Sanjeeta Bhattacharya Talks New Song ‘X Marks The Spot’ and Bagging a Role in ‘Jawan’

Singer-songwriter Sanjeeta Bhattacharya scales vocal highs in a delicate yet powerful manner on her confessional new song “X Marks The Spot,” (XMTS) made with singer-songwriter Prabhtoj Singh. With piano and string arrangements to lend it a cinematic sound, Bhattacharya channels soaring balladeers like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler (think “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”) as the track swells to arena-rock glory levels.

Written a few years ago and even performed at different points, Bhattacharya says in a statement that she wrote “X Marks The Spot” as a note to herself, in the midst of being treated for chickenpox, reading news of wildfires in the Amazon forest and feeling “unsure […] vulnerable, small and lost” in a personal relationship. “Like I had been ‘shot in the lungs’. ‘XMTS’ is my way of putting those incredibly frustrating emotions onto paper,” the artist says in a statement.

It’s Bhattacharya’s first single of the year, which makes sense if you were following her trajectory in the acting sphere over the last couple of years. Within the OTT space, she’s been a part of shows such as Feels Like Ishq and The Broken News. She’ll next appear in her biggest film project yet, starring in Bollywood actioner Jawan, starring the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara.

With songs like “Zinda Banda” out from the movie’s soundtrack, fans got to see Bhattacharya in a new light. “This definitely feels like a turning point in my career,” she added in a statement about the role.

Bhattacharya speaks with Rolling Stone India about the release of “X Marks The Spot,” bagging a role in Jawan and more. Excerpts:

What finally sparked the move to put out ‘X Marks the Spot’ after spending a few years with it?

The song needed its time to develop. I began playing it live in my sets a year into it. Then the string section came about. Then we added the piano instead of the guitar. ‘XMTS’ has gone through its share of changes over the years and we just felt it was finally time to release it.

You also worked with Prabhtoj on this, right? What was the process like, his role and what is it like having a collaborator like him along the way?
Yes, Prabhtoj Singh has produced the song and composed the string arrangement for ‘XMTS.’ We have previously worked on songs like ‘Everything’s Fine?’ and ‘Out of Tune’. It’s amazing having him on board because we spend a lot of our time together playing shows, at rehearsals, listening to music etc so our inspirations and vision is almost always aligned. He’s brilliant at giving life to my ideas. Having a friend who genuinely cares about you and treats your art with love is a gift and I consider myself lucky.

You mentioned that Aerosmith was one of the influences for this song. It definitely does have a bit of “Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing.” What was it like making sure you hit those high notes and have the best vocal take while recording?
Wow, thank you! We recorded the final take at Ferris Studios. I did about two to three takes. The idea was to sing the entire song without stopping and let the emotion build naturally as the song progressed. The last bit of the song where it crescendos, I wanted it to be completely unhinged. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear my voice crack a bit there. I really enjoyed that, though it wasn’t intentional and we decided to keep it because it brings out the angst. It’s hard to get that if you chop up your take into sections.

How did your involvement in starring in Jawan come about?
I was in Kolkata for a gig when I received a call from [casting director] Mukesh Chhabra’s office. A week later, in Mumbai, I auditioned nonchalantly without knowing much about the project as it hadn’t been revealed to me just yet. Soon I was told that I’d gotten through and the protagonist was SRK. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! It was surreal!

Now that we’re seeing more glimpses of everything that’s in store for you with this film, what’s it like being part of “showbiz” per se?
I see it as exploring another form of art. It’s still novel and of course, very exciting for me. I have been blessed to set foot into this industry alongside some genuinely kind and supremely talented artists. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest but I enjoy being in front of the camera and working on this craft. I’m also curious to see if and how being a part of showbiz has an effect on my music and its listeners.

What else is coming up through 2023 in terms of acting as well as music projects?
I plan on putting out three more singles, all compiled into an EP titled Dear Diary. I’m also looking forward to the release of The Broken News Season 2 and keeping my fingers crossed as I audition for new projects!