'Musicians can't afford to have favourites'

URUGRAM-based artist Manan Bhardwaj does things differently. He does not like to stay in Mumbai because he finds it uninteresting to network with big artists. Instead, he prefers to stay in Gurugram, where he was born and raised. In his words, “People in Haryana are straightforward. That spirit is there in my music as well.”

- AKASH CHATTERJEE

When it comes to his music, Bhardwaj likes to take up different challenges, instead of being confined to his comfort zone—pop. His work in Nishaanchi is a testimony to that. Ahead of the release of this Anurag Kashyap film, the singer, songwriter, and composer shares his musical journey with The Morning Standard. Excerpts from the conversation:

How did your journey in music start?

From the sixth or seventh grade in my school, I was into creative things. I liked writing, I liked painting, and I liked cooking also. But my decision to pursue music full-time came after my 12th grade. I went to Mumbai, did audio engineering, and then came back to Gurugram and started making and producing music through my studio. I also opened my YouTube channel and started posting songs and music videos regularly in 2016. It was that platform that gave me the first breakthrough in Bollywood.

You made your debut in Bollywood with Shiddat...