Jasleen Royal Breaks Silence on Coldplay Gig and Troll Backlash

Singer Jasleen Royal detailed her recent Coldplay opening act experience in a new mini-documentary released this week. The film, titled Dare To Dream, provides a firsthand account of her time during the Coldplay concert at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and the subsequent social media criticism she faced.

In the documentary, Royal is seen reviewing her phone as her team offers support during the second day of the event. Footage shows her inquiring about technical issues that disrupted her performance the day before. At one point, she asks, “It wasn't fine yesterday. What was the problem yesterday? Why were my in-ears bursting?” A team member responds, noting, “The creative part I will leave to you, but for the technical part, we are sorry.”

Royal also describes the impact of online criticism during the show. In one segment, she tells a team member that the relentless negative feedback made her feel an urgent need to leave the stage, stating, “After a certain point, I can feel it like 'it's time to go home'. There's a lot of pressure. I'll die; I swear I'll die,” while visibly upset.

Acknowledging her status as a self-taught musician, Royal noted that errors are part of her learning process. She expressed concern about public perception, emphasizing that she continuously works on improving her craft. Royal’s account highlights the challenges of performing live amid technical setbacks and intense public scrutiny.

Following the performance, figures in the entertainment industry criticized the singer’s appearance on stage. Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani, singer Antara Mitra, and filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri voiced their disapproval. Dadlani posted on social media that presenting an untrained singer before a large crowd revealed inherent shortcomings in the performance standards promoted by industry labels. His statement pointed to broader issues within the Indian music industry regarding talent selection and technical support.