Mumbai, Maharashtra: In a heartfelt conversation with IANS, Lulia speaks about finding a home between two cultures and making history as the first Indian-at-heart artist to perform a Bollywood song at the Vatican. She reflects on singing 'Teri Meri' in both Romanian and Hindi, embracing Bollywood and Hindi music, and rediscovering herself after leaving a successful Romanian career. Lulia talks about her learning experiences while working with Deepak Tijori, her affectionate bond with Salim Khan. She shares insights into her recent song 'Lag Jaa Gale' for 'Sikandar', upcoming music in 'Echoes of Us', future film projects, and her love for live performances. With warmth, she ends by sending festive wishes and gratitude to her fans.
#Lulia #Bollywood #VaticanPerformance #TeriMeri #RomanianSinger #HindiMusic #CulturalJourney #DeepakTijori #SalimKhan #LagJaaGale #Sikandar #EchoesOfUs #LivePerformance #CrossCultural #IndianAtHeart #MusicCareer #BollywoodSongs #HeartfeltInterview #GlobalArtist #NewProjects #FestiveWishes #Gratitude #IANS
#Lulia #Bollywood #VaticanPerformance #TeriMeri #RomanianSinger #HindiMusic #CulturalJourney #DeepakTijori #SalimKhan #LagJaaGale #Sikandar #EchoesOfUs #LivePerformance #CrossCultural #IndianAtHeart #MusicCareer #BollywoodSongs #HeartfeltInterview #GlobalArtist #NewProjects #FestiveWishes #Gratitude #IANS
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00:00Yulia Ji first of all welcome to INS. Thank you. And Yulia Ji first of all we want to know that you made history by becoming the first Indian artist to perform a Bollywood song at the Vatican. So how did you mentally and emotionally prepare for performing Teri Meri Kahani in such a spiritual significant space?
00:17I love the way you say the first Indian to perform there. I love that. That means you consider me one of your own. I'm an Indian already at heart, that's for sure. And I've lived I think enough here to be considered that. So thank you so much. It really honors me and makes me very happy to hear this.
00:38It was an exciting and at the same time a big responsibility for me to know that I'm going to be singing an Indian song there. I've chosen that way. I've chosen to sing in Romanian and in Hindi as well because I wanted both my worlds to be represented there in the Vatican.
01:00As I said, I'm already half Indian and I wanted the Indian lyrics to be there, the Indian music to be there represented. So I decided to sing two songs which have been, you know, very important in my career because of Teri Meri and because of Labat Lame Kolojos, the original version of Teri Meri, the Romanian version.
01:26Because of that song, because of that song, because of that song, because of that song, I started singing. My singing journey has started. So I thought that's a very, very special and important song for me to sing there.
01:39So that's why I've chosen these songs. Labat Lame Kolojos, the Romanian version of Teri Meri, which again, I say it was the original. It was many, many years back when I sang this song and Himesh Rishamia and the team, they heard this song and they loved it so much.
01:57They recreated the song and they recreated the song and everybody knows it now. And I think it's a beautiful song that touches the hearts and for a representation like this, for a performance at the Vatican, I thought it's really important, the message to reach the hearts. Right.
02:16Yeah. So, yeah, I didn't have much time to prepare, honestly. And that was actually, I think, better because I didn't have much time to stress about it.
02:24So, yeah, it went very, very beautiful. I remember I went for the rehearsals and there was a moment before they brought the mics because it took a little bit of time to bring the mics.
02:40And I remember I was just in that auditorium, which is a huge auditorium, but it was such a beautiful energy.
02:49And until they brought the mics, they brought the mics, I was like, let me just hear a little bit of the acoustics of this room.
02:57And I started singing and it was so beautiful. The sound just, you know, it just traveled the whole room and it filled it up so beautifully.
03:10I thought that we don't need a mic there, you know, to sing. It was amazing.
03:14I think that was one of the most beautiful moments because there were not many people.
03:18There were just organizers and our teams. And that moment was really like special for me.
