Aamir Khan Productions launched Once Upon A Mic, an open platform spotlighting grassroots artists through rap, poetry, storytelling and spoken word.
Vaishnavi Gavankar
October 09, 2026 / 17:37 IST
Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan Productions is expanding its storytelling beyond films with the launch of Once Upon A Mic, a new open mic platform designed to give emerging artists and everyday storytellers a space to share their voices.
Launched under Aamir Khan Talkies in collaboration with Kommune, the initiative will feature poetry, rap, spoken word, storytelling and other forms of creative expression, with a focus on voices and experiences that may not usually find space in mainstream entertainment.
The platform opens with a performance by Saniya MQ, a rapper from Govandi, Mumbai.
Drawing from her own experiences and surroundings, Saniya brings an unfiltered personal voice to the first episode, setting the tone for what the makers describe as a space for honest and individual forms of expression.
Announcing the initiative, Aamir Khan Productions wrote, “Yeh woh mehfil hai jaha kahaniyan udaan bharegi, abb Aamir Khan Talkies par, aam janta kahaniyan bhi sunayi dengi!”
Introducing Saniya, the production house added, “Kicking things off is Saniya MQ, a rapper from Govandi bringing her world, her experiences and her voice to the mic. Raw, honest and unapologetically her own, Saniya proves that sometimes, all you need is a beat, a few bars and something to say.”
Once Upon A Mic has been conceived as an open platform where artists from different backgrounds can perform without being restricted to a single format.
The initiative will include rappers, poets, spoken-word performers and storytellers, giving participants the opportunity to bring personal experiences and original work to a wider audience through Aamir Khan Talkies.
The makers described the format as, “an all new open mic experience for poetry, rap, spoken word, storytelling and everything in between.”
Aamir Khan Productions has long been associated with films driven by distinct stories and characters. With Once Upon A Mic, the banner is now extending that approach to real people and grassroots talent.
Rather than limiting storytelling to the big screen, the initiative places the microphone directly in front of people with their own experiences, perspectives and artistic styles to share.
Vaishnavi Gavankar is a senior entertainment journalist with over 8 years of experience covering Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, and regional cinema.
first published: Oct 9, 2026 05:36 pm
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