Latest news with #BabaSehgal
News18
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Baba Sehgal Says South Industry Took Him 'Seriously': 'Bollywood Was Very Insecure With Me'
Last Updated: Baba Sehgal shared in 1998, he received a threat call from the underworld. At the time, such calls were common in the industry, but the rapper never expected to be on their radar. Popular rapper and music artist Baba Sehgal has opened up about his difficult relationship with the Hindi film industry, claiming that Bollywood was never fully supportive of his talent. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the singer revealed that the South Indian film industry treated him with far more respect and seriousness. 'South took me seriously," Baba Sehgal said, referring to his extensive work in regional music. 'I have done more than 250 Telugu film songs, 35–40 Tamil songs, and over 25 Kannada songs. Not only rap, I think the Telugu industry is my 'jungdata' (warrior). Bollywood was very insecure with me, right from the beginning." He explained that his straightforward personality might have clashed with Bollywood's expectations. 'Music directors would call me, but maybe they didn't like my body language or the way I spoke. Maybe I was too upfront," he shared. Baba rose to national fame in the early 1990s with Indipop hits like Thanda Thanda Paani, but his non-film success, he believes, made the Hindi film music circuit uncomfortable. In a striking revelation, Baba also shared that in 1998, he received a threat call from the underworld. At the time, such calls were common in the industry, but the rapper never expected to be on their radar. 'The underworld was very strong in 1998. I never thought I'd get a call because I was just a singer. But somehow, I too got one," he recalled. 'That time was very stressful – for me and for my family." According to Baba, the call wasn't about money but rather a directive to stop singing. 'They told me to stop making music. The tone wasn't very aggressive, but it was serious," he said. 'They used to call at night. It was a terrifying phase." Despite the threats, Baba continued to chart his own musical journey outside of Bollywood, relying on the support of his fan base and the South industry. He also spoke about the overall instability in the entertainment world during the late '90s. 'It was a confusing time. Non-film music crashed, remixes came in, and the underworld had entered the scene. The whole industry was shaken not just me," he said. First Published:
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Baba Sehgal recalls Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman being against him singing Rukmani song in Roja: 'Rahman was just a bachcha then'
Rapper Baba Sehgal recently shared an interesting story. He said that Mani Ratnam and A.R. Rahman were against him singing 'Rukmani' for Roja. The music company insisted on Baba's involvement. Baba initially disliked the song's lyrics. He recorded it despite reservations. He believes his voice contributed significantly to the song's success. This was his only collaboration with AR Rahman. Before Roja became a musical milestone in Indian cinema, an unlikely collaboration was brewing behind the scenes—one that nearly didn't happen. In a surprising revelation, rapper Baba Sehgal has opened up about how director Mani Ratnam and a young AR Rahman were initially against him singing the iconic 'Rukmani' track in the film's Hindi version. Recalling the incident in a chat with Siddharth Kannan, Baba Sehgal shared that he was approached after performing a solo show in Chennai with a massive crowd of 50,000–60,000 people. An organiser introduced him to a director, who played the Tamil version of a Roja song. Confused at first, Baba said he didn't understand why he was being made to listen to it. He believes AR Rahman, then quite young, was also present during the meeting. Since Baba Sehgal was occupied with his concert, he asked the team to meet him later at his hotel. There, they requested his help in getting the music released. Baba connected them with a music company that was venturing into film music for the first time. The company agreed, but on the condition that Baba would sing at least one track. That track turned out to be part of the Hindi version of Roja, with Shweta Shetty as the female vocalist. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Undo Baba Sehgal revealed that when he received the lyrics for 'Rukmani,' he found them distasteful and was taken aback by how vulgar they sounded. Despite his reservations, he went ahead and recorded the song, aware that the makers hadn't originally wanted him as the singer—they had preferred a classical artist. However, since the music company had made his involvement a condition, Rahman and the team had no choice. The song was recorded in just two takes. When an elderly female singer was brought in to record a specific line, Baba insisted that Shweta Shetty sing it instead. That track ended up being his first and only collaboration with AR Rahman, as language barriers prevented further projects. Reflecting on that time, he recalled Rahman being very young and relatively new to the industry. Baba Sehgal later learned that director Mani Ratnam had initially opposed the idea of him singing the song. However, he firmly believes that his voice played a key role in the track's popularity, crediting his contribution as a major reason behind its success.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman didn't want me to sing Roja's ‘Rukmani', recalls Baba Sehgal: ‘Rahman was just a bachcha then'