03:26And I remember one of the organizers at one point, like she was so impressed by the song, by the, you know, the moment.
03:34And the next day she came to me and she said, you know what, I had a dream that you were singing the song.
03:40So you sang in my dream as well. After I heard you singing, you sang in my dream as well.
03:46So that was very special for me. Yeah.
03:48When you sang Tiri Meri in front of the Pope and Dignity, did you view it more as a musical performance or a cultural gesture or a form of prayer?
03:58How do you shape your delivery?
03:59You know, I think it's all three together because I thought of all aspects when I, when I've chosen the songs.
04:08Actually, I thought of it later because it just came naturally to me when I heard that I'm going to be performing.
04:17Initially, I've been invited to perform for the big part of a song, which is called We Are The New World.
04:22If you remember Michael Jackson's song, We Are The World, where various artists will join for the global song.
04:32We, we created Pooh Bear, who's a big music producer, American music producer, has created this song, which is called We Are The New World, which actually has a very strong message of coming together in unity and kindness and change contribute to this world, which is going through big transformations and sometimes not going to the right path.
05:01So, he has created this beautiful song.
05:06It's like a global anthem where many artists will also join later on.
05:12So, there was Pooh Bear singing as well and there was me and there was BJ and there was Stephen as well, a part of this song and Pentatronics, which is a big, their big voice.
05:31And that was initially the plan to sing that anthem and then I've been asked if I would like to perform also some songs and whatever my choice was.
05:47So, definitely, I was like super happy and excited for this and it just came naturally that I want to sing La Bethlehem Colangeuse, I want to sing Teddy Mary and also I sang my new song that is going to come out like in a few days, which is a carol song.
06:03It's a Christmas song, but it's a Christmas song, but it's very beautiful.
06:06It has a very new, new sound.
06:08So, it was very easy actually to choose the songs, you know, it was natural and yeah, I think somebody up there has chosen already for me, you know.
06:19Okay, you have spoken before about learning Hindi in the most beautiful way through music.
06:24So, how did embracing Hindi songs and Bollywood culture change your identity as an artist and as an individual?
06:31I think the fact that I'm learning new sounds, you know, every language has a different tune, every language has a different sensibility and message to music.
06:43I think music is the essence of the culture as well.
06:49It contains that essence of the culture because, for example, in the Indian music, you'll find the whole essence of India, right?
06:59The sound, the tones, the words, everything is contained there.
07:04So, the moment when you get in contact with the music, with the Indian music, you learn everything about India and you feel it more than you learn it.
07:13You know, you feel it because music is to be felt.
07:16So, me getting in contact with Indian music actually, it made me so much more rich, right?
07:24Because besides my Romanian culture, besides my Romanian roots, I added the Indian culture which comes now in a way, it comes like a rainbow for me.
07:40Honestly, the Indian culture and the Indian music looks like a rainbow for me because it has all the colors, it has all the sounds, it has like it's so vast, it's so beautiful and so rich.
07:55So, I feel so much more rich as a person to be able to assimilate the Indian music and the Indian culture.
08:05Okay, you once said you sacrificed theater acting career in Romania when you moved to India.
08:11Looking back, how do you think the trade-off was worth it or would you make the same choice again?
08:17Oh, I will not change anything of my life, definitely, because all these choices, I mean, sounds like a cliche, but all these choices have gotten me here.
08:26And I don't regret anything, even the lower points of my life, either the, I don't know, the struggle, the challenges, I will not change them because they definitely made me stronger.
08:38The fact that you move to a different country comes with a different, you know, challenges.
08:43But that made me so much more stronger and so much more in contact with myself, knowing myself so much better than living in an environment which is much more comfortable because of the language, because of the style, culture, lifestyle, everything, right?
08:59When you move to a different country, then you are taken out of your comfort zone.
09:03So then you need to step up and you need, especially for a person who has been in the public eye, who has created already a kind of a public image, you have to forget about that image.
