MadStarBase Signs Landmark Remix Deal With Saregama

Delhi-based DJ and production duo MadStarBase, comprising Neal Sekhri and Anant Ahuja, have secured a landmark agreement with Saregama, marking a significant milestone in their journey from underground remix creators to officially recognised artists.

Under the deal, India's oldest music label will release four official remixes by the duo throughout June 2026. The partnership represents a notable shift for MadStarBase, whose Bollywood bootlegs once faced copyright takedowns but are now being embraced by the music industry. The announcement follows the duo's label partnership with Universal Music in 2024.

The rollout began last week with a reimagined version of RD Burman's classic Dum Maaro Dum, originally sung by Asha Bhosle. The second release, Saat Samundar, arrived this week, giving the iconic 1990s hit a contemporary, bass-driven makeover for streaming audiences.

Reflecting on the development, the duo said it was unusual for unofficial edits to eventually receive major label backing.

"What started as edits we made for our own DJ sets eventually became recognised as valuable intellectual property and was legitimised by the labels themselves," they said.

MadStarBase first began creating Bollywood edits in 2016 as a way to incorporate familiar Indian sounds into their electronic music sets. Their breakthrough came during a performance at the 2017 edition of Magnetic Fields, where audience reactions revealed a strong appetite for reimagined Bollywood classics on the dancefloor.

Over the years, the duo built a global following through YouTube uploads, DJ performances and radio appearances. Their remix of Mehbooba Mehbooba emerged as one of their biggest successes, accumulating millions of streams and views despite multiple copyright-related removals.

Known for blending Bollywood nostalgia with genres such as hip-hop, dubstep, reggae, funk and electronic music, MadStarBase helped shape what many describe as the "desi wave" movement. Their Mollywood remix series attracted support from international artists and tastemakers including Diplo, DJ Craze, Flowdan, Manara and Nina Las Vegas.

The duo's growing influence led to appearances at Boiler Room in 2023 and international festivals such as Dialled In in London in 2024. They also represented India's independent electronic music scene at India House during the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Beyond music, MadStarBase has been involved in the arts and culture space. The duo were named Young Patrons of the Year by India Art Fair in 2022 and collaborated on initiatives spotlighting emerging Indian contemporary artists.

Looking ahead, MadStarBase plans to release a new remix every Wednesday over the coming weeks while continuing to explore original music and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Among their upcoming projects is Sakhi, a dance-theatre production with Keelaka Dance Company that explores the friendship between Sita and Draupadi. The project combines elements of Bharatanatyam with R&B, hip-hop and electronic music, reflecting the duo's ambition to engage more deeply with Indian artistic traditions.

"We want to create projects where different artistic worlds genuinely interact with each other, rather than simply coexist," the duo said.

All four remixes will be available across major streaming platforms throughout June.