Music and lyrics

Successful stint

He gained recognition in Bollywood when he wrote ‘Party On My Mind’ for ‘Race 2’. He then penned lyrics for ‘Mary Kom’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani’. The talented lyricist, Prashant Ingole, today has nearly 13 movies to his credit and every song of his stands out for its individuality.

Prashant chats with Anila Kurian about how his life has undergone many a shift — from being a BCom student to a chef and finally making it to Bollywood.

How did you end up writing lyrics for Bollywood films?
To be honest, I keep asking myself that question every single day. When I completed my BCom, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I went for a hotel management course.

BCom to hotel management and now a lyricist...
Yes, I know it sounds weird but I always enjoyed writing. When I realised that hotel management wasn’t my cup of tea, I moved to Mumbai to pursue my love for writing. It took about nine years to make my presence felt in the industry.

Your tips to survive in the industry...
The challenge is to hold on and never give up. Surviving in Bollywood is very tough.

Anything that shocked you about Bollywood?
I was warned that many in the industry are fake but I never believed them. I experienced that after I officially made a mark in Bollywood. However, I’ve been lucky enough to have good people around me. You also have to be very diplomatic. You can’t be honest here, people will take your comments personally.

What runs in your mind while writing a song?
I try to get into the zone of the situation; get under the skin of the character. It’s important for me to understand the language and nature of the film to bring out a good song.

The toughest song you’ve ever written...
The songs of ‘Bajirao Mastani’.

Your upcoming projects?
I am working on ‘Daddy’ starring Arjun Rampal. I’ve also written lyrics for another upcoming movie; the name has not been finalised. Along with that, I am writing scripts for a Marathi project.

Which song are you listening to right now?
This may upset a lot of people but I don’t listen to Bollywood music. I only enjoy Spanish and Latin music.

We heard that you love cooking...
Yes, I like fusing different dishes together. Some of my favourites are ‘mint chicken’, ‘coriander and mushrooms’, ‘lemon chicken’ and ‘lamb in yoghurt’.

Ever had a kitchen disaster?
Never. I cook every day so I am pretty much a pro now.