Music is more than a profession for actor and DJ Ashmit Patel. It is a way to connect with people, find creative satisfaction and, most importantly, make them happy. This Navaratri, he brings that energy to Bangalore Times’ Garba Nite on October 18 at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru, blending traditional Garba sounds with his own musical flavour.“I’m super excited because it’s been a while since I played in Bengaluru, and even longer since I’ve done a Garba event. Me being a Patel, the Dandiya-Garba connection runs quite deep. It’ll be nice to connect with my roots and play some traditional music along with some interesting mixes I’ve prepared for the evening,” he says.Over the years, Garba has travelled beyond its Gujarati roots to become a vibrant celebration that brings people together across communities. Ashmit says its appeal lies as much in the spirit of togetherness as in the music, dance and colourful attire.“It’s an opportunity for youngsters to come together, dance, enjoy and connect. It’s so colourful, and the outfits too are beautiful. The styling, cuts and colours are so vibrant. Some of these dancers are incredible. It’s almost like a martial art, the way they do it,” he says.‘DJing is like theatre because the response is instant’Ashmit began DJing in 2014, after the release of Jai Ho, when he decided to take a break from acting rather than sign up for projects simply to stay busy. “DJing was something I had aspired to do since I was a teenager. It’s been interesting and fun to discover my own sound, understand what kind of music I enjoy playing and see how different crowds across the country and the world react to it,” he says.“When you’re DJing, you have a live audience in front of you, so you know if what you’re doing is hitting the spot. Sometimes, you have to adjust on the fly, change your music or your energy if you’re not connecting with the crowd,” he shares.Whether performing as celebrity DJ Ashmit Patel or playing electronic music under the name Ashiva, connecting with his audience remains central to his work. While the celebrity tag may draw people in, he finds greater satisfaction in seeing them respond to the music and enjoy themselves.“When people come to see Ashmit Patel, the actor who is a DJ, there’s also a bit of a show that I’m putting on. But beyond the selfies and handshakes, when people dance to your tunes, have a great night and genuinely enjoy themselves, that’s even more gratifying. For me, it’s about being creatively satisfied and being happy with the way my life is. I just want to be happy, content and joyful. I want to spread love and happiness, and I want to make sure that people I interact with have a pleasant experience,” he adds.
