CKay: Shah Rukh Khan
Has always been my guy
After his maiden gig in India, Nigerian singer-songwriter CKay wishes to add a filmi feather to his cap. “I would love to work in Bollywood. There is this crazy Bollywood culture in Nigeria. I grew up watching loads of Bollywood projects, and one of the most notable actors I knew was Shah Rukh Khan,” he tells us.
The 27-year-old, whose real name is Chukwuka Ekweani, adds, “He (Khan) was always in action mode on the big screen. He was my guy. He is really talented and has been doing a great job.”
His love for Khan, however, is only one reason for his inclination to work in films. “Another amazing thing about Bollywood is the music. So, it’s theatre along with music. It is like a whole package, and I want to be a part of that,” shares the singer, who rose to fame with his hit 2019 track, Love Nwantiti.
While on his recent visit to India for a fest, CKay was also spotted hanging out with Bollywood celebs at a party hosted by producer Jackky Bhagnani. Ask about his trip, and he says, “I feel like home in India. It was my first time here and it was amazing. I noticed that India is so similar to Nigeria. On my way to the music fest, I noticed so many bikes; we have similar ones. It was so cool. And the traffic is an issue here as well as in Nigeria. India is 13 hours away from Nigeria, yet the culture is so similar. It shows that we are all human beings, and we are all the same.”
As his song — which has been deemed one of the biggest hit in African history — takes him places, CKay admits this popularity comes with responsibility. “Art carries culture and identity, which makes it powerful. Being a Nigerian, going around the world and performing music that is written in the Nigerian language, is special,” he wraps up.