Have you heard of Kiran? She’s an Indian singer who snagged a mainstream label deal in Canada, and has just released her first single called ChoKolate Soda. She’s also a professional dancer and has worked with the likes of Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg, and even Priyanka Chopra and Sonu Nigam here in Bollywood. We caught up with her for a quick chat regarding her song, and as you can see, she does quite love the letter ‘K’!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and the work you’ve done previously.
Well, my name is Kiran but most people call me K. I was born and raised in Canada and Kurrently reside in Los Angeles, California. I Konsider myself a Jill of all trades. I am a song writer and singer with an extensive bacKground in dance. I also am a TV personality, have done aKting and modelling. As much as I love my family, I know this was my path and had to leave home to pursue what made me happy. I still go bacK all the time to visit them, especially now that I have the Kutest nephews and nieces to see.
What was it like dancing along Bollywood biggies like Priyanka Chopra and Sonu Nigam? Any interesting stories you can share?
I was pretty young when I danced with PriyanKa Chopra. The film was Kalled “The Hero” with Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta. It was a lot of fun. It was a huge set with so many people and scenes. It was one of my first films I danced in so it was quite the experience.
Dancing with Sonu Niggam in the film Kash Aap Hamare Hote was the best and aKtually my favorite memory. He is seriously the Koolest guy and was so much fun to worK with. It was a really special time for me beKause I had the opportunity to worK with my favorite Khoreographer Saroj Khan. I also made friends with the two lead girls, Raavee Gupta and Juhi Babar, plus got to Know their families. I still stay in touch with Raavee and Juhi’s brother Arya, and they always taKe Kare of me whenever I visit Mumbai. That’s been really special to me. It was an awesome experience to be a part of that.
You’ve worked in music videos with both Bollywood stars and international stars. Any notable differences between the two?
It’s pretty much the same drill, but the biggest distinKtion of the two would be the worK ethiKs. Both work really well in their own rights and get the tasK done, but it was just different in terms of timing and direKtion. The Kool thing about Bollywood films/videos is that among all the Khaos on set, they really go above and beyond, literally, with so many shots, scenes, and somehow magiKally get it done really fast and efficiently!! *Lol* It’s pretty amazing to see the finished produKt, which is always visually stimulating. I would love to shoot a musiK video in India one day. Congratulations on your first single! What was the inspiration behind this song?
Aw thank you very much! Well, I basiKally wrote Chokolate Soda about me, my personality, my aura…Chokolate and Soda both Kan be addiKting, satisfying, Kraved, and sweet. Chokolate Kan be delicious, spicy, nutty, and brown! Soda Kan be Kolorless or Kolorful! And bubbly. All the different facets to me. I also made it ambiguous in a sense where anyone can define it as whatever they prefer to thinK of it as. It Kan be anything you want it to be…which is also what Im about. Freedom of thought and opinions. I liKe to play with my words. It maKes it more relatable to each audience. Some people thinK its about sex, whereas some thinK its a drinK!. Its pretty fun hearing all the different intrepretations I get from people. It gives me an incite on how peoples minds worK.
You have several unique looks in your music video, ChoKolate Soda. What was the thought process behind the styling? How much say did you have in it?
Yes I believe I have 6 different looks in the video. I’m definitely seleKtive in what I wear, but I do know I love fashion and I love aKcessories! From jewellery, to shoes, to maKeup, to gloves, to sunglasses, to nails. Its all about the aKcessories for me. The styling was kohesively kreated by myself and the stylist I had on set, Donald Moncur, who is known out here for high end fashion shoots, so it had some avant garde to it plus a lot of just me and my own pieces I made.Which of the looks in the video was your favorite?
Wow, thats a hard question beKause I really loved them all, but I thinK the most notable one was the silver outfit with all the arms behind me. The sKirt was from the hardware store and made of metal…very unKomfortable, but visually interesting so it was worth it.
Name one Bollywood celeb and one international celeb you’d love to do a collaboration with.
There are a lot of people I would love to Kollab with from Bollywood but my number one on my list for Bollywood would be A.R. Rahman, not only the faKt that he is brilliant, I didn’t realize most of my favorite songs I listened to as a Kid were made by him! So definitely A.R. Rahman…that would be a dream Kome true. I would also love to worK with Madhuri Dixit. She was always my favorite aKtress and dancer.
As far as international, it would be Janet Jackson because she has definitely been one of my biggest inspirational artists growing up. I also would love to collab with H Dhami. I thinK he is the real deal beKause he stays true to his roots, has such a unique tone to his voice, and also beKause he is that talented. And last but definitely not least, Missy Elliot because she is on fire and has made such a huge impaKt in the music game. She would fit just right for where I am going with my musiK.What’s next for you?
For now, I am Kreating, writing, aspiring, and evolving. Whats next is where those things will taKe me…maybe to India one day soon? 😉