EXCLUSIVE: Sanjeeta Bhattacharya calls Bollywood’s ‘remix era’ lazy, says, “Why are we regurgitating the same thing in the worst way?”

Actress Sanjeeta Bhattacharya – who has starred in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan (as Helena) and the Zee5 web series The Broken News (as Juhi Shergill), is a Grammy-nominated Indian singer, songwriter and actor. The 28-year-old artist – a graduate of Berklee College of Music, recently spoke to us on call and got candid about many things.

Sanjeeta spoke about Bollywood music, the changes happening in the industry, its ‘remix era,’ and independent artists getting chances now. She also got candid about her co-stars Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sonali Bendre and Shriya Pilgaonkar. Read on to know what she said.

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya on current Bollywood Music

Sharing her honest views on the music in Bollywood currently, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya said, “I think Bollywood is finally opening up its horizons to not just (have) the same kind of music and music directors we had seen for generations and generations. It is finally opening up to independent artists, so it’s a great time to be an independent musician. It finally seems like the youth especially want to hear fresh sounds. So we are seeing a lot of new… we are hearing a lot of new sounds – like the entire score of Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi‘s Gehraiyaan. The entire score was done by OAFF (Kabeer Kathpalia).”

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The Grammy-nominated Indian singer continued, “We are also not just seeing fresh new sounds, but I feel we have renewed respect for the old-school sounds. Like Qala (starring Tripti Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee, and Babil Khan) and Heeramandi… all the classical things we are hearing. I love that we are giving respect where it’s due, and we are also exploring new territories. It’s a great time to be an Indian musician. This is awesome.” However, she added, “Of course lyrically we could be better. The (new) music I’m talking about is still very niche. But the music that the masses are consuming I feel like there’s still a mile to go there.”

Sanjeeta on Bollywood’s remix era

Stating that Bollywood still needs to open up its horizons when it comes to music, the Jawan actress said, “I think we are on the path towards it. I like that we are done with the era of remixes – that was kinda a…” Calling the ‘remix era’ lazy and repetitive on the musician’s part, she continued, “Why are we regurgitating the same thing in the worst way? But I think we are done with that.”

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Sanjeeta on singing in Bollywood projects

Talking about providing music in upcoming Bollywood films just like she did in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan – she sang and wrote the lyrics for Mis Chicas (Spanish), Sanjeeta Bhattacharya said, “Not at the moment. But after Jawan, my name did come in the credits of two other films – one of them was a Malayalam movie, the other was a Telugu film.”

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Sanjeeta on working with Shah Rukh Khan, Sonali Bendre

Talking about sharing the screen with actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara (in Jawan) and Jaideep Ahlawat, Sonali Bendre and Shriya Pilgaonkar (in The Broken News), Sanjeeta Bhattacharya says, “I’m really humble. I’m so happy that so early in my career I get to work with these iconic people I’ve grown up watching, I’ve grown up watching Shah Rukh sir’s films, Sonali Bendre ma’am films… Sharing the screen with them is absolutely… I have to count my blessings. I don’t know how it’s happening, but it’s happening. I’m just really, really grateful for these opportunities. I have so much to learn from them like their humility and terrific acting talent.”

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Sanjeeta Bhattacharya describes her co-stars

Describing her co-stars in a word or sentence, the ‘Jawan’ actress said:

Shah Rukh Khan – It’s a cliche, but (he has) a heart of gold. 

Nayanthara – Force of nature

Sonali Bendre – Sweetheart 

Jaideep Ahlawat – (He has) a hard exterior and soft interior. He’s like a choco bar ice cream – hard outside and soft vanilla inside

Shriya Pilgaonkar – Best friend

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