Anuv Jain Doesn't Know If He's Made It Yet. He Might Never.

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentAnuv Jain Doesn't Know If He's Made It Yet. He Might Never.ByHannah Abraham,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hannah Abraham covers entertainment, culture and business.Follow AuthorJun 16, 2026, 12:30am EDTSummaryAnuv Jain is currently on the North American leg of his sold-out *Dastakhat* World Tour, drawing diverse international audiences. The 31-year-old indie artist from Ludhiana gained fame with "Baarishein" and saw his 2023 hit "Husn" become Spotify India's second most streamed song, a rare feat without Bollywood backing. Jain defied industry norms by exclusively releasing original music, rejecting covers and maintaining full ownership of his work. Despite facing criticism for a challenging opening act for Jacob Collier, he used it to fuel personal growth, undertaking vocal training. With 17.9 million monthly Spotify listeners, Jain remains resilient, contributing to India's soft power through his music, with his tour extending through 2027.Show More Anuv Jain performing in Torontomeghan kattiIt is a few hours before showtime somewhere in California, and Anuv Jain is horizontal. At least, I’m guessing he is. I can’t tell for sure; he hasn’t received my pre-meeting request for cameras to be on.On show days, he tells me, he tries to stay in bed as long as possible. It’s the only reliable way to protect what happens on stage soon, especially because, “the show can get like really intense sometimes.” The 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 alum appears grateful and not entirely surprised to be here; here being the first North American leg of his Dastakhat World Tour. The third act of a live trilogy that began with Dastakein in 2021 and Guldasta in 2023, it’s expanded this year to sold-out venues across six American cities, with audiences drawn from countries he had not imagined were listening. "A lot of people from Pakistan, a lot of people from Nep...