09:17And just to see yourself, how you are, you know, without these tags, without the, yeah, the tags that people are putting on you, the labels that people are putting on you, or maybe you put yourself these labels because you want to be presented in a certain way.
09:35So when I moved to India, actually, I had to strip myself out of all these labels, tags, and just to see who am I for real, who am I if I don't have the name, who am I if I don't have that lifestyle, who am I if I don't have my parents, my friends, my environment, and everything else, right?
09:57So it was a beautiful lesson about myself, first of all, and then I've slowly, slowly, you know, added layers, layers, layers, layers that I've chosen to add, you know, some of them maybe have been forced because of certain events that happened here or certain things that maybe just got imbibed into my personality and everything.
10:26But I think it was also a good way to choose what to become, you know, so now thinking about my career in Romania, I had a very successful career in TV, I used to present the biggest show there called Dancing with the Stars, I used to present the news as well.
10:47I used to be a news anchor and had my own news journal. And yeah, I was in my, the peak of my career there. But I feel that life has given me so much more because I changed exactly, I changed exactly what I was doing, and I was feeling comfortable doing it, and started something totally new.
11:12So yes, I've done theater, I sang there as well. But it's a different path to completely like sing and perform on the stage, like just music, not acting, to sing in a different language, to be in the studio record songs.
11:29It's, yeah, it's a totally different experience, but I love it. And, you know, if before people used to ask me, what do you like to do? You like presenting? You like acting more? Or now I know for sure that I love singing, I love performing for the audience. That's the most beautiful thing.
11:46You're also working on a film with Deepak Tijori. So what was the experience being collaborating with him?
11:52Oh, Deepak Tijori is amazing. And I think everybody loves Deepak Tijori, you know, we know him from the movies that he has done before. And he's a great actor, definitely, and a lovely human being as well.
12:06So it was great to work with him. I've learned from him. I've learned from his silence. And, you know, silence is very precious, actually, in acting, because silence sometimes says so much more than the lines.
12:21So I remember on the set, on my first take, he gave me a great advice that I follow after that. And, you know, he doesn't have to say much, but I think his presence there is so strong and important and so kind in the same time.
12:39So it has been a pleasure to work with him. And with the whole team, actually, Joe Rajan as well. He's so great as a human being as well. It was so easy to work with the whole team.
12:51You know, the vibe on the set was so relaxed and everybody was there with their whole hearts. You know, it was beautiful, actually. Yeah, it was beautiful.
13:01You recently wrote a beautiful post for Salim Khan on his 90th birthday. So what equation you share with him? And how warm and supportive has he been, especially considering that you are often away from your own family?
13:13Oh, he's a beautiful human being. I mean, everybody, I think, knows that. And he's a legend. And every time that you spend with him, it's like a life lesson. You know, you learn something new about life, you get a different understanding about life, just talking to him.
13:33And so I feel so blessed to have the chance to, you know, be around him, to learn from him. And I'm so grateful that, you know, he's close to my life. He's there, a big support in my life.
13:51Did you get a chance to meet Arbaz Khan's daughter recently? How was the experience?
13:55Yes, of course. She's lovely. She's beautiful. And God bless her. She will have a beautiful life, I'm sure about that.
14:01Yeah, she has great parents to take care of her and a great family to take care of her. So definitely, all the values will, will, and the blessings will be upon her. Definitely.
14:14But talking about the films in Bollywood, have you ever watched the films of that golden era? Like actors of Amita Bachchan, Dharman Der?
14:23Of course, yes. I watched some of the golden movies, the iconic movies of the Indian cinema. And actually, I grew up watching some of the Hindi movies.
14:35In Romania, back then, we used to watch in the theaters, Raj Kapoor's movies.
14:43So they are some of the movies that have, you know, shaped my image about cinema, definitely.
14:52Similarly, who is your favorite Bollywood actor from the current generation and why?
14:59Oh, that's tough. Other than Salman Khan.
15:03That's tough. There are many good actors.
