Not a marketing campaign rally, not a protest march — an Indian marriage ceremony managed to deliver New York’s monetary district to a halt, with 400 odd baaraatis dancing to upbeat tunes of their designer greatest. On the helm of all of it, DJ Arjun Shah spun his magic and despatched the celebration into frenzy, snippets of which discovered their technique to social media and made headlines immediately.
“Watching 400 individuals dance and rejoice in the midst of New York Metropolis’s monetary district was one thing I by no means imagined I’d be a part of. The power was subsequent degree, dhols echoing off skyscrapers, visitors utterly immersed within the second, and passersby stopping to take all of it in. For some time, Wall Avenue wasn’t about finance, it was all about pleasure, music, and tradition,” stated Shah — higher generally known as DJ AJ.
With over twenty years within the business, he has grow to be the go-to identify for marriage ceremony leisure. His spectacular portfolio contains among the greatest weddings in Bollywood and past, from Anant Ambani and Radhika Service provider’s Europe cruise celebration to Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas, Athiya Shetty-KL Rahul, Sonam Kapoor-Anand Ahuja and Kiara Advani-Sidharth Malhotra nuptials.
Recalling how he landed the Wall Avenue gig, Shah revealed that he was booked to carry out for a multi-day marriage ceremony, and on the time, was solely given the dates and particulars of the features, not the precise venues. “It was solely later that I found a kind of occasions would occur on Wall Avenue. That’s after I realized this was going to be one thing actually particular. I wasn’t a part of the planning course of, simply introduced on to deal with the music, however I’m grateful to have been concerned in such a standout second,” he stated.
DJ AJ performs on the Wall Avenue Indian marriage ceremony (Supply: PR Handout)
Identified for his capability to curate dynamic, high-energy performances throughout genres like Bollywood, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Techno, Shah transforms weddings into unforgettable experiences. He has additionally shared the stage with international music icons corresponding to David Guetta, Katy Perry, Pitbull, The Backstreet Boys, and The Chainsmokers.
Indianexpress.com caught up with him at size to debate the quickly evolving marriage ceremony business, his artistic course of, and the unforgettable moments from superstar weddings. Edited excerpts under:
Q. How was your expertise on the Jeet Adani-Diva Shah marriage ceremony?
Arjun Shah: The expertise on the Adani marriage ceremony was wonderful. It was a high-energy crowd that really beloved their Bollywood music. The couple loved a couple of English mashups that I performed, particularly my very own manufacturing—Tere Liye x I Adore You.
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Q. You additionally carried out on the Kiara-Sidharth marriage ceremony. What was on their marriage ceremony playlist?
Arjun Shah: Their marriage ceremony playlist was primarily Bollywood-heavy, particularly that includes songs from their very own motion pictures—those they’d danced to on display.
Q. We heard there’s an enchanting story behind you touchdown the Virat-Anushka marriage ceremony gig. Are you able to stroll us by means of it?
Arjun Shah: I used to be approached by an occasion firm for the marriage, however they didn’t reveal the couple’s identify or any particulars—simply that it was an enormous alternative. On the time, I used to be attending my greatest buddy’s marriage ceremony, scheduled on the identical dates, so I initially turned it down. A number of days later, they reached out once more for the reception, and fortunately, I used to be accessible.
All I knew was that I’d be acting at The St. Regis, Mumbai. After I arrived, I observed quite a lot of paparazzi exterior however nonetheless had no clue who the couple was. It was solely after I noticed the couple’s brand exterior the banquet that I realised it was Virat-Anushka. That second was actually unforgettable. I do recall taking part in quite a lot of Punjabi and Bhangra tracks that night time. The power was unimaginable!
Q. What’s your ordinary course of behind curating a marriage playlist? Do you get the artistic liberty to bounce your concepts?
Arjun Shah: I often begin with a short from the couple to know their musical preferences. Then, we arrange an in depth name to get a way of their imaginative and prescient, viewers, and the vibe of the occasion. We additionally examine if the couple is open to experimenting with totally different genres. This helps me curate a playlist that aligns with their expectations whereas additionally incorporating my very own artistic contact.
Q. Which was the simplest and most enjoyable celeb couple you labored with?
Arjun Shah: I’ve genuinely beloved working with all of them. However as a DJ, one marriage ceremony I can always remember is Farhan and Shibani’s. It was at their home in Lonavala, and the couple danced their hearts out—whether or not it was English, Bollywood, or Hip-Hop blasting by means of the audio system. Their power was unreal.
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Q. What received you into doing marriage ceremony gigs?
Arjun Shah: My journey began after I was 15, after being chosen by my college to DJ at an occasion. From there, I participated in Warfare of DJs competitions and gained 5 consecutive years. That’s after I knew this was my ardour.
To hone my expertise, I attended Level Clean Music Faculty in London, the place I discovered the technical facets of DJ’ing. Initially, I began taking part in at nightclubs, however my first marriage ceremony gig occurred by probability—it was a household marriage ceremony. It turned out to be such successful that it led to extra bookings throughout the household, and shortly, word-of-mouth introduced me new purchasers.
Q. Are you able to share some insights on the current shift in marriage ceremony music in India?
Arjun Shah: Lately, {couples} have began mixing international music genres with Indian music, creating a novel fusion at weddings. Bollywood classics are actually being seamlessly blended with worldwide appears like Afro Home, Techno, and EDM—giving marriage ceremony playlists a contemporary vibe.
India undoubtedly has an enormous marketplace for marriage ceremony DJ’ing. Weddings listed below are grand, and music is a core a part of each celebration. Millennial and Gen Z {couples} particularly love having a DJ curate distinctive units for his or her marriage ceremony occasions.
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Q. Any upcoming traits you foresee in 2025?
Arjun Shah: {Couples} need personalised, immersive experiences. Two years in the past, I launched my hologram act in India—a visible expertise that fuses EDM, Techno, and Bolly-Tech, elevating stay units. This development has taken off, and shifting ahead, we’ll see manufacturing grow to be much more technology-driven. Acts like holograms will solely get greater and higher, with developments in AI, augmented actuality, and interactive visuals turning into a part of marriage ceremony leisure.
Digital advertising and marketing and social media reels will play an excellent greater function in shaping marriage ceremony music. Viral mashups are already influencing {couples}’ playlists, and DJs will proceed to create customized edits impressed by trending sounds. The main focus will likely be on creating moments that look and sound nice on social media, making marriage ceremony music not simply in regards to the stay expertise but additionally its digital affect.
Q. Do you consider this social media second (Wall Avenue marriage ceremony) is pivotal in your profession forward?
Arjun Shah: Seeing the occasion go viral has undoubtedly been particular. The second already felt massive in individual, however watching the way it resonated with individuals on-line, internationally, has added one other layer to it. I believe moments like these assist shine a light-weight on how highly effective and joyful cultural celebrations will be, even in essentially the most surprising locations. It’s undoubtedly encouraging as I look forward.