The Pre-Show Backstage Ritual Powered by Bollywood Jams
American pop star Nick Jonas has officially solidifed his title as Bollywood’s favorite internet “Jiju” (brother-in-law). During a recent guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 33-year-old singer pulled back the curtain on his backstage preparation rituals, confirming that high-energy Indian music is his absolute go-to for getting into the right headspace before hitting the stage.
Jonas was on the late-night circuit promoting his upcoming fourth solo concert tour, A Night with Nick, which spans from June 4 to June 13, 2026. While discussing his solo catalog—including his hit single “Gut Punch” and tracking tracks from his release Sunday Best—host Jimmy Fallon questioned him about the specific “hype songs” that make it onto his pre-show playlist. Jonas admitted that his ultimate backstage energy boost doesn’t come from Western pop or rap, but from vibrant South Asian tracks. He credited his wife, global superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas, for expanding his musical horizons and introducing him to the entire genre.
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What started as a personal interest has quickly evolved into an interactive fan tradition. Jonas explained to Fallon that after he began posting pre-show hype videos online featuring Indian tracks, fans from diverse international territories began flooding his social feeds with regional music suggestions.
When pressed by Fallon to name the one track currently dominating his rotation, Jonas dropped a massive fan-favorite: “Tauba Tauba,” the viral Punjabi-pop chartbuster sung by Karan Aujla for the 2024 film Bad Newz.
.@nickjonas says Bollywood music is what “really gets him the most hyped” before a show! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/SpBnf3FzLC
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) June 4, 2026
“There’s one called ‘Tauba Tauba’ which is a song that Vicky Kaushal did the dance for. It’s a great step but I can’t do, but it’s the jam… the Bollywood stuff really gets me the most hyped.” — Nick Jonas on The Tonight Show
The casual shout-out immediately triggered a massive wave of excitement across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). South Asian pop-culture enthusiasts flooded timelines to celebrate the crossover moment, with fans expressing absolute delight over hearing a mainstream Western artist casually breakdown Vicky Kaushal’s iconic, ultra-smooth dance choreography.
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This isn’t a temporary phase for the Jonas Brothers member; Nick’s appreciation for the structural mechanics of Indian music runs surprisingly deep. In past industry interactions, the singer has publicly admired how seamlessly Bollywood tracks integrate cinematic storytelling with commercial appeal, highlighting the unique collaborative nature of playback singing.
This isn’t the first time he has utilized South Asian music to charge up his tour venues either. Over the years, Jonas has shared viral backstage clips grooving alongside his brothers to classic anthems like Hrithik Roshan’s “Ek Pal Ka Jeena” and Ranveer Singh’s “Dhurandhar.” Most recently, he revealed that the track “Aavan Jawan” from War 2 had also unlocked a permanent spot on his pre-performance lineup. By bridging the gap between Western pop and mainstream Punjabi-Hindi cinema, Jonas continues to show that great music completely bypasses geographic borders.