TAARUK RAINA IS BRINGING MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY TO HIS MUSIC

The honorary sadboi of the indie pop scene translates complex emotions into catchy melodies

- SHAMANI JOSHI

When Taaruk Raina walks onto the stage as Taaruk the singer, not Taaruk the actor, for the very first time, he’s hit with a sudden realization: he has nowhere to hide. No specifically scripted character to slip into, no director’s cue telling him what to feel. Just himself, the pulsating neon lights, and thousands of fans screeching along to his songs at the top of their voices.

The actor and singer-composer, best known for his roles in shows like Mismatched and Waking of a Nation, has become the honorary sadboi of the indie pop scene. Taaruk’s music leans fully into this emotional vulnerability, often pairing an atmospheric production style with lyrics that feel like 2 AM confessions you were never meant to hear. With breakout hits like “Kho Gaye” from the Mismatched Season 2 soundtrack—which gained millions of views and earned him a spot on Apple Music's Top 100: India chart—and “Narazi,” an independent release that racked up over 10 million streams on Spotify, Taaruk has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in India’s evolving pop music industry.