Bollywood star and singer/Actor Nick Brown answers some candid everyday questions …
The state of my hair is …
Strokable, after cutting it short for summer. It’s ready to be played with!
The state of my heart is …
Expandable after a bad break-up a year ago. I’ve felt my heart open again, and it’s healed.
The state of my undies drawer is …
Reborn! It was once filled with Aussie Bums, but after a few years, the elastic went loose on most, so I’ve filled the drawer with a brand called Vanta – which has a pocket for your junk! It’s super comfy and looks great.
The best accessory I ever bought was …
A yellow sapphire ring in India that brought me instant luck and strength. I gave it away to an ex, hoping to pass on the good luck, but he accused me of putting a hex on it. He probably hocked it. I hope whoever has it now is being brought lots of good energy.
Nick Brown
The most famous person I’ve met is …
Olivia Newton-John. I’d written an Aussie Bollywood film, and Olivia was attached to have her music as part of the soundtrack. The film didn’t end up going ahead, but I’ll always cherish my interactions with Olivia. When we met, I couldn’t believe how powerful and magnetic her energy was. She lit up the room!
Back in high school, I was …
School captain. I went to Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, and they were honestly the best years of my life. I made life-long friendships and got to practice music and drama with students who were just as passionate as I.
The best thing about recording music is …
Your voice immortalised forever the way it was that day and in that moment.
The worst thing about recording music is …
Being alone in a small booth separated from the handsome sound engineer!
Bollywood is …
Hectic.! I lived in Mumbai on and off for six years, working in mainstream Bollywood. I loved the chaos at the time as it was such an adventure, but working like that all the time would break me. No scheduling, no time management, the caste system at play, gangsters, blood money, nepotism – it was absolute madness! If you want more graphic detail, my story was chronicled in ABC Conversations with Sarah Kanowski.
I feel sad when …
I think of my dog whom I didn’t get custody of after a breakup.
The last time I laughed hysterically was …
On the set of the Alex Proyas Film R.U.R. with my bestie Lindsay Farris. Our characters are ridiculously outrageous, and it was impossible not to piss ourselves laughing at each other.
Nick Brown
I’m shit scared of …
Coat hangers coming for me en masse!
People don’t know that I once …
Was a professional Rugby League player for the Parramatta Eels.
If I could have one superpower, it would be …
To time travel. I’d go back to being a student at drama camp and experience the innocence and excitement all over again. I’d also go back to high school and study French instead of Agriculture, and back to singing and playing the piano with my grandma!
When alone in my car, I …
Sing the ‘ethnic chanting’ in Enigma’s Return to Innocence at the top of my lungs.
My most embarrassing moment on stage was …
With my ex-funk band The Modernists. I wrote a song called Shagpile Love and had an actual shagpile rug brought up on stage. I invited an audience member to sit on it with me so I could serenade them, and my mum jumped up.
If you want to make my blood boil, start talking about …
People complaining about woke culture. To me, being ‘woke’ is a wonderful thing. Jane Fonda sums it up perfectly: “Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or woke. And, by the way, woke just means you give a damn about other people.”
My secret food indulgence is …
Oporto. There’s nothing quite like having that delicious chilli and chicken fillets with mayo on the way home at two in the morning.
The campest thing in my house is …
My original 1960s Scandinavian Rya rug.
My favourite all-time television character is …
Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous. Joanna Lumley portrays her to perfection. She’s iconic, hilarious, outrageous, and her physical comedy is brilliant. She’s clearly a wonderful person, plus she was born in India, which makes her my spiritual guru!
The song that makes me smile and want to dance is …
The Hard Way by PNAU and Khalid.
The song I can never get out of my head is …
Patti LuPone singing A New Argentina from Evita.
My straight mates are …
Becoming pansexual.
Nick’s new single, Strange Shadow is available to stream now
Follow Nick on Instagram @nicholasbrowntown
