There was a stretch in the mid-1990s when Indian pop lived in college corridors, on TV music channels, and in dedications on radio shows. Somewhere in that pop haze stood singer and composer<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/hollywood-news/article/leslee-lewis-for-hindi-guys-with-angrezi-slant-23185834" target="_blank" rel="none noopener"> Leslee Lewis.</a> Today, he is back, but this time as a playback singer in the upcoming Hindi film Zorr.&nbsp;
<img title="(L-R) Leslee Lewis with Hariharan" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/music-nine-march-b_e.jpg" alt="(L-R) Leslee Lewis with Hariharan" width="1280" height="720" />(L-R) Leslee Lewis with Hariharan
On paper, it reads like a comeback. But to Lewis, voicing Zorr Ka Dhakka for Kan Singh Sodha&rsquo;s zombie horror-comedy was organic. &ldquo;I never left music. Over the last two decades, I was composing, producing, touring internationally, creating independent projects,&rdquo; he told mid-day.&nbsp;
<img title="A still from &lsquo;Zorr&rsquo;" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/music-nine-march-d_e.jpg" alt="A still from &lsquo;Zorr&rsquo;" width="1280" height="720" />A still from &lsquo;Zorr&rsquo;
When composer Raju Singh approached him for the song, the singer understood his vision immediately. &ldquo;Raju Singh knew the energy he wanted. The lyrics were sharp; they spoke about how we are all corporate zombies today. That metaphor added depth.&rdquo;
<img title="Leslee Lewis&rsquo;s only brush with Bollywood was the song, &lsquo;Dekho 2000 Zamana Aa Gaya&rsquo;, from Aamir Khan&rsquo;s &lsquo;Mela&rsquo; (2000)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/music-nine-march-c_e.jpg" alt="Leslee Lewis&rsquo;s only brush with Bollywood was the song, &lsquo;Dekho 2000 Zamana Aa Gaya&rsquo;, from Aamir Khan&rsquo;s &lsquo;Mela&rsquo; (2000)" width="1280" height="720" />Leslee Lewis&rsquo;s only brush with Bollywood was the song, &lsquo;Dekho 2000 Zamana Aa Gaya&rsquo;, from Aamir Khan&rsquo;s &lsquo;Mela&rsquo; (2000)
One will rarely find Lewis&rsquo;s voice in Bollywood films. But his voice and creations dominated India&rsquo;s indie music scene in the mid 1990s and early 2000s. Remember Colonial Cousins, the band he formed with Hariharan, giving us songs like Krishna and Sa Ni Dha Pa? Does he feel that he is a forefather to today&rsquo;s indie artistes? He reflected, &ldquo;We never built playgrounds. We built identity. We were creating music with conviction. The fact that <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/exclusive-leslee-lewis-latest-song-meheki-khushboo-hairstyle-working-with-kk-23559899" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Colonial Cousins </a>is still discussed proves it is immortal. We did not create trends or reels. We created music with [the idea] of blending classical roots with global sound without losing soul. Good music does not expire.&rdquo;
His conviction in his music led to several pop hits, including Yaaron and Jaanam Samjha Karo. But his most pivotal move came in the 2010s, when he helmed the first season of MTV Coke Studio in India. &ldquo;The first season had 51 songs [recorded] in 40 days, all live, one take,&rdquo; he recalled. &ldquo;If someone made a mistake, we redid the entire song. Artistes loved that honesty. <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/photo/sunidhi-chauhan-rocks-the-icc-womens-world-cup-final-with-electrifying-show-108082" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Sunidhi Chauhan l</a>earnt Assamese to sing authentically with an Assamese singer. That dedication matters.&rdquo;

Returning to Bollywood after 26 years with ‘Zorr’, Leslee Lewis says his brand of music has lived on as it was created with conviction

Leslee Lewis set to return to Bollywood after 26 years

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Entertainment / Bollywood News / Article / Leslee Lewis set to return to Bollywood after 26 years

Leslee Lewis set to return to Bollywood after 26 years

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast