June 06 2026
DJ Kiara: Making cricket fans groove from IPL to the ICC World Cup
(Jun 6, 2026) With over 500 live performances to her name and appearances at some of cricket’s biggest international events, DJ Kiara is steadily building a name in a traditionally male-dominated industry. She became the first female DJ to perform at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket arena, and the only Indian female artist at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. She has also represented India at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup across Dubai and Sharjah and became the first Indian woman DJ to perform at Dubai’s iconic Museum of the Future.
Years before performing at packed stadiums and international events, Khushboo Wadhwani, now known to audiences as DJ Kiara, finished a 30-minute set at a small party and walked away from the console with a feeling she had never experienced before. “I felt a high I had never known. The tangible power to move a room, shift its energy and genuinely control the collective emotions of the crowd truly felt like possessing a superpower,” she recalls in an interview with The Global Indian.
This unexpected creative outlet soon evolved into a calling that would take the Varanasi-born, Surat-raised DJ, music producer and composer from small gatherings to some of the world’s biggest sporting and cultural stages.
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An artistic childhood shaped by discipline
Long before electronic music entered her life, Kiara’s world revolved around art. She moved to Surat at the age of four and grew up in an environment where creativity was encouraged and discipline was non-negotiable. Guided by her mother, she immersed herself in Indian classical music, harmonium, Kathak dance, painting and craftwork.
By the age of seven, she had completed her vocal training in Indian classical music and harmonium, while continuing rigorous Kathak lessons. “My early life was characterized by a relentless pursuit of art,” she recalls. But life presented challenges early.
Around the age of 14, her family experienced financial difficulties, compelling her to become an entrepreneur while still in her teens. She began conducting art workshops and accepting customised painting assignments. “Those five years taught me resilience, resourcefulness and being responsible towards my work, and have defined me as an artist today,” she says.
Classical roots became the foundation of her sound
For Kiara, music production was never part of a carefully charted plan. Looking for a break from academics and the art business she had built as a teenager, she enrolled in a music production class during college. The studio environment immediately felt like a calling she had never known existed.
Yet the foundation had been laid years earlier. Her training in Indian classical music and Kathak gave her a deep understanding of rhythm, harmony and timing. These skills continue to influence every performance. “That rigorous background is what allows for true spontaneity in my DJing,” she explains. The discipline of classical music enabled her to master technical aspects instinctively and focus on reading the emotions of the crowd and creating collective experiences.
Finding her stage through cricket
A major breakthrough arrived in 2024 when she was appointed Official DJ for the Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League (IPL). The opportunity marked her first experience at a large-scale sporting entertainment event and opened entirely new doors.
The IPL was the moment I truly found my space. I view being a woman in this space as my superpower.
DJ Kiara
The appointment also made her the first female DJ to perform at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket arena, a milestone that broke new ground in sports entertainment. Since then, she has gone on to perform over 500 shows, making her the only female DJ from Gujarat to achieve such scale in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
Soon, international assignments followed. She became the Official DJ for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, performing across venues in Dubai and Sharjah. In 2025, she scripted another milestone by becoming the first Indian woman DJ to perform at Dubai’s Museum of the Future, one of the world’s most celebrated cultural landmarks.
Then came another historic achievement. In 2026, Kiara became the only Indian female artist to perform at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup hosted by India and Sri Lanka. “It is an immense honour and an incredibly electrifying experience to represent India on such global stages,” she remarks.
“Standing on that stage is a powerful statement about placing Indian women artists at a prominent international position. It reminds me how important representation is and I hope it encourages more women to step forward and claim their place.”
Breaking stereotypes in a male-dominated industry
Building a career in electronic music was far from easy. Coming from Gujarat, where club culture remains limited, she entered an industry dominated largely by men. People frequently questioned her abilities and sometimes assumed she had been booked for appearances rather than talent. Even backstage, she often encountered scepticism from event managers, sound engineers and fellow DJs.
Instead of reacting, she focused on consistency. “I chose to let my work speak for itself,” she says. Showing up meticulously prepared and performing with conviction gradually transformed perceptions.
My consistency completely changed perceptions, turning former doubters into some of my loudest supporters today.
DJ Kiara
Today, she says she feels respected and secure in the industry, crediting that confidence to strong personal boundaries and the willingness to say “No” when necessary.
Creating immersive musical experiences
Kiara describes herself as an open-format artist and a curator of collective emotional experiences. Her sonic palette spans house, EDM, future house, disco, Bollywood and regional sounds, while also exploring downtempo and experimental fusion.
“My distinct voice is a direct result of fusing my classical past with my electronic present,” she says. That fusion eventually evolved into Key2Paradise, a contemporary music and culture project produced under Kiara Music in collaboration with Plan My Show (ONN Media LLP).
The live experience is built around her original compositions and features a full ensemble of musicians playing sitar, flute, saxophone, violin, keys, tabla and darbuka, accompanied by light vocals. The result is a celebration of Indian and Western musical traditions, transforming performances into immersive experiences that audiences do not simply hear, but deeply feel. “Music becomes something the audience not only hears but experiences deeply,” she explains.
Moments that reminded her why representation matters
Among the many performances in her journey, one at Parul University in 2025 remains especially close to her heart. Audience members later told her it had been the most memorable night of their festival. Some were even moved to tears.
The genuine ability to shift a room’s energy and create a deep emotional impact for thousands of people simply can’t be put into words.
DJ Kiara
Another defining moment came during a high-profile corporate event where the client’s initial reaction was one of surprise: “A woman DJ?” By the end of the night, the atmosphere had transformed. “They were dancing on the tables,” she recalls. For Kiara moments like that are powerful reminders of why representation matters and how amazing it feels to break stereotypes through one’s work.
Building community
As her global journey expands, Kiara’s vision extends beyond performing. She wants to build a supportive ecosystem for emerging artists in Gujarat, creating opportunities for collaboration and growth. “My goal is to create a space where local artists can share, learn and grow together, ensuring no one has to navigate this path alone.”
Looking ahead, she sees her journey converging around the vision of creating experiences that go beyond music. Alongside expanding her presence on the international club circuit, she plans to continue performing at major live events while developing Key2Paradise into a larger world of sound, visuals, lighting and artistic storytelling.
She has also launched Phooljadi, a luxury handcrafted floral venture with her mother, a passion project that reconnects her with the artistic world that shaped her childhood.
From conducting art workshops and taking painting commissions as a teenager during difficult financial times to performing before thousands at cricket’s biggest tournaments and landmark venues such as Dubai’s Museum of the Future, Kiara’s journey has been full of persistence, reinvention and artistic curiosity. As Indian women increasingly occupy spaces once considered unconventional, the artist from Surat is proving that representation is not merely about breaking barriers but also about creating entirely new possibilities for those who follow.
ALSO READ: From Global Charts to Sufi Tech: Sartek brings a new edge to Indian electronic music
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