Livewire

She's got that girl-next-door look and yet she attracts immediate attention every time she is in a discotheque or a pub. Many, in fact, f...

She8217;s got that girl-next-door look and yet she attracts immediate attention every time she is in a discotheque or a pub. Many, in fact, find it difficult to take their eyes off her. And almost always, she has the crowd dancing to her tunes. A not-too-difficult feat for Zaima Ahmed actually, who happens to be the only female DJ in Pune.

Storming a male-dominated bastion is this petite 24-year-old botany graduate who came to Pune from Assam in 1994 for higher studies. Graduating from Fergusson College, she decided to change tracks and took up a marketing job with Commercial Ventures, a firm into designing websites. And then she probably thought that if a student of botany could do marketing, what8217;s stopping her from DJing too?.8220;I had this ear for music as a kid,8221; she explains.

So, Zaima started accompanying a friend, Nadeem Sheikh, a DJ, to some of his shows. Soon, she was assisting him, and on August 19 this year, she got her own big break when Jazzmatazz, an event management company, asked her to DJ for one of their programmes at Residency Club8217;s Scoobadoo.

8220;Though I have done many programmes after that, the first one has remained my best to date,8221; she reminisces. 8220;As a DJ, I make it a point to play what the crowd wants rather than what I want. However, that was one show where the crowd8217;s and my choice of music seemed to gel 8211; both parties wanted good unadulterated English numbers. For instance, I am not particularly fond of bhangra pop or Hindi remixes, though they are more popular and I have to play them,8221; says Zaima, a permanent fixture at Scoobadoo now.

Do eyebrows quirk at the sight of a girl in the DJ cabin? 8220;Well, yes. People do seem rather taken aback,8221; she replies even as she wonders what has kept girls away from this profession for so long. 8220;It couldn8217;t be late nights 8211; many of the girls frequenting discotheques stay till the very end and Pune is quite safe,8221; she shrugs.

However, even for Zaima, much as she enjoys DJing, marketing as a career does take precedence. 8220;Some years from now, I see myself well-entrenched in the world of marketing. DJing is okay for now 8211; it8217;s enjoyable and gives me good money. But I don8217;t think I will continue with it for too long, certainly not after marriage,8221; she admits candidly.

So what does it take to be a good DJ? 8220;It8217;s not all that glamorous as it is made out to be. It8217;s a lot of hard work 8211; you have to keep up with the trends in music. The important thing is your ability to gauge the kind of music that is needed at that particular time by that particular crowd.8221; What your body language spells is vital. 8220;I speak a lot to the people on the dance floor, the thing to do is to keep them on their toes even when a number is not too good. How you relate to the crowd is important 8211; that is where your body language comes in,8221; adds Zaima, the DJ with a difference. Undoubtedly.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More