Aaliyah Qureishi, fondly known by her stage name ‘Jhalli’, is a multifaceted artist who seamlessly blends her skills as an actress, singer, and musician. Rising to fame with her remarkable portrayal of a key member in director Atlee’s blockbuster ‘Jawan‘ starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aaliyah showcased her versatility and charismatic screen presence as part of his girl gang in 2023.
Currently, she is captivating audiences in the musical romantic drama ‘Bandish Bandits‘ Season 2. Aaliyah not only plays the pivotal character Ananya in the musical drama but also lends her soulful voice to two songs in the series. In an exclusive interview with Etimes, she shared her experience working with Shah Rukh in her debut project and how the entire crew, including Deepika Padukone, Nayanthara, Priyamani, Atlee, and more, helped her improve her craft.
You performed two songs and played musical instruments in ‘Bandish Bandits Season 2’. Being a musician yourself, how easy was it to say yes to this project, and what attracted you to the script?
Very easy! Instant yes. I was attracted to the script from the time I watched season 1 itself and was just grateful to get an audition. I was a guitar player before the show. Learning the piano was always intimidating to me, despite my efforts, but Bandish Bandits opened up a new world by requiring me to learn it for my character. I now love playing piano and find it so relaxing and natural! Much more than before, so I’m thankful I got to learn a new skill.
Your character, Ananya, is being showered with love from audiences. How does it feel to achieve back-to-back success with such performance-oriented roles?
I feel very blessed. A big heartfelt thank you to everyone who has given Ananya so much love and related to her odd but lovable character so deeply. And add Jawan onto that I just feel like the luckiest person to be able to witness these beautiful big projects.
You made a powerful entry into showbiz with Atlee’s Jawan. Could you share how you prepared for the role and what it was like working under Atlee’s direction?
It was a really new and fun experience. We prepared for it with a bunch of fight training and gun training before every heist, and I tried to immerse myself into Atlee sir’s world and his vision by watching his previous films. He is a visionary and it was cool to see him in action.
Your acting debut featured stalwarts like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Nayanthara, and Vijay Sethupathi. What was it like meeting Shah Rukh Khan for the first time? What are some key lessons you took away from him—both as a person and as an actor?
It was wonderful. He was just as kind, humble and humorous as I imagined he’d be. Some key lessons I learned from him are firstly, you’re never too big to be kind to people and make them feel special. Secondly I learned that whatever you believe truly from your heart (with no doubt) you will get it. Kind of like his famous dialogue from Om Shanti Om, “kisi cheez ko pure dil se chaaho toh poori kayanat usse tumse milane ki saazish me lag jaati hai.” As an actor I learned the power of just getting out and doing it, and not listening to critics about your failures or your successes but just going out and doing more. He loves acting, and at the end of the day he’s just still happy to be able to do this, even after three decades.
Could you tell us about your experience working with Nayanthara and Deepika Padukone on the set of ‘Jawan’?
They’re both powerful and amazing women and it was a blessing to get to see Bollywood’s biggest heroine and the South’s biggest heroine in action!
In ‘Jawan’, the dynamic women’s gang added a unique and powerful statement to the action film. What was it like working alongside a group of strong female performers and seasoned actors like Priyamani?
It was fantastic. It’s hard to even think of them as “seasoned actors” (though they obviously are) because I think of them as friends first. At the end of the day we were just women who loved supporting and hyping up women, so we all got along really well. The more seasoned actors like Sanya (Malhotra), Priyamani and Gigi taught me not just about acting through their performances, but also about how to be a strong and kind and successful woman in this industry. To this day we have a bond because of all the roller coaster of experiences we’ve had together and all the comfort and support we’ve offered each other.
As a newcomer, how do you approach selecting new projects after the massive success of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer? Was there any pressure or stress in choosing your next film?
No. I just do what I want mostly.
Who was your biggest inspiration growing up? Did you always dream of becoming an actress/singer?
Yes I always dreamed of it. I have loved acting and singing since I was old enough to talk. My biggest inspiration, cheesy as it sounds, was SRK. With regards to singing it was Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.
Did you face any challenges or struggles while trying to break into the industry? What kept you motivated during those tough times?
Yes, of course. What kept me motivated was the support of my friends and loved ones, especially my actor friends who were also auditioning for things. I think you also have to develop a thick skin for rejection, because you may get rejected from a hundred auditions before you get one. It used to really bother me but now I don’t even get nervous going into auditions. I do think it’s a lot easier once you get your first role though, because that’s like a foot in the door. But the beginning is rough, for sure.
How did your family react when you expressed interest in this profession? Did they fully support your journey?
Yes, they knew I had a knack for it so they supported it. At first they wanted me to study an academic profession and keep that option open, because they thought I was too smart to waste it on being an artist (haha!) But then they saw that even after graduating (with highest honors) I was still interested in music and acting so they supported me. In that way Ananya’s character was perfect for me, because I got to express both sides of my personality, the highly creative and the highly rational.
Could you share details about your upcoming projects, musical ventures, or anything exciting that’s in the pipeline?
I’m in a film I can’t share any details about yet. But musically I’m releasing a song called “Ishare” with the amazing artist Somanshu next month, so look out for Ishare by Somanshu and Jhalli, out soon!