AR Rahman, who is considered as the maestro of music in India, marked his debut as a music director with the 1992 film Roja. When the movie opened to positive reviews in Tamil, it was dubbed in several other languages including Hindi. For the Hindi version, director Mani Ratnam and music director AR Rahman wanted to record songs in the same language. This took them to Indian rapper Baba Sehgal, who later also sang the now iconic song 'Rukmani'. Apparently, both Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman were against Baba Sehgal singing the song. Recalling this whole incident, Baba Sehgal told Siddharth Kannan, 'I had a solo show in Chennai with about 50 to 60,000 audience. An organiser told me, 'sir, a director wants to meet you.' When he came, he played the Tamil version of Roja song. I heard and I was like, 'Nice, but why are you making me listen to it?' I think even AR Rahman was there. He was quite young back then.' As Baba Sehgal was busy with his concert, he invited the team to meet him later at his hotel. 'He came then and told me, 'Sir, please release this for us'. I forwarded their request to my contacts, and a music company. They then decided to make film music for the first time, but their condition was that one song needs to be sung by me. They wanted to do the Hindi version of Roja. We went to sing the song. Shweta Shetty was the female singer.' ALSO READ | Sonali Bendre answers if Raj Thackeray had a crush on her 20 years ago: 'Its not in good taste when people…' He added, 'When we sat to sing, we got the lyrics. When I read the lyrics for 'Rukmani', I was like, 'Kitne waahiyaat lyrics hai yaar? Who wrote this?' Still I sang. I knew that they didn't want me to sing the song. They wanted some classical singer to sing it. But because it was a condition put by the audio company, it was a forced thing. Rahman was also there. I was not convinced with the lyrics. They were too vulgar. But the makers didn't have issues because it was matching their Tamil song. We recorded the song in two takes. Later, they called an old lady to record a particular line, but I fought for Shweta. I made her sing that line as well. That was my first and last song with Rahman. We never met or collaborated again due to language issues. He was a kid then and he is younger than me.' Baba Sehgal revealed that after a while, he was told that the film's director Mani Ratnam never wanted him to sing the song. 'Later, someone told me that Mani Ratnam didn't want me to sing that song. But, they can't deny that song became a hit because of me', said Baba Sehgal.
United News of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Rasna acquires RTD brand Jumpin for Rs 350 crore
Mumbai, May 19 (UNI) Rasna Pvt Ltd, the world's largest manufacturer of instant beverages, has made a significant foray into India's fast-growing ready-to-drink (RTD) segment through the acquisition of the iconic beverage brand Jumpin, independently valuated at Rs 350 crore. Jumpin, originally launched by the Godrej Group as the first Tetrapack brand in India and popularised through memorable campaigns including those featuring Baba Sehgal since the early 1980s, was subsequently managed by Hershey's India. Now under Rasna's ownership, the brand is poised for a pan-India relaunch aimed at capturing a larger share of the RTD market, which is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. Piruz Khambatta, Group Chairman of Rasna Pvt Ltd, said, "This strategic acquisition marks a milestone in Rasna's growth agenda. Jumpin's strong brand equity and consumer recall complement our diversification goals within the non-carbonated beverage sector. Our focus on using 100% Indian fruit juices aligns with the Government of India's 'Make in India' initiative. We aim to unlock synergies in product innovation, distribution, and market expansion, delivering high-quality, value-driven beverages to consumers nationwide." The revamped Jumpin will be introduced in vibrant PET bottles in 250 ml, 600 ml, and 1.2 L sizes for on-the-go and family use, alongside Tetra Pak options in 125 ml, 200 ml, and 1 L packs targeting health-conscious consumers, particularly Gen Z and young families. Initial flavours include Mango, Lemon, Litchi, and Guava, with a phased rollout beginning in metropolitan and key regional markets from June. According to IMARC Group, India's fruit juice market is projected to reach Rs 1,22,855 crore by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 11.90% during 2025-2033, driven by rising consumer preference for natural, nutrient-rich, and health-oriented beverages. Rasna plans to position Jumpin as a fortified, ready-to-drink fruit juice rich in 10 vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, with innovations focusing on low-calorie formulations and future enhancements involving proteins and milk-based additives. This initiative aims to appeal to evolving consumer preferences while reinforcing the brand's commitment to nutrition, taste, and wellness. Rasna Pvt Ltd is India's leading family-owned FMCG business, exporting to over 53 countries, with 12 manufacturing plants and a vast distribution network covering 1.6 million outlets nationwide. The company has earned international accolades for superior taste and quality, including the Superior Taste Award from the International Taste and Quality Institute, Belgium. UNI BDN