15:05I like Rambeer's vibe. I like his energy, his dedication, his passion.
15:21Who else? There are many good actors.
15:24Karthikarian. Karthikarian. He's amazing. Yeah. He's amazing. Thank you for your help.
15:34Karthikarian. He's amazing. And he's very light on screen. And he has many shades. I like him. I like him. Yeah.
15:41Okay. You had sung a song in Salman Khan's Sekandar, Lagja Gale. So what's next in the pipeline? Will you be going with singing only or acting also?
15:52Yeah. That's one of my favorite songs from the Hindi songs, definitely. Lagja Gale, sung by Lataji, the iconic Lataji.
16:08Yeah. So it was an honor and a pleasure, definitely, to sing that song. That was the reason for me ending up singing that song in the movie because I sang it all the time and they heard me singing that song.
16:25So they said, for that particular scene, what do you think if you'll sing it? And initially, I was a little bit skeptical because, you know, to sing such a big song, it's a great responsibility.
16:37And I didn't know how people would react to it. But then I said, let me just give it a try. And it was just, it was in a scene, right, where the actress will sing it, will hum it.
16:51So, yeah, it was a great thing for me. It was a beautiful experience. And I feel really grateful for having this opportunity.
17:03Can you hum a few lines, please?
17:06Lagja Gale?
17:07Yeah.
17:08Okay.
17:21Lagja Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale Gale G
17:51what kind of songs cater to you more any Bollywood song that you would be singing next
17:59oh yeah I have a beautiful song it's a love song which was which is in my my film echoes of us
18:09and I will be singing it and I do it with a great voice of India I'm super happy and proud in the
18:18same time of this of this song is composed by a new composer Vishnavi Sharma she's super talented
18:29but the song is so amazing and I'm sure that people will will resonate with the song and the
18:37lyrics are good and the collaboration is super exciting I can't wait I can't wait for this
18:44song to be released yeah okay what are your future projects and what one message you have to give to
18:48the fans okay so my future projects uh I just shot right now for a film in UK it's an action movie so
18:57I have to finish that um then I'm going to Romania for a few days and I'll be releasing this uh this
19:05new song of mine which is a Christmas song uh but it has a very new sound and I really love it and
19:12I've noticed that people who don't understand Romanian they also love it and they sing along
19:16which is a great thing um I I like it very much um then uh I'll be having two love songs one is in
19:26the movie actually both of them are in the movie uh different movies um great collaborations with two
19:35Indian artists which are beautiful I love them both and they have incredible voices um so yeah
19:43can you give us a little bit hint about which movie is so one is my movie echoes of us and the other one
19:49is another movie that I can't tell you yet about uh but it's a great movie uh then um I'm preparing
19:56another single as well I'm working on many singles so um yeah in the process it's happening
20:02I had one one one one message you have to give to the shows obviously live shows I just performed
20:08I just came back actually from from Delhi where I perform um and uh Max uh Amini the comedian uh show
20:16uh he had a great show in Delhi he's really funny and uh people really love him um I think the Indian
20:24audience really love uh Max and I was so happy to be part of the show he invited me to be there
20:31and uh it was a great uh great uh opportunity to to perform for the audience in Delhi um yeah so
20:39shows are keep on happening because uh you know this is what I love to do the most to to perform like
20:46for the audience to meet the audience and to have that feedback direct feedback and uh to have that
20:52exchange of energy which is the most beautiful thing for an artist you know and uh for everybody out
20:58there uh Christmas is coming the celebrations of the end of the years um end of the year are coming
21:07so I hope you had a great year um I hope uh the end of the year um I hope the end of the year finds you
21:16with um uh love in your heart with kindness in your heart with joy um and with faith more important
21:24if this hasn't been a great year for you don't worry there's somebody up there who's watching you
21:30and will be there for you always and God bless you um have a beautiful year uh 2026 and uh Merry
21:38Christmas for those who are celebrating yeah all the best okay thank you thank you
21:43you
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