But these people were such a force, that they were constantly reassuring me that all will be okay. I was very broken by the number of stories I saw there, they were horrifying and all because they don’t have representation. They don’t have a Pooja Bedi in life; I do, so I have decided that I will be their Pooja Bedi now.

The latest update is that the victim is arrested, so how is the matter shaping up now?

I am not very sure, but I believe that law is taking its call. Although, there is bit of a lag in the investigating agencies doing the right thing. Legally, I don’t know how things go from here on, but at least a step in the right direction to correct the wrong has started.

With cases like these do you think the #MeToo movement has its disadvantages?

There are advantages and disadvantages of every movement, but the law has to have more clarity. Anything that can be manipulated to suit conveniences or vendetta has to be looked at all over again. There have been enough citations in Supreme Court and High Court. The judges have been very kind in their assessment of the case. But the law needs to be amended, which is what the #MenToo movement is, it will fight for justice and gender neutrality, which is the need of the hour. What we are saying is to amend the law and not give someone unabashed power. #MenToo affected my mother the most, she was broken and shattered. My sister was affected, Pooja was hurt, they are all women. There were so many women who came together to fight for me, they were all affected by this.

Have people started approaching you with their #MenToo stories?

Too many of them, people are writing to me. We live in a bubble, but when the harsh reality hits you it’s languishing and hurting. If this continues, I am going to start getting very scared of women and it will create a very strange situation in society.  Every man will be running scared, not knowing when this unabashed power will hit them.

Have you resumed things on the professional front?

There is a lot happening on that, I have a film called Strawberry Point which is releasing. I was caught two days before we were going to plan the release of the film. I have been approached for a lot of web-series; I am also finishing my book that I started writing in prison. So, professionally I am alright.

Stay tuned to CineBlitz for more updates!