Jonita Gandhi in Motion

The 35-year-old singer-songwriter on her latest single, AR Rahman, and upcoming projects.

- By Ananya Rai

Jonita Gandhi—or just Jonita, as she's known by Jontourage (her loyal fan base)—believes she was at the right place at the right time.

Growing up in Toronto, Canada, she had jam sessions at home with her dad and brother, and while still in university, Gandhi started uploading song covers on YouTube. “Those videos unexpectedly found an audience, and one thing led to another,” she reminisces.

Coming from a family of engineers, The Breakup Song singer pursued finance and business in school and put music on the back-burner, thinking of it as merely a hobby. “But somewhere along the way, I realised I'd be unfulfilled if I didn’t give singing a real shot,” says Gandhi. Her family’s love for music influenced the decision. “I think it was a mix of the digital era and just following my passion with the support of my parents,” she shares.

In 2012, Gandhi shifted to Mumbai, determined to make a living out of her so-called “hobby”. The move, she admits, was equal parts exciting and overwhelming. “I didn’t know anyone here, so I really had to build my network from scratch,” she recalls, adding: “Mumbai can feel fast and intimidating at first, but it also has this amazing energy that pushes you to keep going.”