Naezy Biography: Real-Life ‘Gully Boy’ in Bigg Boss OTT 3, Know His Real Name, Journey, Songs and More
Naezy in Bigg Boss OTT 3: The third season of Bigg Boss OTT premiered on 21st June, with Anil Kapoor shouldering the hosting responsibilities of this season, making his reality show debut. The premiere saw the introduction of 13 contestants who will be competing to win the trophy, surviving all the tasks and strategies while living with each other in the Bigg Boss House. The new season is surely one-of-a-kind, as famous personalities from different fields will gather around and live under one roof, giving all the drama and entertainment to the viewers. The grand premiere saw breathtaking performances and iconic moments, including Anil Kapoor’s “Kate Nahi Katate Ye Din Ye Raat” performance from his film ‘Mr India’, rapper Naezy teaching Anil Kapoor how to rap, and Chandrika Dixit aka Vada Pav Girl revealing her income by selling vada pav.
This season is a mix of every profession- social media influencers, actors, media personalities, and singers, from famous internet sensations to renowned music personalities, including rapper Naezy. Naezy, the famous underground rapper whose inspiring story is narrated in the 2019 film ‘Gully Boy’, is set to show fans his raw and “bindaas” side once again, this time, with Bigg Boss OTT 3. Let us know more about his life, education, music career, and more.
Early Life & Education
Naezy was born as Naved Shaikh on August 10, 1993, in Kurla, Mumbai. His father is Shahid Raza, and his mother’s name is Farhin Raza. His family is from Amravati, and he grew up in Ram Bachan Chawl, an impoverished working-class tenement in the Kurla neighbourhood. Naezy was raised as a troubled child primarily by his mother because his father was employed overseas. After a run-in with the law as a child, he concentrated on expressing his personal struggles. He earned his T.Y.BSC from Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Matunga, where he met his rapper friend Neykhil Naik aka NCube, and formed the group ‘The Schizophrenics’.
Naezy Career
In 2014, Naezy made his debut with a DIY music video titled “Aafat!” created on an iPad. His debut single is regarded as the genesis track of the gully rap scene, followed by his collaboration with DIVINE on their breakout 2015 hit, “Mere Gully Mein.” The song drew attention to the Mumbai rap scene, paving the way for DIVINE and Naezy’s breakthrough.
Following the song’s release, a documentary titled ‘Bombay 70’ was created to depict his life. Bombay 70 was directed by Disha Rindani, an independent filmmaker. In 2014, the documentary won the best short film award from the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI).
Movie on Naezy
Director Zoya Akhtar was inspired by indie rap music to create ‘Gully Boy’, a film about the Mumbai rap scene starring Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, and Siddhant Chaturvedi. The film is loosely based on the lives of DIVINE and Naezy, who were consulted for the rap portion of the film. The film was praised for its music, as well as the authenticity and rawness of the scenes set in Mumbai’s slums, where underground rapping originated. “Mere Gully Mein” was remade for the film, with Ranveer Singh replacing Naezy and re-recording the role in his own voice.
Naezy became the first rapper to be a featured artist on the Indian music streaming platform JioSaavn. He was also featured on the Song “NY se Mumbai” with DIVINE, Singh, and American rapper Nas, who also served as an executive producer. The song was released as a promotional single shortly before the release of the film.
Naezy Songs
Naezy’s music frequently addresses sociopolitical issues, and he has expressed a desire to create “conscious hip-hop” to raise awareness among young people. His songs “Haq Hai,” “Tragedy Mein Comedy,” and “Azaad Hu Mein” are examples of songs that deal with politics and issues that ordinary people face. He had difficulty convincing his family about his rap career, which is why he left the underground rap scene in 2018. His hiatus also helped him realize his passion for rap music, and he returned in 2019 with his new single “Aafat Wapas,” a continuation of his debut track “Aafat.”
His notable works include “Birju” from Hey Bro, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Prabhu Deva, and Ganesh Acharya. He also worked in “BC Rap Knockout: Mumbai vs Delhi” for the movie ‘Bank Chor’, and “Hum Hain Insaaf” from ‘Bhavesh Joshi Superhero’.
