Meet The Real-Life 'Gully Boy' Naezy Whose Inspiring Story Will Make Everyone Scream 'Boht Hard'

Zoya Akhtar's 'Gully Boy' is undoubtedly one of the biggest hits of 2019, which turned everyone into a rapper, a skill people didn't know they had until they saw the movie. This movie also marked Ranveer Singh's debut as an epic rapper, who introduced the world to 'Asli Hip Hop'. 

While people can't stop praising Ranveer Singh's flawless performance in the movie, there's another guy whose inspiring story deserves to be heard and must hog the limelight. The story of Naezy aka Naved Shaikh, the real-life 'Gully Boy' on whose life Ranveer's character was supposedly based on.

From being a underdog rapper in the city of Mumbai to becoming showbiz royalty and discovering achievement in the realm of hip hop, Naezy bares it about his life in a 'People of Bombay' post and how extraordinary it was from the motion picture. 


"I was conceived and raised in Kurla, a notorious region. My family was brimming with scholastics, yet I was unique. I had a 'daring' childhood– I'd go through throughout the day with my companions doing the craziest things! I'd hustle hard to go anyplace possible– I'd scan and sell unused things for money! I never let my family observe this side of me, however they understood what I was doing."

Naezy loved writing and once he got introduced to the 'rap culture', there were fireworks. "I had to study BSc, but I used that time to focus on Hip-Hop–I had so much to say; my songs were unsaid words from dusty street corners," he said. When he recorded his first song 'Aafat', it went viral. The song was loved by people, but his family was furous as they never wanted him to pursue rapping as a career.

"Eventually, I got more offers, but kept missing out because of family restrictions. Just when I thought all was lost, I recorded 'Mere Gully Mein' & everything changed. That song was what made Zoya Akhtar approach Divine & I for Gully Boy," he further added.

When somebody says, this film based on somebody's life we  instantly accept that everything appeared in the movie is authentically exact. We fail to realise that some things are fictional, like it was in 'Gully Boy'. "But, not everything in it is true– there's no 'Saifeena' and my father doesn't have 2 Wife! But it showed the audience my roots; the reality of every street rat out there. Looking back, I can't believe I'm here!"

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“I was born & brought up in Kurla, an infamous area. My family was full of academics, but I was different. I had an ‘adventurous’ childhood–I’d spend all day with my friends doing the craziest things! I’d hustle hard to get money from anywhere possible–I’d search & sell unused things for cash! I never let my family see this side of me, but they realised what I was up to. My mom took care of us because my dad was in Dubai. She said the only way I’d improve was if I stayed away from my friends. I changed schools & houses, but the streets never left me. I found my way back, through Hip-Hop. I loved writing, but hadn’t been introduced to ‘rap culture’ before, so I began researching. It was like a fire burned within me! I had to study BSc, but I used that time to focus on Hip-Hop–I had so much to say; my songs were unsaid words from dusty street corners. But who’d give a ‘gully boy’ a break? I decided to wait for nobody & record my first song, ‘Aafat’ on an iPad–it went viral! People loved me! But when my family saw the video–they were furious. They’d never let me pursue rapping as a career–I recieved love & support from everyone except them. It was heartbreaking. Eventually, I got more offers, but kept missing out because of family restrictions. Just when I thought all was lost, I recorded ‘Mere Gully Mein’ & everything changed. That song was what made Zoya Akhtar approach Divine & I for Gully Boy. But not everything in it is true–there’s no ‘Saifeena’ & my dad doesn’t have 2 wives! But it showed the audience my roots; the reality of every street rat out there. Looking back, I can’t believe I’m here! There was a time when my friends & I’d bunk school to come to the Queen's necklace & look for coins on the street to have kulfi. Today, I’ve performed at Wankhede & was given a hotel room overlooking the necklace! I was on top of the world! Still, in that moment of joy, I felt heartbreak like never before because I couldn’t share it with my parents. All of this success is stale without their acceptance...without their love. I wish they could see how far I’ve come, but I won’t let this break me. I’ll keep trying...Apna Time Kabhi Toh Aayega!”

A post shared by Humans of Bombay (@officialhumansofbombay) on Apr 1, 2019 at

Although he is experiencing fame and joy, it's heartbreaking for him because he couldn't share it with his parents. "All of this success is stale without their acceptance...without their love. I wish they could see how far I've come, but I won't let this break me. I'll keep trying...Apna Time Kabhi Toh Aayega!"

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