Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra are among Bollywood actors who had taken charge of the microphone to croon romantic numbers or dance tracks. Big screen actors, budding or experienced, are now broadening their horizon and rapping in style for upcoming movies.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is set to take up rapping for his upcoming film "Bole Chudiyan", which marks the directorial debut of the actor's brother Shamas Nawab Siddiqui.
"I am not a singer but I have tried to do a rap song," Nawazuddin said. Makers of this film, he said, had convinced him to do it.
"I don't think I have the ability to sing songs and I don't want to become a singer either. I think in that song, there were some elements and because of those (elements), my voice suited it," said Nawaz.
There is also the buzz that "Housefull 4" will have a rap song rendered by its lead actor Akshay Kumar's vocals.
Meanwhile, newcomer Karan Deol will have a double debut in Bollywood — as an actor and a rapper — when his father — actor-filmmaker Sunny Deol — launches him in "Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas" later this month.
Rewind to February 2019 and you'll recall Ranveer Singh's character using rap as a tool to express his views on society and life in Dharavi, one of the largest slums of Asia, in the superhit film "Gully Boy".
There have been others too. Aamir Khan, for instance, showcased his rap skills in the song "Dhaakad" on women empowerment. It didn't feature in the 2016 film "Dangal" but was loved by many. Its original version in the film, by rapper Raftaar, also gained a lot of popularity.
Talking about Bollywood actors taking up rap, Raftaar told IANS: "It's a good thing that Bollywood is now no longer being pigeonholed into a single category. Someday rappers and singers may also start looking at acting."
Going a little back in time, Abhishek Bachchan had turned rapper for the song "Right here right now" in the 2005 film "Bluffmaster". His father and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan had done the "Genie rap" in the 2009 fantasy-adventure film "Aladin". Youngster Varun Dhawan, on the other hand, had teamed up with Sachin-Jigar and D.Soldierz for the rap song "Happy birthday" in the 2015 film "ABCD 2".
Everyone can see that rap has made its way to Bollywood, but to rappers "Gully Boy" by filmmaker Zoya Akhtar is one movie that has set a benchmark. (IANS)
Also Watch: Sivasagar Boy shines in Superstar Singer, enters top 10 | The Sentinel News | Assam News