From Abu Dhabi schoolboy to Bollywood hitmaker: Benny Dayal on hustling in India, UAE homecoming and refusing to chase relevance

Abu Dhabi-born singer Benny Dayal, who has risen to stardom in the Indian music industry after leaving the relative comfort of the UAE, reminisced about his humble beginnings. Dayal, who considers Abu Dhabi his hometown, believes the city molded him into the determined individual he is today. "I think I also owe a lot of it to Abu Dhabi as my hometown, because I feel every Abu Dhabi kid is a very different kid," Dayal shared with Gulf News.

The singer, who left the UAE to pursue a career in Bollywood, brought his determination with him as he carved a niche for himself in the highly competitive entertainment industry. "We are all hustlers and Abu Dhabi prepares you for that," he said.

Returning to UAE for his concert at Coca-Cola Arena on August 15, Dayal sees this event as a homecoming that allows him to present a more comprehensive version of his talents. "I’ve always come with Mr A.R. Rahman and, you know, done smaller, sizeable concerts... I think it’s high time that the audience in UAE are going to witness my full-throttle concert," he said.

Benny Dayal's journey to success in the Indian music industry has not been easy. He attributes his achievements to the hustle and grit he honed as a young schoolboy in Abu Dhabi. Despite being a Malayali, Dayal often faces confusion about his identity, as many people assume he is Indian. "Despite being a Malayali, I’ve not lived much in Kerala, but I’m a purebred Malayali," he said, proudly adding that he speaks Malayalam fluently and enjoys singing and critiquing the language.