Actor and singer Akash Singh Rajput’s debut music video Insta Reel is out. The song features him, alongside the actress Shivangi Verma. This song is about the fascination of reels that we see in today’s youth. Social media platforms such as Instagram have become a major influence in our lives and this song portrays the same in a fun way . This song resonates with the public because it influences people to make reels which is the new trend. Shivangi Verma is a current influencer who people can relate to. She is a great dancer with a knack for acting.
“This is my first music video where I am not just the singer but an actor as well. So, it was a major challenge for me to do both. In four days the song has got four million hits. What else do you expect? I feel it’s a miracle and I am getting work enquiries as well as film directors and producers praising me, and telling me to continue with my singing because they really liked the new Akash, who has emerged as a singer,” he smiles.
The trend of music videos is back. “I feel it was always there. Be it Kishoreda’s songs to Badshah’s tracks, Indians can’t do without music. That’s why our films have songs in them,” adds the actor-singer, who has been a part of shows such as Bazigar, Karmafal Daata Shani and Porus.
About the changes he has seen in the industry over the years, Akash shares, “The industry now moves on the basis of a business cycle. It keeps revolving according to the demand of the public and producers. The main focus is now on content, and not the actors anymore. I think Bollywood too, much like OTT, should start investing more on good scripts instead of on the stars. Realistic cinema is in.”
The actor has also starred in all the seasons of the hit OTT show Aashram. He speaks on the differences one can find among TV, films and OTT.
“TV is full of drama and the OTT is much closer to reality and it reaches out to the audience in a more appropriate manner. The audience now has options on different platforms to watch different kinds of films, series and documentaries. Films are a different ball game altogether. The class and the mass are different in all these mediums. For every medium, you have to change your acting accordingly. It’s a long topic but to make it short, you need to understand and take cinema seriously because your work demands honesty and hard work,” he adds.
For those not in the know, Akash started his journey in films with Toilet Ek Prem Katha. “It was my first time working with a massive star cast like Akshay [Kumar] sir, Anupam Kher Sir, Bhumi [Pednekar] ma’am. It was a dream come true for me. I played a reporter in the film. When I did my shot, the director thought that I was a journalist in reality and was impressed with my work,” he recalls.
Now that he has also ventured into singing, Akash wants to do both. “I sing all the time , I love music and never took training. I listen to all kinds of music. I think I know what the audience likes. That’s why I tried to give them ‘INSTA REEL’ to make reels on and also enjoy what they are doing,” he adds.
Over the time many singers have come and tried to give the industry something new, according to Akash. “From Kishore Kumar sahab to Lata Mangeshkar came the time of Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan Ji, Alka Yagnik ji and then the era of Honey Singh, Badshah emerged along with Arijit Singh and Atif Aslam. I like all of them and can’t choose one as my favourite,” he adds.
If he has to choose between acting and singing, Akash will go for acting. “It was my childhood dream to become an actor. Even when I was 105kgs in 6th standard, I thought I was Ajay Devgn and was the dramatic department head in my school. Then I did theatre for three years in which I used to write, act and sing. The love for acting in me will be there till I die,” he shares.
So what if acting did not happen? “I would be a philanthropist since I already have an inclination towards it. I feel social service is my calling and I would want to pursue it in my future”, he ends.
