Snoop Dogg makes Bollywood debut

By Prachi Pinglay
BBC News, Bombay

Top Dogg - the rapper says: India 'get ready for me'

US rapper Snoop Dogg has made his debut in a Bollywood film which is being released on Friday.

Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, sings and acts in a romantic comedy called Singh is Kinng.

Fusing hip hop and bhangra, Dogg appears in the film with leading Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, singing the eponymous title track.

The song has already made it to the top of the Bollywood music charts and is a hit at Indian nightclubs.

The producer of the film, Vipul Shah, told the BBC that Akshay Kumar, the star of the film, and his friends approached Dogg to sing and act in the $11m film.

"When Dogg was satisfied with the scale of the film, he agreed to be a part of it. The song was filmed with his sensibility and he had creative control," he said.

Mr Shah said the song cost $475,000 to record and film.

Controversial

Wearing a tradition Indian turban and a tunic, Dogg and Akshay Kumar were filmed for the song in Chicago.

In the track, Dogg sings: "This is Snoop Dogg/Singh is the king/This is the thing."

The words in the song are a combination of English, Hindi and Punjabi language lyrics and rap.

Dogg pictured with Akshay Kumar in the film

The rapper's introduction to the song gives an indication.

He says: "Yo, what up. This Big Snoop Dogg. Represent the Punjabi. Aye ya, hit em with this."

Last year, Dogg was honoured at the fourth annual VH1 hip-hop awards show in New York for his musical achievements.

He was also arrested at Bob Hope Airport in California on suspicion of carrying marijuana.

Dogg was later charged with gun possession after police found a firearm at his home.

The rapper pleaded no contest to gun and drugs charges and received five years probation and 800 hours community service.

Snoop Dogg says he now plans to tour India.

"Snoop Dogg has a lot of fans in India and I love 'em right back," he said. "Get ready for me."