‘Life’s full of struggles, never give up!’

To her music is life. Raabta singer Aditi Singh Sharma, who was in Goa during the weekend, speaks her heart out to TGLife on her life, songs and struggles

| DECEMBER 18, 2018, 03:43 AM IST

BHARATI PAWASKAR


TGLife: You began your singing career with the song Yahi meri zindagi, now music has become your zindagi... What was special in that song? Any memorable anecdote regarding this debut work of yours?

Aditi Singh Sharma: This, being my debut Bollywood film song will always be special. I also received my first award for it. After completing the song Amit Trivedi called me up a few days later and said, ‘Sorry Aditi I will not be able to keep your voice in the song, the producers and director want a known singer.’ When things got very serious he told me he was just joking and that my voice was finalized for the song and that is when I got to know that I am singing for Dev. D - an Anurag Kashyap film. That was quite a movie like phone conversation I had with Amit.


TG: Any formal training in music?

AS: My mother got me trained briefly in Hindustani classical when I was four. Shortly after we moved abroad so I never really got to train. Since then I have been listening and learning by ear.


TG:Any musical background in the family?

AS: My entire family is musical; it is just that no one took it up professionally. My father used to play the dholak. My mom sings so wonderfully and writes Urdu poetry. Her pen name is Niloufer and she is quite popular in the Delhi music circuit.


TG:How did you get your first break?

AS: I have been a part of a few English rock bands in Delhi. We were in Mumbai to perform at one of the clubs and Amit Trivedi had come to watch that show. He then asked me to come down to his studio and try a song. That song was Yahi Meri Zindagi. I must have sung 45 Hindi songs so far. I have sung in Bengali, English, Spanish, French and Russian. Since I lived in Russia, I was called to write the Russian lyrics for Vishal Bharadwaj’s song Darling.


TG: Your role model?

AS: My mother - she is a super star, who even after having faced so many troubles and problems always shines the brightest and radiates tremendous charisma.

n You studied at different places including Russia. Why?

AS: I did my kindergarten in Poland (Warsaw), grade 1 in Delhi, grade 2 briefly in a boarding school in Dehra Dun, grade 3 to 7 onwards in a Russian school in Moscow, and from 8th onwards I finished my high school in Delhi. Then I did my BA (Hons) Sociology from Sri Venkateswara College in New Delhi.

I studied in Russia for about 5 years from grade 3 to 7 - middle school as my father was doing business there. We lived there.


TG: Songs released this year 2018?

AS: This year I have had two Hindi film song releases - Veere (Veere Di Wedding) and High Rated Gabru - female version (Nawabzaade) which became very popular. I have also released my first independent single - Aaja Mahi Ve just a few weeks ago. I am so excited about the response I have been getting from everywhere. This is just the first of the many singles that I plan to release in 2019.


TG: What’s next? Any acting interest?

AS: I was called to audition for two-three movies for some interesting roles but the films never shaped up. I was in the film Rockstar for one scene. I am Ranbir Kapoors guitar technician so at the beginning of the film at his big concert I go to the stage to put his guitar on him.


TG: What are your goals or dreams?

AS: The goal is to just keep going. I had never even dreamt that I would reach this far.


TG: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

AS: I am not so sure. I have never planned anything. I just kept going and things kept happening. I only hope and wish that 10 years later I am still able to entertain everyone - sing and perform to the best of my abilities.


TG: Did you have to struggle to reach where you are today?

AS: I surely did, but who hasn’t struggled in life? I lost my father when I was 20. A few years ago my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I learnt to survive alone in an unknown city. Next year I will be completing 10 years as a playback singer. My career has been full of struggles, but the most important thing is that I never gave up.


TG: Anything you miss or feel you couldn’t achieve or accomplish?

AS: I wish my dad could have heard my film songs or could have seen me perform and see how many people love and adore his daughter. He would have been so proud.

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