Beautiful, brown-skinned, and influential, KATSEYE’s Lara Raj embodies the South Asian and Indian representation we’ve dreamed of. Since the K-pop group erupted onto the scene (and our minds) in 2024 with Debut, they have slowly gained attention for their multiculturalism and global reach. Lara, in particular, has been vocal about her desi roots; she wears Tamil (and Hindu) culture on her body, in her Bollywood song covers, and in the image she has established.
From Bole Chudiyan To Kaho Na Kaho, KATSEYE’s Lara Is Making Bollywood Music Global!
Right up there with Zayn Malik’s ‘Allah Duhai Hai’ cover, Lara covered the hit ‘Kaho Na Kaho’ from Murder on a livestream. And we collectively lost it. She truly owned the song, her haunting vocals evoking early 2000s Bollywood nostalgia. It didn’t end there, of course.
The Tamil singer posted a dance cover of the iconic ‘Bole Chudiyan’ from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (K3G), with her fellow KATSEYE members. It was an instantaneous hit, with the world grooving to the Bollywood track, while we watched on proudly. Being desi had never been so cool!
The seven-member group followed this with another K3G reel, this time featuring the sad title track music, accompanied by a dramatic Lara and Sophie pretending to weep because it was the last stop of their tour. Indians flooded the comments expressing their approval, and honestly, we get it. From seeing a fraction of the desi identity in The Office‘s Kelly Kapoor to Bollywood songs going viral on social media, we’ve come a long way.
Also Read: How KATSEYE’s Lara Raj Proves Desi Representation In Media Isn’t Just A Buzzword
Lara Raj Has Served Indian Lewks Since 2024: Bindi, Nose Ring, And More
KATSEYE’s Lara has effortlessly blended her Indianness into her identity from the beginning. Her public appearances, in music videos, concerts, or advertisements, often see her with a bindi, a nose ring (or nathani), and an Om necklace. The 20-year-old singer doesn’t always wear Indian outfits, but when she does, it is purposeful and luminous, as if to make sure the world takes note of her identity at every juncture.
Take her Diwali look above, for example. She’s resplendent in the silver lehenga, but Lara Raj’s unmatched confidence in the fit that cinches it for us. Here is a bona fide South Asian, Tamil popstar who makes her culture everyone’s business. Whether it is Bollywood music or maang tikkas, we’re here for it.