Sunny Kaushal On His New Song, Music Inspirations And Style Evolution

Most of us might find it hard to find a bout of creativity while being 36,000 feet in the air, but that's where Sunny Kaushal came up with his new single, Mid Air Freeverse.

Scribbled in a notepad somewhere between Delhi and Mumbai, his new Punjabi rap track blends bhangra with hip-hop, and provides a version of the actor the world rarely gets to see. The first person he played it to? His brother, Vicky Kaushal, whose honest critique and musical acumen helped shape Sunny’s musical journey.

In this candid chat with Esquire India, Sunny talks about growing up to Gurdas Maan, jamming with his djembe on sets, the kind of music playing in the car when the Kaushal brothers hit the road, and more.

What’s your earliest memory of rhythm or melody really hitting home?

You know those old Fiats? My dad—action director Shyam Kaushal—used to drive one, and it had a cassette player. I remember sitting in the car, hearing old Punjabi songs Dad played. That was my foun-dation for music. At home, once we got a cassette player and speakers, Punjabi tunes were always play-ing. Gurdaas Mann’s Dil Da Mamla Hai and Challa were constant companions. As I grew, I delved deeper—Jazzy B, Surinder Shinda shaped my taste. The first hip-hop track I remember was Eminem’s Lose Yourself. Then Bohemia arrived, mixing Punjabi lyrics with rap and hip-hop, changing the game forever.

Tell us about your new song, Mid Air Freeverse.

It’s a Punjabi track that blends my musical loves—hip-hop, rap, Punjabi folk, poetry. Even though it’s hip-hop at heart, it carries a bhangra vibe. I wrote it mid-flight, literally—Delhi to Bombay, pen and pad in hand. Naming it was tricky, since there’s no hook or catchy chorus—just 64 bars of rap. So, Mid Air Freeverse felt right—capturing the rawness of writing in mid-air and the free-form style. The song doesn’t zero in on a single story—it’s a snapshot of me, my day-to-day, my essence. There’s the public Sunny Kaushal, but then there’s Sunsunnykhez—my artist alias, my truest self. This song is a window into that.

You’ve always written, but what made you leap from personal writing to recording a full track?

I started writing during the pandemic, stuck at home, craving a creative outlet. I had a lot to say, so writing became a habit. Turning it into a song was natural—I wanted to experiment with genres, and the best way to learn is by diving in. So, I got into the studio, pulled in a producer and music director, and figured it out. My first track Jhandey is pretty experimental, even in Punjabi—it’s not a commercial

banger, because I’m not about chasing hits. It’s about raw expression, speaking what I feel through lyrics.

Who was the first person you played the track to?

Vicky (Kaushal) was the first. He’s my go-to for anything creative—I share my new work with him first, whether rough cuts or strange versions. Musically sharp, he listens objectively, not as my brother but as a critic. His feedback is invaluable. And on top of that, he knows me inside out, so his opinion matters most.

We hear you've been obsessed with percussion, especially the djembe. What’s the story behind carrying it to your shoots?

There used to be open-mic nights in Versova—live music, people jamming. Percussionists on djembe caught my ear. I tried it, not an expert, just messing around when time allows. If I have lyrics and want to find a beat, I grab my djembe or a clap box, lay down a rhythm, and recite the song over it. I take it to shoots when there’s downtime, to chill with the crew. One night on Hurdang set, after shooting, I brought the djembe. First assistant director grabbed his guitar, Nushrratt (Bharuccha) was singing, our di-rector Nikhil joined in—it turned into a spontaneous jam session.

Who are your biggest musical influences—across genres?

If I had to name a few: Karan Aujla—his new drops always excite me. I admire his penmanship and how he weaves lyrics into his sound. Seedhe Maut is hardcore—brutally honest rappers and sharp po-ets. I keep going back to the OGs—Jazzy B, Surinder Shinda, Kuldeep Manak, and Bohemia. Raftaar is another I watch closely.

If we sat in the car with you and Vicky on a road trip, what would you be playing?

Punjabi music all the way. I’d curate an era-spanning playlist: early ‘80s Chamkila, Kuldeep Manak, Surinder Shinda, then Gurdaas Mann, Jazzy B, moving up to Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla.

Do you build playlists for the characters you play?

I pick a theme song that reflects the character’s essence. For Shiddat, it was Gurdas Mannsab’s Sajna Ve Sajna—a soulful Punjabi track about a lover crossing all boundaries, which mirrored Jaggi’s journey. For Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, I went a bit offbeat with the Khal Nayak title track. That song carries pride and pain—Ballu Balaram’s loneliness and rejection resonated with me deeply.

What was the last concert or gig you went to that left you buzzing for days?

A small, intimate gig at AntiSocial Bombay by Bharg Kale—a friend and the guy who scored my first song Jhandey. He’s an incredible young artist who’s also done music for the film Crew. The energy was electric—I loved every minute.

If you could collaborate with any Indian or international artist right now, who would it be and why?

My dream collab is with Rishi Rich—he’s a hero of mine. His song Tere Naal Nachna with Jay Sean and Juggy-D ignited my love for Punjabi hip-hop. To write and sing on his tunes would be a full-circle moment.

Now that you’re wearing two hats—actor and singer—do you feel your creative identity is evolving into something new?

Honestly, it’s early days. My main focus is acting—that’s my bread and butter, the real pressure point. Music is internal and personal. When I write, it’s for myself or people who connect deeply with those feelings. There’s no rush or pressure to put out music constantly.

Sunny Kaushal in a working still from Mid Air Freeverse wearing his favourite black Converse sneakers

Talk about your personal style.

My style is always evolving. Right now, I’m into shirts paired with wide-legged pants and singlets—a bit of a retro vibe. But my default is classic blue denim and a white tee. I love experimenting with prints and patterns too. For Mid Air Freeverse, I styled myself—I wanted my look to reflect my music’s vibe. I’m always hunting for new brands; my latest pickup is a tee from homegrown label Kairo.

Talking accessories—recently I pierced my left ear for a character in an upcoming film, and I plan to get the right one done too. Jewellery can be a big part of your look—and I want to play with earrings. A kada is almost always on my wrist—it is part of my identity.

We’ve heard about your impressive shoe collection—over 70 pairs!

I’ve actually downsized it a bit, so it’s closer to 65 pairs now. But the crown jewel has to be my black Converse. It might sound like an unusual choice, but I rarely wear them because I don’t want to get them dirty. I’ve never been into the hype culture around sneakers or chasing hyped-up, overpriced shoes. Converse has been my go-to since college—it’s the shoe I grew up with, and it still feels like my default sneaker. I absolutely love those black Converses.

Are there any style or grooming rituals you swear by?

My morning skincare routine is simple but effective: I wash my face, use a toner, apply a serum, then moisturiser, and finish with sunscreen. Since I started using sunscreen regularly, my skin has improved a lot. At night, I use a retinol-based serum and a night moisturiser after washing my face. For hair, I rely on Argan oil as a base—it’s great as a pre-styling product and helps care for my scalp and hair, es-pecially in hot climates like Mumbai. It also works as a natural heat protectant. My current fragrance of choice is Terre D’Hermes.