DJ Aarish Sarosh Daruwalla was awarded ‘Best DJ At A Wedding / Social Event’ at the prestigious WOW Awards Asia 2025, held across 20^th and 21^st June, 2025, at Mumbai’s iconic Jio World Convention Centre. Widely regarded as the premier accolades in events and experiential marketing, the award firmly cements Aarish’s reputation as one of the leading and sought-after names in the Indian event and wedding entertainment landscape.

Aarish’s journey began in 2008, and over 2,500 high-energy performances – including luxury destination weddings to elite corporate galas – later, he has perfected the art of curating unforgettable soundscapes. Known for his encyclopedic music knowledge and eagle-eyed crowd reading, he keeps dance floors alive until the final beat! Beyond his musical mastery, DJ Aarish delivers end-to-end production: state-of-the-art audio-visuals, bespoke lighting, and seamless event management. His professionalism and in-house capabilities have made him the go-to choice for HNI and NRI weddings, and official events like the Mumbai Marathon, Nykaa and Adidas galas.

His trophy cabinet brims with honours – including the latest WOW Awards Asia’s top DJ accolade, recognition as a leading DJ-entrepreneur by Events FAQs, inclusion among Synergz magazine’s Top 10 Youngest Entrepreneurs, and numerous features in leading publications including Midday, The Indian Express and Mumbai Mirror. As couples, corporates and luxury brands seek headline-worthy entertainment, DJ Aarish Daruwalla continues to set the gold standard, transforming every gathering into a sensational, immersive experience.

Walking us through his inspiring and exciting journey, Aarish shares, “I’ll never forget where it all started. My dad, Sarosh Daruwalla, used to run a cable TV network in Rustom Baug and was handling sound for the tele-games there. I was just 13 then. I tagged along with him. Seeing the setup sparked something in me, and I requested the Rustom Baug committee to let me play music between the games. I wasn’t even really mixing, just playing CDs but the response was overwhelming. People really enjoyed it and even started asking dad if I was doing this professionally! From being the ‘jukebox’ at tele-games to having performed for over 2,500 events, from intimate gatherings to some of the biggest weddings and events across the country and globally, been an incredible journey! I’m so grateful to God for having my back throughout, I feel truly blessed!”

But what was the defining moment which made him say, ‘I want to be a DJ’? “Music has been my constant companion since childhood. The turning point came when I was in the 8^th grade, reading the Guinness Book of World Records. I came across the story of the world’s youngest DJ, and something just clicked. In that moment, I told myself, ‘If he can do it, so can I.’ That little spark turned into a fire, and what started as a passion soon became my purpose. I’ve been blessed to turn that dream into reality since 2008, doing what I love every single day!”

Crediting his parents for his amazing success, Aarish says, “I’ve been blessed with incredibly supportive parents who’ve always encouraged me to be an independent thinker. They gave me the freedom to dream big and pursue what I love. Their faith in me, especially my father’s constant backing, has built the foundation for my journey.”

While on the outside, the life of a DJ seems like a perpetual party amidst all the glam, the packed dancefloors, the lights and the vibe, it does take a toll. Explains Aarish, “We’re always on the go, especially during the wedding and event season. While the world celebrates, we’re away from our families. I’ve missed countless festivals, birthdays, anniversaries… because when the world is partying, we are working. There’s no routine. Sleep cycles are a mess, health takes a hit – it’s like living out of a suitcase, eating whatever is available at odd hours, running on minimal rest. Even my wife is constantly awake, tracking my timings, waiting for me to get back home safe. Also, we’ve got to keep up with the fast-moving trends – new music, new gear, new experiences. Being relevant isn’t optional – it’s survival. If you’re not growing, you’re fading. And it doesn’t stop with just playing music. There’s networking, meeting clients, building relationships, maintaining a brand, handling logistics… it’s a full-time business that never switches off. It looks glamorous, and don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but it’s not just the 4-hours set you see. It’s the 20 hours around it that nobody talks about!”

And what does it take to be a successful DJ like Aarish, in this extremely competitive space? “A great DJ needs to know more than just playing tracks – he should be able to read the room, shift energies, and create an experience people remember for a long time. He should know how to adapt to the crowd and connect with them emotionally as well as musically. Discipline is also needed beyond the console – being reliable, showing up on time, understanding the client’s vision, maintaining sound quality, handling pressure when there’s a tech-glitch – that’s what make you shine through. Most importantly, a great DJ is always a student – learning, evolving, staying ahead of trends… going much beyond playing the favourite songs – it’s about telling a story, creating memories and delivering an energy that lives beyond the night,” concludes the super DJ who has the community and the country literally dancing to his tunes!