Shalmali Kholgade announced her arrival in Bollywood with a bang with her debut tune Pareshaan from the film Ishaqzaade topping charts across India and also fetching her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Since then she has continued to create waves with hit tracks like Daaru Desi from Cocktail, Aga Bai’ from Aiyyaa and Balam Pichkari from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
But like many artists, the going was tough in the beginning. “Today, being a Bollywood playback singer I sing quite a number of Hindi songs but it was difficult for me in the beginning, as singing in English was my forte and what I enjoyed the most. I didn’t know how to sing a Bollywood song in Hindi and so I tried to do it in my own style. Maybe, if people find me different today, that could be the reason,” discloses Kholgade, who was in Goa to share her passion to pay-check journey in the Signature Start Up Masterclass, a celebration of real-life success stories in different walks of life.
It’s been around eight years that Shalmali began as a Bollywood singer. Looking back, she feels that every person in the Bollywood has similar trials.
“It’s the same for each and every person, be it a singer, an actor or a director. So struggle is common denominator to achieve success, but after getting there and becoming someone finally,it is the beginning of another struggle. One has to struggle hard to stay where he or she is or has reached. So, struggle is not a common but a constant denominator in the lives of people in Bollywood. And one has to admit it,” says Shalmali, who first began by singing in small restaurants and in a cabaret troupe.
Grateful to her mother for being her mentor all the time, Shalmali admits that she keeps thanking her mother, in person or in her head, for making her learn the basic classical notes in singing when she was a teenager. “It is on those basic musical notes that the foundation of my singing is based on, and which allows me to experiment and sing all kinds of songs,” she observes. “Though my journey is small, it is worth sharing,” feels this humble singer, adding that one must never lose hope and be persistent if he or she is passionate about something.
