For actor-turned-DJ Ashmit Patel, Goa is not just another gig destination. It is a place that has quietly followed him through every phase of his life—first as a holiday spot, and now as a stage. Long before he stepped behind the decks, Goa was already shaping his sense of freedom, rhythm, and escape, making his return as a performer feel almost inevitable.“I’ve been going to Goa since I was a toddler with my family,” he says. “Then came the first boys’ trip as a teenager. Over three decades, I’ve watched it change completely, yet the magic remains. There’s just something about this place. Returning here as an artiste and realising a childhood dream has been such a high for me,” he smiles.That pull now defines his life as a DJ. These days, most of his trips revolve around performances, where the state’s mixed crowds offer both opportunity and challenge. “Goa is unique because of its audience. When I play techno, it’s mostly an international crowd. When I play Bollywood, it’s people from across India with very different expectations. Bollywood is actually harder because I’m not just a DJ—I’m an actor-DJ, so people expect a show,” says Patel, who has appeared in films such as Murder, Inteha, and Nazar, and is the brother of actor Ameesha Patel.
Ashmit, who has been DJing for over a decade, makes it a point to balance work with leisure when in Goa. On a recent work trip, he stayed back for a few extra days, heading south to quieter, sparsely populated beaches. “There were barely two shacks and very basic accommodation. It reminded me of the Goa of the ’90s. I fell in love with it all over again,” he says, adding, “Whenever I’m here, I make it a point to swim in the ocean almost every day. I have to watch the sunset, and I definitely need at least one surfing session on every trip. I love surfing, swimming… I’m a complete beach bum. I am a big foodie too; Goa is the gastronomic capital of India. There’s always something new here that blows my mind.”
