From reality TV to her Bollywood debut in Haunted 3D to carving a space across music and films, Tia Bajpai has had a journey marked by reinvention. Now, after a three-year break, she returns with her international film Lilly Rose – Chapter 1 and her music project Love Mafia, where she sings in five languages. In this exclusive interview with ETimes, Tia talks about working across cultures, the challenges of being an outsider, and how artists like Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan made global ambitions feel within reach.
With Love Mafia, you’ve sung in five languages — English, Hindi, Swahili, Korean and Latin. What was the most challenging emotional shift while expressing love across such different cultures?
What became clear during Love Mafia is that love is universal, but its expression is deeply cultural.Love sounds different in every language… but feels the same everywhere.The challenge was not pronunciation, it was emotional translation. Hindi allows you to linger in love, English makes it more direct, Korean holds it back with restraint, Swahili gives it an earthy rhythm, and Latin makes it feel almost eternal.Each language demanded a different emotional grammar. It was not possible to carry the same feeling across. Every song required unlearning and relearning love through that culture’s lens. That was the real challenge and also the biggest takeaway.
Working with international producer Prince Romal , how did the global production process differ from what you’ve experienced in India?
The difference was in intention and depth. In India, we often work with instinct and speed, and there is beauty in that spontaneity. But here, every detail was constructed with precision. Each of the 11 tracks was treated like a cinematic piece, with layers of sound, silence and emotion carefully built.This was not recording music… this was building emotion layer by layer.It was also a very collaborative process. There was no hierarchy. Instead of being told what to do, there was a constant push to explore what I was feeling. That changes your performance completely. You don’t just deliver vocals, you become part of the storytelling.
After a three-year break, what did returning with an international project change in you — as an artist and as a person?
Those three years were a period of reflection more than a break. I stopped chasing visibility… and started choosing meaning.There were questions, doubts, and also a lot of clarity that came with stepping away.The biggest change is that there is no longer a need to be constantly seen. Earlier, there is always a rush to prove yourself. Now, there is a stronger need to create something meaningful.As a person, there is more calm. As an artist, there is more fearlessness. The focus has shifted from fitting into spaces to creating work that feels true.
Looking at journeys of actors like Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan, do you feel their transition to Hollywood helped pave the way for artists like you to explore global platforms more confidently?
Their journeys were important because they changed perception. They showed that talent from India can stand on a global stage without losing its identity.Before that, global work felt distant. After that, it became something you could realistically aspire to. They didn’t just open doors, they made the path visible.That kind of representation gives confidence to many artists to think beyond boundaries.They didn’t just cross over… they changed the way the world sees us. And that is truly inspirational.
Coming from a non-film background and starting with reality TV, how difficult was it to be taken seriously as an actor in Bollywood?
It is a long process. Reality TV gives visibility, but not credibility. When you come from outside the industry, you are constantly proving yourself. Simply put, visibility is easy… credibility takes years.There is no backing, no ecosystem. Every opportunity feels like a test. And sometimes, even after proving yourself, you are still seen as temporary.It takes time for people to stop looking at where you come from and start recognising what you bring.
You once mentioned being replaced by a star kid in a major film — how did that moment shape your understanding of the industry’s power dynamics?
That moment brought clarity. It made it clear that talent is only one part of the industry. That here, talent matters… but power often decides. And there are other factors like access, influence and power that also play a role.You can give your best and still not be the final choice. Accepting that reality is important.It shifted the focus from seeking validation to building something independent and personal.
You were also labelled “difficult” for turning down certain roles. Did standing by your choices ever feel like it came at a cost?
Every ‘No’ protected the artist I wanted to be.But saying ‘No’ always comes at a cost, especially when you are not backed by strong connections. It is easy to be misunderstood.But every choice shapes your identity as an artist. There were moments of doubt, but looking back, those decisions helped in staying aligned with what felt right.It may have slowed the journey, but it preserved authenticity.
Was your move toward international work driven more by creative curiosity or by the limitations you experienced within the Hindi film industry?
It was both. Curiosity pushed… limitations accelerated. There was a natural curiosity to explore something new, but also a realisation that growth had to come from stepping out of familiar spaces.International work offered creative freedom. It allowed experimentation with sound, language and storytelling in a way that felt unrestricted.It was not just about going global, it was about expanding creatively.
Do you think struggles like yours are changing for newcomers today, or do outsiders still face the same barriers?
There is change, but it is gradual. Digital platforms have made access easier, but acceptance is still a journey.Outsiders continue to face challenges in being taken seriously and being given equal opportunities. The difference now is that these conversations are more open.There is more awareness, even if the system is still evolving.Today, access has improved… acceptance is still catching up.
If you could go back and speak to your younger self from the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa days, what would you prepare her for emotionally?
The first thing would be to prepare for rejection. Not as something negative, but as something that shapes you.The journey is unpredictable, and things don’t always go as planned. But the one constant is your voice and your belief in it.Patience becomes very important. Because while talent can open doors, it is resilience that helps you stay.
