Aaliyah Qureishi, widely known by her stage name Jhalli, is a versatile actor, singer, and songwriter from Mumbai, India. After delivering a standout performance as Janvi, one of Shah Rukh Khan’s core girl fighters in the record-breaking Bollywood blockbuster Jawan, Aaliyah has once again mesmerized audiences in the hit musical drama Bandish Bandits Season 2, portraying the character of Ananya.
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Join Telegram ChannelIn the series, Aaliyah plays Ananya, a genius keyboardist who passionately advocates for what she believes is right, in the face of orthodoxy and patriarchy. She fuses mathematics and music, and plays a pivotal role in the storyline, the voice of change and reason in the Rathod Gharana (no spoilers—you’ll have to watch to find out!).
A trained musician and singer in Western classical music, Aaliyah not only showcased her acting skills but also lent her voice to two original tracks in the series: “You and I” and “You and I (Lo-Fi)”, for which she also wrote the lyrics.
Reflecting on her journey, Aaliyah shared that she started as a singer-songwriter and musician. Acting, she revealed, came into her life through a mix of persistence and serendipity. Her breakthrough role in Jawan earned her widespread recognition and opened doors to exciting projects, including Bandish Bandits Season 2, directed by Anand Tiwari.
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Speaking about her experience on set, Aaliyah shared some behind-the-scenes moments:
“Anand once said to me, ‘Season one was actors telling musicians’ stories; I want season two to be musicians telling musicians’ stories,’ and I thought that was a beautiful sentiment. He cast many musicians for the second season (including me), and a lot of us learned to play instruments we didn’t know before. That was a fun challenge, and you’ll get to see some of it in the show!”
She also recounted a humorous moment during filming:
“In one scene, my character had to storm off, and I banged straight into a light, hit my head, and went straight down! Everyone was so concerned, but I was laughing because this happens to me all the time. During Jawan, a duffli accidentally fell on my head, so this was nothing! I’m beginning to think all these head injuries are just good luck signs.”
Aaliyah fondly recalled the jam sessions on set, saying:
“There was constantly music—between shots, in the vans while waiting to be called, or even in the hotel rooms on off days. It was so much fun! Many of the cast members played instruments in real life. I play guitar and sing, Rahul (who plays Kabir) is a great singer, Rajesh Tailang sir plays the flute, Saurabh Nayyar plays the harmonium, and Ritwik plays the guitar. We were always making music, which stayed true to the spirit of the show. Hopefully, our real-life love for music shines through in the series.”
Aaliyah’s academic accomplishments are equally noteworthy. She studied psychology and music at the University of Southern California (USC), where she also pursued acting classes. Later, she attended the prestigious Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, performing at iconic venues such as the Staples Center, Whisky a Go Go, Silverlake Lounge, and Hollywood Live House.
On being part of Bandish Bandits Season 2, Aaliyah expressed her excitement:
“It feels surreal, and I’m super thrilled to be part of such a hit web series. This project gave me the unique opportunity to blend my musical and acting talents.”
