Young music composer Ankit Gupta, widely recognized by his stage name Ankiie, has opened up about his musical journey, his influences, and his work on the upcoming film Welcome To The Jungle. In a recent interview, he recalled how he first entered the world of music.
Early Beginnings
Ankit revealed that a family friend introduced him to a recording studio and encouraged him to learn recording and music production. “I started my professional journey in music when I was just 17 years old in Punjab,” he said. “I worked as a guitarist and co-composer for several music producers. Gradually, opportunities kept coming my way.”
Training and Self-Learning
Discussing his training, Ankit added: “I learned guitar, underwent vocal training, and studied keyboards and piano. At that time, there were no proper schools for music production in Punjab, so most of my learning came through self-study, experimentation, and constant practice. I genuinely believe that learning music is extremely important because it gives you conceptual clarity and improves your ability to compose.”
Musical Influences
Sharing his influences, Ankit said: “Initially, my biggest influence was Punjabi regional music. Honey Singh was at the peak of his popularity. Later, I explored Bollywood music and eventually started understanding English music. Listening to Michael Jackson’s cassettes and tapes broadened my musical perspective and helped me develop my vocals.”
After working with several music producers in Punjab, Ankit gradually expanded his work into the Hindi film industry. One of his most significant projects has been Welcome To The Jungle.
Working on Welcome To The Jungle
Speaking about the opportunity, he said: “One of my biggest milestones has been composing and producing music for Welcome To The Jungle, where I blended Afrobeats and Tribal House music with Bollywood influences. The project happened because Anand Raj Anand and Firoz Nadiadwala discovered my music and felt the film required a completely different sound.”
He added: “Ahmed Khan and Akshay Kumar also supported my work and appreciated the direction I took.”
Challenges and Creative Approach
When asked about the challenges of working on a franchise known for its popular music, Ankit explained: “The biggest challenge was creating something fresh and different while ensuring that the music still had strong emotional and entertainment value. Today’s audience has access to endless content and tends to judge songs within the first few seconds, making it difficult to create music that has a lasting impact.”
Ankit’s journey from a self-taught musician in Punjab to composing for a major Bollywood franchise is a testament to his dedication and talent.
