For singer Priya Patidar, recording the title track of Welcome To The Jungle was less of a planned milestone and more of a magical surprise that unfolded in a studio session she walked into blindly. “I got a call from composer Vikram Montrose, and he simply said, ‘I have a song that I want you to record. Can you come to the studio?’ Since I had worked with Vikram earlier, too, I didn’t really ask him what the project was for. I just went with complete trust and excitement,” Priya recalls.
A Dream Come True
What followed was a moment she says she will never forget. “The moment Vikram played the track for me, I was genuinely stunned. I still remember feeling shock, excitement and disbelief all at once. Having a duet with Shaan sir is a dream fulfilled from my bucket list. Sharing a song with such an iconic voice is truly an honour,” she says.
Surprise Revelation
Interestingly, Priya had no clue during the recording that her vocals would eventually feature on actresses Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, and Raveena Tandon. “I only got to know about it a few days ago, which made the moment even more surreal for me,” she reveals. She adds, “As a playback singer, the biggest responsibility is to have a voice that blends naturally with the actor on screen and feels convincing enough for audiences to believe the actor is actually singing. I feel incredibly grateful to have done playback for three stunning Bollywood actresses, especially Raveena ma’am. She is someone I’ve admired since childhood, so this feels emotional and special.”
Fear of Replacement
Like many singers in Bollywood, Priya admits she silently carried the fear of being replaced in the final version. “After recording my portions, I quietly left the studio. Honestly, after that, I never even asked Vikram about the song because somewhere deep down, I was scared to know the answer. I knew that if my voice wasn’t finalised, it would completely break my heart,” she says candidly.
Selective or Struggling?
Asked why she has been relatively selective in Bollywood after Do Dhari Talwar, Priya says the reality is far less glamorous. “It’s not about being selective. I’ve had a few releases over the years, but nothing on this scale. It’s a very tough industry, and opportunities like these don’t come easily,” she adds. Does she see this song as her breakthrough moment? Priya certainly hopes so. “Yes, I genuinely feel this song has the potential to be a breakthrough moment for me. Being part of such a big project with an incredible star cast itself feels surreal, and I’m truly grateful for the love and response it’s already receiving,” she concludes.
