Actress and singer-songwriter Aaliyah Qureishi, known professionally as Jhalli, made her Bollywood debut in 2023 with Shah Rukh Khan's film Jawan, where she was part of Khan's girl gang. In a recent interview, she reflected on her experiences working alongside him and her journey in acting and music.

Qureishi shared that music has been integral to her life since childhood—she was part of her school choir and began songwriting in fifth grade, penning a song called 'Coming Alive' inspired by witnessing a dead frog near the basketball court. She emphasised that she never felt the need to choose between acting and music, having grown up admiring artists who excelled in both fields. She is currently working on an upcoming album of 11 songs while continuing her acting career.

She described her time on the Jawan set as a pivotal learning experience, viewing Shah Rukh Khan as a mentor figure. She would sit by the monitor and ask him questions about acting, industry pressures, and work-related challenges. Khan reportedly told her that there is no fixed answer to what is right or wrong—what seems incorrect can sometimes prove superior—and encouraged her to keep working continuously. She was particularly impressed by his sustained enthusiasm despite gruelling shooting schedules and his belief that dissatisfaction with his own performances drives him to continuously improve.

Qureishi also reflected on industry lessons, noting that she initially believed everyone approached her with good intentions but later realised that not everyone is a friend and people have different motives. She now takes time to understand people's behaviour and intentions before trusting them. Her goal is to build a distinct identity in both acting and music while pursuing increasingly creative work.