His new song Banana Banana ( Times Music) has just released and he is elated. Dubai based beatboxer Vardhaman Chhajed who hails from Nagpur is a 27 year old with dreams to rule the world. He believes that he has manifested the life he is living today – rubbing shoulders with world renowned rappers and singers, hosting a radio show on Big FM, hosting, writing songs and indulging in his favorite art – beat boxing.
Vardhaman came to Dubai in 2017 for a management course in DSO and earned AED 300 on his first project at GITEX. What followed was a series of fortunate incidences that catapulted him to fame, popularity and power. ” When I got AED 300 for a seven day stint, I was thrilled. I felt I had earned a lot of money,” laughs the young radio host and popular public figure. His naïveté though didn’t carry on in his next gig and he started earning more. His stint in Abu Dhabi earned him AED 3000 and his life journey in the UAE started along with his beatboxing career. “I know what is commercially viable and what is purely my own interest and I know the difference,”says the spirited Vardhaman.
A student of spirituality, Vardhaman follows a strict regime of waking up early at 4 am for his prayers, a cold shower and practicing Art of Living’s Sudarshan Kriya. His journalling has helped him achieve his goals since he has scripted his life. ” Spirituality is an important part of my life. I go to Bavulgaav every year to play the dhol for Ganpati puja. (The village is near Nagpur where his grand parents landed after they migrated from Rajasthan). The dhols are 20 kilos each and along with the tashas the band creates deafening music. I have seen thin glass crack with the sound they create,” he adds.
“I was broke, in tears and famished. But I was praying continuously while listening to songs such as Kun Faya Kun. I sat opposite the bus stop at the Al Madina Supermarket, DSO, and what I see next to me is a a half-eaten burger atop a dustbin. I grabbed and ate the burger from the side that was not bitten and thanked God. I will never forget this incident. “
Ask him about beatboxing and he will turn philosophical. ” I was 16- 17 years old and suffered a major heartbreak. Around that time I googled on what were the rarest art forms people indulged in and beatboxing was part of the list. It drew my interest and viola! I was into it.
His family saw hard times during the demonetization wave in India. His coming to Dubai is a vision that he pictured in his balcony back home while high on dancing. His tattoos are interesting too, almost like an oracle. They reveal date deadlines for his dreams – that include owning a well known mansion in LA to becoming the most known artiste in the UAE. He has a clear vision of making 5600 songs and getting into the beverages industry, real estate and continue being the artiste that he is. Extremely close to his family, Vardhaman’s parents are entrepreneurs- his dad a former builder and his mother is a naturopath and his biggest cheerleaders. He has a younger sister Ankita who he lovingly calls Pilu.
“I don’t have time for negativity and that is strengthened by meditation. I am a big believer in the power of meditation. When I am in the middle of my breathing exercises, I feel that I am part of an empty canvas and that helps me to paint what I want. It is part of my cleansing process,” he says.
His sense of humility comes from a close knit family, life lessons and being from a small town. “I come from a small town like Nagpur and most people from small towns have a sense of awe and have bigger dreams.
His journey to fame hasn’t been easy and was full of challenges. “I struggled during my initial days and was broke, exhausted and without work. One day I had exhausted all my money and was returning home to Silicon oasis. As is usual, I was listening to songs such as Khawaja Mere Khwaja, Thokar khaake and Kun Faya Kun in loop and was crying bitterly calling out to God. I come from a well to do family and here I was with no money and was very hungry. I sat down opposite the bus stop at the Al Madina Supermarket at DSO and what I see next to me is a dustbin and on the top of it is a half-eaten burger discarded by someone. I grabbed and ate the burger from its other side which was not bitten. I thanked God for my meal for that day. I will never forget that incident.”
A dutiful son, Vardhaman is flourishing today and aims to give his parents a life of luxury. “I still have a photo of my parents and their cracked heels. They have been my inspiration. At their worst times too, they have always encouraged and motivated me. They are my anchors and my pillars. I want to give them a bigger and better life, while I excel and succeed even more,” he signs off.
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