Mixing it up: DJ Chetas talks about following his hobby'

While taking over a family business is an easier affair, DJ Chetas preferred taking over the console instead. And the gamble did work. Chetas Shah, better known as DJ Chetas, is flying high on his popularity, and has risen up the rank of DJ Mag’s renowned Top 100 DJs list this year.

And yet, Chetas doesn’t truly believe DJing is his full-time career. “It was always a hobby. I come from a Marwari set up and we run a family business. I’m the only son, so I was expected to take over the family business. Even today, I wouldn’t really call it my career — it has always been a hobby, but it’s becoming my profession now,” explains the 29-year-old artiste.

As a class 10 student, after witnessing a friend’s older brother mix two tracks together on his computer, Chetas was lured into creating his first few remixes. “If I want to listen to the full album of Cocktail or Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, how do I do that in four minutes? Through a mash-up,” explains Chetas.

It helped that his father encouraged him to take up a course in DJing. “I made my father listen to a couple of remixes. He suggested that I pursue a professional course. Parents don’t usually let their kids get into DJing, but my parents really supported me.”

Although his name became increasingly popular across party and club circles, Chetas admits that he was actually close to quitting the profession a few years ago. However, a word from DJ Aqeel, one of India’s leading Bollywood DJs, made him change his mind. Says Chetas, “DJ Aqeel told me that if I quit it wouldn’t help. He said that if there’s anyone in the industry after him, it’s me. That line really shook me.”

Known for his Bollywood mash-ups and remixes, Chetas says that his popularity is heavily based on the fact that people relate to his music. “When you make a new track, there’s a risk involved — it could work or fail. But remakes have that recall value, since people know the track and it’s already a hit. All the chartbusters right now are all remakes — from Kala Chashma to Soch Na Sake. I don’t think remakes or remixes will ever die,” he says confidently.

Chetas, who has also been signed on as a music director for a couple of upcoming films, says he’s glad to be part of the industry that helped make him a star. “It’s a dream to take India to the world. So let’s hope I can do something about it,” he smiles.