Gurnazar: I feel I deliver from the heart each time
By ASJAD NAZIRJul 14, 2021
RAPIDLY rising musician Gurnazar Chattha has become a big success in quick time. Known professionally as Gurnazar, the Punjabi singer has delivered huge hits that have collectively clocked up hundreds of millions of YouTube views and made him hot musical property.
His most recent song Tenu Yaad Karaan adds to the incredible momentum he has generated in recent years and saw him star opposite top TV star Jasmin Bhasin in the music video. Not one to slow down, he has more songs on the way and is not surprisingly being offered movies to star in.
Eastern Eye caught up with Gurnazar to discuss his musical journey, latest song and plans.
What first connected you to music?
Well, there are a lot of factors which connected me to music, but I remember that attending live shows got me closer to it.
Is it true you wanted to be a roller-skater?
Yes, absolutely. Also, if it was not music for life then I think I would have been a skater for sure. Although I have enjoyed this for a while as a regular activity.
How did you feel when your first song released?
I was super excited, yet nervous. But I think that journey remains the same till date because every song is a first expression of a new feeling. But yes, the debut song had its own limelight and story, with people connecting as fans for the first time.
Did you ever imagine being so successful?
I think I take my singing more like a job and don’t do it for success because I feel I deliver something from the heart each time. So, I consider it as my duty and not a step to success.
Which of your hit songs is closest to your heart?
All of them. There is no specific song. I put 100 per cent effort into touching the hearts of many every time, so all the songs have equal importance.
Which artists have you most enjoyed collaborating with?
The recent collaboration with Jasmin (Bhasin) was amazing. She is very sweet, bubbly and it was amazing to work with her. I think that the fun we had behind the camera is clearly reflected in the video. The shoot days were so much fun, and she is the Punjabi bubbly queen who made the shoot even more fun.
What inspired your new song?
I was just tuning into the hookline and felt the audience would connect to it. Then the whole melody was created, which came out as Tenu Yaad Karaan. I think the romantic element inspired this track, but that hook-line was the starting point.
What can we expect next?
I have so many great tracks that are ready, but I am just confused, which romantic melody to release next. I love all of them.
Who would you love to work with?
There are many musical artists and (video) co-stars I wish to work with. But I am really excited to work with Jacqueline Fernandez.
Do you see yourself following other singers into acting?
Yes, I think acting will be another way in which I can express myself more and I have had some interesting offers.
What music dominates your own playlist?
I listen to all types of music. Pop, romantic, jazz and all types of other music are on my playlist. It just depends on what mood I am in.
If you could master something new in music, what would it be?
I think I would practise more on my vocals and try delivering new flavours in the romantic genre.
What inspires you?
Everything around me. All the positive vibes in my surroundings inspire me.
Why do you love music?
Because my audience loves it! In fact, everyone loves music. There may be variations in taste, but music is a choice for all, and I feel blessed to be part of it.
Raj almost wasn’t Indian, Tom Cruise was the idea.
The title? Kirron Kher just threw it out there.
Pigeon scene: Totally SRK winging it. Kajol freaked a little.
Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna got added last minute. Can you imagine?
Maratha Mandir. Playing. Every day. Since 1995. Fans love it.
You might think you’ve seen it all in DDLJ. Raj, Simran, the songs, yes, we all know them. But there’s a lot behind the camera that most people have no clue about. Some of it was luck. Some of it Shah Rukh Khan just winging it. And some… well, Aditya Chopra being a little crazy. Here’s the stuff nobody really tells you.
How Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became a Bollywood legend: 10 untold stories Youtube Screengrab
1. Raj almost had a totally different face
Aditya Chopra literally imagined an American guy and an Indian girl and had Tom Cruise in mind. But then his dad, Yash Chopra, stepped in and said, “Nope, Indian boy.” And then the story completely changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t Hollywood, but NRIs, family, love, and all the cultural stuff that actually hits you in the gut.
2. Kirron Kher named the film
That long, unforgettable title? Shah Rukh Khan thought it was clunky. But the rookie director, Aditya, heard it from Kirron Kher and went with his gut. And yes, she got a credit in the opening titles.
3. Script written in a month
Three years of thinking, then all of a sudden, the final script was done in three or four weeks. Can you imagine? The blueprint for the biggest romantic film of the ’90s, completed in less than a month.
4. Accidental magic
That pigeon-feeding scene with Amrish Puri? Totally improvised by Shah Rukh. Even Kajol’s shocked face in Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane was not planned. Aditya kept it a secret to get a real reaction. And it worked big time. Fans don’t even know half the story behind that moment.
5. Director hiding in a car
During the Zurich car ride, Aditya wasn’t just lurking behind the camera. No. He was lying flat in the back of the red convertible, flat out of frame, watching every move. Can you imagine lying like that for hours? Wild.
6. Raj’s leather jacket wasn’t a costume
Raj’s iconic leather jacket? The one every guy copied? Uday Chopra just bought it from a Harley shop in California and cost 400 bucks. Not a big fancy wardrobe magic, it was just a cool jacket he found.
7. Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhnaalmost didn’t happen
That wedding song everyone hums? Almost didn’t exist. It got added at the very last second, borrowed from another Yash Raj project. Imagine weddings without it!
8. Kajol’s towel moment
Kajol wasn’t a fan of that towel scene. She seriously didn’t want to shoot it, but the director insisted. And that white skirt in the song? The director said it looked frumpy. Manish Malhotra, the designer, had to take scissors and cut it shorter on the spot.
9. Shah Rukh’s prophecy
After reading the script, Shah Rukh told Yash Chopra: “This will define my stardom.” And he nailed it. Spot on.
10. The first “making of” documentary
Before YouTube, before making-of reels, they aired a half-hour documentary on Doordarshan.
Chaudhary Baldev Singh Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Shah Rukh Khan Kajol www.easterneye.biz
24*7- for 365 days
And then there's Maratha Mandir. This old theater in Mumbai. It's still showing the film. Every. Single. Day. For 30 years. Tickets are 50 rupees. Fans go to watch it like a ritual, some book the gallery for birthdays or anniversaries. People even fly in from abroad. Iconic, right?
30 years later, Raj and Simran are on stage in Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical in Manchester. 18 original English songs. Same story. Same magic. New audience. And people are loving it.
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