Keeping tradition and humility alive.
I first saw Zanai Bhosle live on stage, way back in 2017, in Boston. She was accompanying her paternal grandmother, the legendary Asha Bhosle ji and I was struck by her beauty, simplicity, and the genuine love I saw between them. “Oh, I have worked hard on really improving since then and I hope you will notice the difference when you see me on stage, and listen to my compositions,” Zanai said to me when we met again in Boston after a gap of almost 8 years.
Today at 23, Zanai is making great waves as a composer, lyricist, singer, and she will soon be acting in a film. Zanai was on tour with A.R.Rahman. I could not go to the show but heard only rave reviews about her performances on stage. There is so much love being showered on her and it makes me happy also to see that this new torch bearer of a legendary family is following in her grandmother’s footsteps, but without trying to fill those incomparable shoes. She carves her own path, experimenting with various kinds of music, and eagerly learning so much about life as well.
I told Zanai that one of the things she has in common with her grandmother is that they are both original. The song originally sung by Asha ji becomes a cover for everyone else. Zanai began her career by releasing her own composition. She composed the lyrics, the music and sang in it. Both her releases Kehndi Hai, and Main Heer Teri are trending with millions of views. But what struck me again is her humility, intelligence, empathy, and a hassle-free attitude.
Zanai had no idea that I had plans to interview both her dad Anand and her. Anand and I first met in 2001, and it has been a friendship of mutual respect and trust.
Zanai came down from the hotel room thinking we were just going out for dinner. Zero makeup, simply dressed, she was taken aback to be told there was an interview happening. I gave her the option to go back up and put make up on if she wanted, but also added that she is so beautiful to look at she really didn’t need it. Zanai just seamlessly took it in her stride and said she was fine to be as she was. She sportingly quipped that she had never done this kind of interview before, no preparation, no make-up, and thought it would be fun. I loved that about her.
After a hectic tour with the legendary A.R. Rahman and keeping an eye on her diet, the time was now to have some cold coffee and French fries. I was joking it was ”Kavita Chhibber meets Curly Tales” episode. Curly Tales is a very popular show on YouTube where the host meets celebrities over delicious food. And we all laughed, as Zanai tucked into some French fries.
Zanai and her twin brother Ranjai are academic aces. While Ranjai chose to pursue academics in California, Zanai, despite getting into all the colleges of her choice both in the US and UK, had a change of heart. The reason will deeply move you.
We started the conversation around 6.30 pm and continued over dinner and then at their hotel room, till close to midnight. It was a very honest, warm, and organic conversation and I realized that the most beautiful thing about this family is the loving kindness, empathy and loyalty that exists between them. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this exclusive conversation, both from father and his lovely daughter, and I came away really inspired.
It was wonderful to have met a young girl who, does not take anything granted, has her feet firmly on the ground. Her focus is not on competing but to do good work that makes her happy. Throughout the conversation, a lot of things she said made me think she is wise beyond her ears, and an old soul. She promptly agreed.
As I left, Zanai said something that touched my heart. She held my hand in a warm clasp and said, “For this I have to come back to Boston again”! I hope so too Zanai.
And I hope you enjoy this conversation right in time to celebrate Asha ji’s birthday here in the US, on the 8th and taking it into an extra innings in India.