Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 15: Renowned playback singer Jonita Gandhi, celebrated for her soulful voice and versatile performances, recently bared her heart in a candid interview with Hauterrfly, revealing painful experiences from her formative years marked by bullying, racism, and deep-seated body image issues.

Born into a Punjabi family in Delhi and raised in Canada from the age of nine months, Jonita shared that she faced both subtle and overt racism growing up abroad. But surprisingly, her return to India was equally jarring. “Even rickshaw drivers would charge me double just because I didn’t seem local,” she recalled, highlighting how she felt like a misfit in both worlds.

Recalling her school days in Canada, Jonita said she was often targeted for having facial hair and curly side-locks. “They used to call me Godzilla. Even Punjabi boys would make fun of me. I used to come home and cry. I think they just thought I was ugly,” she said emotionally.

The harsh comments and mockery left scars that went deeper than skin. “Growing up, I was convinced I was never going to have sex. I couldn’t accept my own body, so how could I expect someone else to accept it?” she confessed, shedding light on the mental toll of constant bullying.

Despite the challenges, music became Jonita’s saving grace. “Music helped me feel special,” she said, recalling how she often wore kurtis during shows in Toronto while her peers flaunted lehengas. “I didn’t feel pretty in those moments, but music gave me purpose.”

Today, Jonita stands tall as one of India’s most beloved contemporary vocalists, with her latest release ‘Beparwai’ winning hearts across platforms. Her honest revelations have struck a chord with many, inspiring conversations around self-acceptance, resilience, and the power of finding one’s voice — both on and off stage.