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‘INDIAN ACTORS HAVE MADE INROADS IN WEST’
Indian artistes Tabu feels are doing great work, more global hopes for collaborations
Soumya Vajpayee
English DJ-songwriter Guy James Robin aka Jonas Blue is in love with India. “I have visited India a few times. It’s a wonderful country, and I can’t wait to come back and perform. I am familiar with Indian music, too,” says Blue, as he goes on to talk about his Bollywood aspirations: “I have [heard a few Hindi film songs]. Working on a Bollywood score mixed with the Jonas Blue sound could be a cool idea at some point.”
He is best known for his dance-pop and tropical house productions. Ask what he really likes about these genres, and he shares, “The elements of positivity and happiness make me love these sounds so much. If I can see people be happy, smile and sing to my music, I feel like I’ve done my job.”
With so many big DJs and music producers ruling the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, one might assume that the ones starting out must feel tremendous pressure to make a mark. Did he feel the same when he started out in 2015? “When you’re starting out, you’re still exploring the ideas of what and who you can be. So, in the beginning, there isn’t much pressure, but more creativity. When you are a few years in, however, it’s important to have developed a sound that is your trademark,” shares the 32-year-old, who has
Tabu’s filmography features both Indian and international projects, and she has done outstanding work in the West, including roles in Mira Nair’s The Namesake (2006) and Ang Lee’s Life of Pi (2012). But she hasn’t taken on a Hollywood assignment in a long time. “There isn’t an international project going on,” says the actor — who has five films in various stages of production — when we prod her about the same.
She goes on, “And I don’t think I’ll be able to take up anything because I’m already packed [with work]. I’ve started working on Drishyam 2 and Bholaa. But if something good comes from the West, then why not?”
Ask her if she has witnessed a change in terms of the roles that Indian actors get in Hollywood now, and Tabu says, “Yes! They have made huge inroads and are doing great work. The world will slowly open up. Unfortunately, the pandemic came at a time when things were starting to blossom and evolve. I am hoping it will go back to more collaboration and stuff. Across the globe... I want to talk about our films and characters also.”
What she is happier about the state of the entertainment industry is the fact that female actors specifically have seen more interesting parts coming their way, and this has been witnessed all over the world. “Be it the industry on OTT or television, women are given really interesting, layered characters to play nowadays, which was [considered a] really big [deal] about 20 years back. However, now, it is almost like a prerequisite (for a good story),” she concludes. collaborated with the likes of DJs Tiësto and MK.
Recalling why working with Tiësto was special, Blue says, “He’s one of the first people that put EDM on the map in a ‘rockstar’ kind of way, so it was always a goal to work with him. We finally did on our song, Ritual, with Rita Ora (British singer).” And collaborating with someone of Tiësto and Ora’s stature wasn’t intimidating, but fun. “I prefer to do everything myself... But when someone like Tiësto or MK wants to collaborate, I know they’ll add something to what I’m doing,” he ends.