Arjun Rampal breaks silence on viral DJ controversy: I’ve been spinning since I was 17!

In a society still shaped by conventional ideas of marriage and family, Arjun Rampal and Gabriella Demetriades have quietly built a relationship on their own terms. Together since 2018 and parents to two sons, Arik and Ariv, the couple have come to represent a modern blended family — grounded in companionship, commitment and co-parenting, without feeling bound by traditional timelines. In December 2025, Arjun surprised many when he casually revealed on a podcast that the couple was officially engaged. Asked about the development, the actor smiled and said, “One step at a time.”

Arjun recently also found himself at the centre of a viral social media moment after videos of him playing DJ at a Gurugram nightclub surfaced online. While many praised his effortless stage presence and passion for music, others questioned whether he was genuinely trained as a DJ or if it was simply a publicity-driven appearance.



‘An entire community that follows electronic music started showing up and supporting me’
Clearing the air, Arjun said, “Oh Lord! I’ve actually been spinning music since the age of 17, so this is definitely not something new for me. Music, especially electronic music, has always been a huge passion in my life. I’ve had my own decks at home for years and I genuinely enjoy the whole culture around it. In fact, I even had a nightclub at one point that was dedicated entirely to that kind of music. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of close DJ friends, and I’ve learned so much from them. What started as something I enjoyed privately slowly became more public, because people who had heard me play began inviting me to perform at places. From there, it all just grew organically.”

He added, “There’s this entire community and cult following around electronic music, and people who connect with that vibe started showing up and supporting me. It just snowballed from there. Honestly, I really enjoy doing it. Right now, I’m trying to do as many gigs as I can because once I get fully back into my film commitments, I won’t really have the time to perform as a DJ.”

‘Filmmaking is collaborative; it is never about one person’
On the work front, Arjun has been receiving considerable attention following the success of Dhurandhar. Ask him whether the reaction to film has altered the way he now approaches scripts and projects, and the actor insists success alone cannot dictate creative decisions. He said, “When we were making Dhurandhar, none of us knew what the outcome was going to be. All you can do as an actor is give absolutely everything you have to a film and hope that you’re surrounded by a team that shares the same passion and commitment.”



Arjun added, “What made the experience special was that Aditya Dhar created an environment where every single department was encouraged to bring their absolute best. Whether it was the music, sound design, action, costumes, hair and makeup, editing — every department felt alive and creatively involved. The characters, the screenplay, the dialogue — everything came together because he empowered people to contribute fearlessly. That’s what makes him such a fantastic filmmaker. Filmmaking is never about one person. Every individual brings something valuable to the table, no matter how small their role may seem. When all of that aligns, you get the kind of impact a film like this had.”



'I have not really flaunted watches, but I love watches'

We met the actor at the unveiling of Roamers Watches in Mumbai, where he reflected on his long-standing relationship with timepieces, describing how watches have meant far more to him than mere accessories. He shared, “I have not really flaunted watches, but I love watches. When you grow up, there was always this thing that was said—that you have to get a particular watch to show that you’ve arrived. It was like a status that you had to achieve. I remember when I bought my first watch I was very proud of myself.”

As his journey evolved, so did his appreciation for horology. “Then as you kind of evolve and go into that world to explore a bit, of course it’s a massive world out there and it’s a fantastic industry, because finally it’s about wearing time and carrying time with you. So how you carry it, what you are carrying, kind of makes that difference. It’s about the craftsmanship, of course—the mechanism that goes behind it,” he explained.
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