2022 has been an eventful year for singing sensation Jassie Gill. From movies to live gigs, the Punjabi munda was clearly raring to go– on the work front, and even otherwise. And well, his lucky streak continues as the Nikle Currant singer already has his hands full for the new year.

In an exclusive interview with MW, Gill talks about work, family, love, and everything in between. Excerpts:

What are you looking forward to the most in 2023? Tell us about five things you want to do in the upcoming year.  

I wrapped up work for four films in 2022. Three were Bollywood movies and one was a fun Punjabi project. I am really looking forward to seeing how these releases will pan out, as they feel like exciting new chapters in my life. That said, and amongst things that I can reveal, my collaboration with Salman Khan for Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan will release next year and I am looking forward to it.  

Whenever I found time, I worked on songs as well. I will start shooting for them in December and January so that I can release them.

 

Punjabi and regional music has managed to create a space for themselves in the past few years, often becoming more relevant than mainstream Bollywood music. What do you think has brought about this change? 

Since the beginning, Punjabi music has been unique in its own way. Be it Daler Mehndi or Mika Singh, it had a different space and some really cool artists since day one. But having said this, we cannot deny that in the last few years this industry has grown in leaps and bounds. Today, people know Punjabi artists and they are performing everywhere. I feel the biggest reason behind this is that the packing of our music has been upgraded. New-age musicians here listen to all kinds of music. They aren’t on a big setup, but instead, they catch a vibe and then create.

You just performed at the Chandigarh Carnival. How does it feel to be back on stage and performing live to audiences after the pandemic? 

I performed there a week ago and it was a great feeling as I performed in my own city after so long. Mostly I perform in Delhi and Jaipur, but this performance was a full house. Performing in an open place like a carnival is different because the audience is supercharged and that boosts the artist’s energy as well. After the pandemic, the number of shows that were doing went down and now we are getting to do some great work. Next, I am performing at a stadium in Dehradun for a New Year party and I cannot wait to perform! 

You’re committed to your fitness in a big way. Tell us a little about what keeps you motivated to work out and stay fit, despite a busy schedule.  

When I joined the industry I never really gave much thought to fitness. I used to think that people would only listen to songs. But later on, I realized that people also look at who is singing the song. Moreover, when I started getting movie offers, I said to myself that a people’s hero cannot look like this. I wasn’t in shape and I started getting conscious when people began following me on social media. I may not be able to work out regularly, but I keep doing it on and off. I maintain a clean diet to compensate for not being able to hit the gym.  

 

Tell us a little bit about your evolution since your debut in 2011 with Churiyan until now — how has your music and indeed, you, changed? 

If I talk about this song then it was released in December only 11-12 years ago. It’s been a long time but I still feel that I have just started. Now that I am answering this question, it is making me realize that I have been able to sustain myself in the industry. Right from how I dress to how I look, everything has changed. Back then, it used to take a lot of time to make a song. But now, you can make a song in 2 hours in a studio. You also have to change with the times and I am doing just that.  

You debuted as an actor in 2014 — only 3 years since your music debut. What was that experience like? 

I knew since day one that I can sing and I will manage. I had no idea about acting, but you don’t really know how good you are at something until you do it. I gave my best shot in my first movie, and that helped me get noticed. Soon, Bollywood happened, and the next stop was experimenting with videos. I have worked with actors like Kangana Ranaut and Salman Khan, and it is a dream come true.

How do you juggle your roles as a singer and an actor — is one more difficult than the other? 

For the last couple of months, I have been shooting for films and due to this, I am unable to shoot my videos. I want to release my songs with a video. Not that it matters much but this is one challenge that I face. That said, I usually compose tracks in transit or in my vanity van!

Tell us about your upcoming Bollywood projects and which ones are you most excited about.

I have shot one film with Luv Ranjan, then there’s Noorani Chehra with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and of course, the one with Salman Khan for Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is special.

 

Fellow music artists, you look up to? 

I listen to a lot of music and musicians, but if I have to narrow it down to one name, it would be Punjab’s Shubh. 

Tell us about the songs that are on the loop in your playlist. 

Honestly, I listen to all kinds of music, especially Punjabi ones. I listen to all the new Punjabi singers and I know who has sung what. Especially through Instagram reels, I get to know about newer songs and I am happy that they all are doing so well.  

Can you describe your fitness mantra in two words?

I think the full game revolves around calories. So, I try to work out 5 days a week and minimize the intake of my calories.  

You have said in the past that food is an integral part of your life. What are you eating from AM to PM — share your eating plan with us. 

I am currently following the intermittent diet plan, so I eat from 12 PM to 8 PM. Post that I don’t eat anything. I start my day with a cappuccino, a slice of bread and an omelet for breakfast. My afternoon meal consists of daal and brown rice and dinners usually involve chicken. Just these three meals in the day, and I’m done

 

One dish you can eat every day for the rest of your life?

I am a pure non-vegetarian. I can eat chicken and roti throughout the day. I can’t eat roti because of my diet plan, but nothing beats that combination.  

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion for me boils down to being comfortable. When I wear it and look at myself in the mirror I must feel good and confident. That’s what matters. I am not really brand-conscious, but the outfit should please my eyes. Quite like most people, I save a lot of looks from Instagram and later style myself with some ideas.