Bhumicka Singh, born and raised in the heart of Mumbai’s Bollywood scene, was destined for a life intertwined with the glamour of the film industry. Her father, a stalwart of Bollywood for over four decades, provided her with a front-row seat to the dazzling world of cinema from an early age. As a self-proclaimed “Bollywood child,” Bhumicka grew up attending exclusive film launches and star-studded festival parties, hosted by the industry’s elite.
Immersed in the vibrant culture of Bollywood, Bhumicka’s path seemed clear. However, she yearned to carve out her own identity within the entertainment world. With an innate understanding of glitz and glamour, she ventured beyond Mumbai, setting her sights on the thriving nightlife and hospitality scene in Goa.
Bhumicka’s transition was nothing short of spectacular. Her unique blend of Bollywood flair and entrepreneurial spirit quickly earned her the title of the “Bollywood Queen of Goa.” She transformed Goa’s nightlife through her connections and keen business acumen, creating a brand synonymous with luxury, entertainment, and unforgettable experiences.
This is the remarkable journey of Bhumicka, from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the sun-kissed beaches of Goa, where she reigns supreme in the world of nightlife and hospitality.
According to Bhumicka, her Bollywood debut came with the film “Aap Ki Khatir,” produced by Venus and featuring a star-studded cast including Akshay Khanna, Dino Morea, Priyanka Chopra, and Sunil Shetty. The film was directed by one of Bollywood’s leading directors, Dharmesh Darshan. “He offered me a role in the movie, and there was a 45-day schedule in London where I had the chance to do an item number and a couple of scenes,” she shared.
Despite receiving many offers after her debut, Bhumicka found them uninspiring and declined. “The offers I got did not resonate with me, and the ones I wanted to do, I didn’t get an opportunity. I think maybe Bollywood was not my destiny,” she reflected.
During this period, Bhumicka frequently visited Goa for vacations, exploring its vibrant party scene at places like Tito’s and Mambo’s. It was during one of these visits that she met Anup, who introduced her to Ricardo D’Souza, the owner of Tito’s. Impressed by her Bollywood background, Ricardo offered her the opportunity to host an event at his club, marking the beginning of her influential presence in Goa’s nightlife.
“In 2015, Bollywood music was largely absent from Goa’s club scene. No DJ played Bollywood songs, and people often looked down on Bollywood,” Bhumicka recalls. She and Ricardo Joseph D’Souza, the owner of Tito’s, decided to bring the Bollywood vibe to the club. “I agreed to host the event, but I had no experience in curating one. Others doubted it would work, but I went ahead with the first event at Mambo’s in 2015, and it clicked.”
The inaugural event drew a modest crowd of two hundred people and was held on Fridays, dubbed “Bollywood Fridays.” However, the scene quickly transformed. “Within a few weeks, the crowd started growing. At times, there was a huge queue stretching from Mambo’s to Tito’s, and the place would be completely packed.”
The impact of Bollywood nights was so profound that Tito’s experienced a dip in attendance on Fridays when Bhumicka’s show was at Mambo’s. This led to the introduction of Bollywood nights at Tito’s on Saturdays. “Since then, there was no looking back. I continued doing shows on Fridays at Mambo’s and Saturdays at Tito’s, and both venues were always packed.”
Bhumicka notes that others tried to replicate their success, but none could match the charm of her performances. “I believe it is Ricky and I who brought Bollywood culture to Goa,” she asserts.
The Bollywood Queen of Goa
During that time, convincing DJs to play Bollywood music was a formidable task, as most of them preferred techno music,” Bhumicka recalls. “Now things have changed, and everyone is trying to copy our success. I’ve received offers from others, but I politely declined them all. DJs would never call me by name, instead saying ‘Hey Bollywood Queen,’ and that’s how I earned the title ‘The Bollywood Queen of Goa.'”
This moniker led to Bhumicka being featured in numerous media coverages, each referring to her as the Queen of Bollywood in Goa. “Post-COVID, the scenario has changed with the rise in Indian tourists and the increased demand for Bollywood music,” she says. “I am the founder of Bollywood Nights in Goa, which started in 2015.”
The Influencer World
Reflecting on the impact of COVID-19, Bhumicka noted that the entertainment and hospitality industries were among the hardest hit, being the first to close and the last to reopen. “COVID-19 changed many lives, and I believe mine was one of them. With the entertainment industry completely shut down, I found myself with nothing to do,” she said.
During this challenging period, some of Bhumicka’s influencer friends suggested she delve into the world of social media influencing. “Prior to that, I wasn’t very engaged with social media; it was just a platform for posting videos,” she explained. “I come from a background of live performances with huge crowds in front of me, and Instagram wasn’t my cup of tea. But that all changed during COVID-19.”
Bhumicka began creating videos featuring beauty products and posting them on social media. “I started connecting with brands who would happily send me products to review, although they wouldn’t pay me for it,” she shared. This marked the beginning of her journey into the influencer world, transforming her presence and expanding her reach beyond live events to digital platforms.
“When I started influencer marketing, I hardly had any followers, but my audience grew rapidly, and I reached 100K followers in a very short span of time,” Bhumicka shared. She now boasts more than half a million followers. “One of my first opportunities in influencer marketing was traveling to Udaipur to review a resort. They invited me to stay for three days and experience their facilities. Soon, many brands started connecting with me, and I began traveling frequently to Goa to review hotels and restaurants.”
Bhumicka believes that her work, directly or indirectly, has played a role in attracting tourists to Goa. “The events we held at Tito’s and Mambo’s pulled huge crowds, especially Bollywood lovers. My social media engagement seems to have brought significant business to the hospitality industry in the state,” she said.
Her recent collaborations with top brands like Nykaa, Flipkart, and OnePlus have also been pivotal. “Post-COVID, I wanted to return to Goa and connected with Ricky. We restarted our events with a special Independence Day event at Tito’s,” Bhumicka added, marking her triumphant return to the entertainment scene in Goa.
Bhumicka credits much of her success to Ricardo D’Souza. “Ricardo has been instrumental in my journey,” she acknowledges. Looking ahead, she has ambitious plans. “I am very actively involved in animal welfare, which is a side of me not many people know about. I love doing whatever I can to help stray animals and have plans to open a shelter for them,” she shared.
In addition to her philanthropic efforts, Bhumicka is working on launching her own celebrity clothing collection in Goa. She also has dreams of opening a beach club, restaurant, or café. “Whether it’s a beach club, a restaurant, or a café, I want something I can call my own,” she said.
Her popular Bollywood Nights at Tito’s and Mambo’s will continue to attract crowds, ensuring her enduring presence in Goa’s vibrant nightlife scene. “The Bollywood Night with Bhumicka Singh will keep pulling in the crowds at Tito’s and Mambo’s,” she added.
Discover more from Incredible Goa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
