Meiyang Chang on the Harsh Truths Reality TV and the Music Industry Have To Face

The actor, singer and host recently released a gentle, melancholy ballad called "Thoothi Chai" as part of an upcoming EP Returning'

- ANURAG TAGAT

More than  15 years ago, Meiyang Chang became a household of sorts when he was part of singing competition Indian Idol. Since then, the show and music have remained an inseparable part of his identity, even as he moved into other T.V. gigs including hosting and competing in (separately, of course) reality shows as well as anchoring live telecasts and acting in Bollywood films like Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and Salman Khan-starring blockbusters like Sultan and Bharat.

The whole time, singing has always been a part of Chang’s focus, even if it’s mostly his take on popular Indian film and pop songs as part of his series #SingChang. There have been singles and collaborations like “Hanju” with Tony Kakkar and Neha Kakkar, plus his recent singles “Safarnama” from 2021 and “Mujhe Tum Nazar Se” earlier this year, all of which prove that Chang still values not just his vocal ability but also a deeper appreciation for music. In September, he released his heartbreak song “Jhoothi Chai,” with lyrics by Manan Bhardwaj and music produced by Rajat Kumar via Namyoho Studios. Eschewing the high-energy dramatic proclamations of love or an intense tear-jerker tale of woe, Chang instead makes a comforting, reflective romantic song that flows in a fairly mature way. “Jhoothi Chai” is part of an upcoming EP called Returning, coming up in 2024.

In an email interview with Rolling Stone India, Chang looks back at the journey since Indian Idol in 2007, the state of reality T.V. and the music industry in India, his latest song and what’s next. Excerpts: