With over a hundred songs to her name, which include some of the biggest Bollywood hits, Shilpa Rao is continuing to construct a structured and layered highway to success from her debut in the early 2000s. However, the last three years brought a whirlwind of change for the singer. She has been busy with several Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and even Gujarati songs, including some that have gone on to become major chartbusters. Despite her busy schedule, Shilpa admits that she is no workaholic by any means. “When it comes to recording, these are the most important days of my life, and I always put a lot of effort into it. But I’m not somebody who does a lot of things in a day. I’m not a good multitasker either. I focus on one thing at a time. I also need a lot of sleep and holidays as well,” she confesses.
Shilpa’s versatility comes from years of classical training and travelling to multiple cities when she was young. She reveals that the art at many times has helped her power through challenges and unfamiliar territories. Emphasising the importance of laying down a classical foundation, she says, “When your mind is trained to practise a new raag or work through a session, it becomes comfortable with learning itself. When you begin young, your mind becomes open to possibilities — you think, ‘What else can I try? What if I do it differently?’ It keeps your mind active for a long time.”
And that’s probably why the singer was able to work with A-list composers in the industry—from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Hariharan, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Vishal Dhadani to Ilaiyaraaja, Thaman and Anirudh. While their working style may differ, Shilpa notes that their collective aim remains to deliver good music. “For example, Rahman sir has a completely different vibe. There’s this calm, almost surreal quality to the space he operates in. What I really admire is that he encourages you to bring your own element into the song," Shilpa reveals. She adds, "With Anirudh, it’s a very different energy. It feels more like a jam session. We don’t really have that formal setup. There’s no separate recording booth. I’m recording next to him. It’s very spontaneous, very much about being present in that moment and feeding off that energy." Shilpa has also collaborated with young composers like Rishab Kant in Saiyaara. “He’s probably just 25 years of age… almost like a kid, but age or experience doesn’t matter. The end goal is always to make a good song. As long as the composer and I are clear about that, the song will eventually become what it’s meant to be,” she added.
On the other hand, in a collaboration no one saw coming, the singer joined hands with global music star Ed Sheeran, where he also sang a few lines in a live concert in Bengaluru. For Shilpa, it was not a collaboration for the sake of it, but one with a purpose and meaning. “When two artists come together, they learn from each another and gain a deeper understanding of their lives. It becomes a way of uniting people in harmony. Our music is born from the depths of the soul, and no matter how much time you spend with it, there’s always something new to discover.”
Before ‘Chuttamalle’, the albums of Jawan and Jailer threw Shilpa Rao into the limelight once again — with South India rediscovering her music once again, especially with ‘Kaavaalaa’, the sultry number from the Rajinikanth starrer. Expressing her happiness, the singer revealed that she has always been a fan of the Tamil language. “I’ve been a fan of it since school. It blends so naturally with music—it’s incredibly poetic. Growing up listening to Tamil songs made me feel connected, even when I wasn’t physically here. And whenever I return, it feels like I’ve always belonged,” she says.
Her winning streak continued in 2025 with ‘Ghafoor’ from Aryan Khan's hit Netflix series The Bads of Bollywood, which caught on in the cracks and crevices of social media and streaming platforms. Ask her about the space for music in OTT content, and she quotes an example from the Hindi romantic drama Mismatched. “‘Ishq Hai’ from the series, composed and sung by Anurag Saikia, is a beautiful song that stands out. I think good music can come from anywhere, and it is an important part of any project. I think directors think with music in their minds,” she adds.
Despite an impressive catalogue of iconic tracks like ‘Khuda Jaane’, ‘Mudhi Mudhi’, and ‘Besharam Rang’, among others, Shilpa remains grounded when it comes to the highs and lows of recognition. The singer recently received her maiden National Film Award for ‘Chaleya’ from Jawan, an achievement she approaches with humility and gratitude. “You don’t get what you deserve; you just get what you get,” she reflects, quoting a line from House MD. While many of her most beloved tracks may not have won the same level of acclaim, she says she is fortunate to create music every day. “I get to perform that music for people who love and appreciate it. I have fellow artists who believe I deserve this award. I humbly accept it with gratitude,” she shares.
Shilpa's achievement comes at a time when there is much discourse about music made for virality versus years of classical training. Weighing in on the debate, Shilpa underlines that classical and commercial music aren’t separate. “Everything I sing is rooted in the classical training I’ve received. Without it, I wouldn't be able to incorporate those subtle elements into my singing. As for influencers transitioning into cinema or becoming full-fledged singers and composers, I believe talent can come from anywhere. There’s no one correct path to becoming a musician. What matters is having the talent and endurance to keep working at it,” she opines.
However, she does acknowledge that the industry has become tough for newcomers to break into and that it may take a considerable amount of time to find the intersection between talent and gaining the right song. “The boom of content has been inevitable, but to say that music was better in the past isn’t fair. Every generation has its own unique perks and challenges. It would be insensitive of me to claim that we had it harder. The current generation is doing their best to create something meaningful,” she says.
This evolving landscape is something Shilpa understands deeply, especially when it comes to her own work. While there are several songs of Shilpa's that remain fan favourites, ‘Tose Naina’ is the singer's close-to-heart composition. But she confesses that she can’t recreate the magic of that track in the same way today. “There was a sense of naivety, a complete lack of experience, and no thought about whether it would be popular. It was an honest, simple approach,” she explains. “I try to bring that same organic quality to every song I sing, but to recreate that exact feeling from 2006 is something I don’t think I could repeat. It was a very unique moment, a very close feeling at the time,” she adds.
While change remains constant, Shilpa remains unperturbed, including by the rise of AI as she firmly believes audiences know the difference between genuine work and artificially generated content. “We’re just beginning to explore its full potential. But when you're performing in front of an audience, they can tell if you’re singing something convincingly or not. They can feel the connection you’re making. It might be flawed, but it’s real. And that’s what matters. I believe the audience will always know,” she says.
While experimentation on it is still in process, the technology has been criticised for churning redundant and overused content sans originality. Recently, singer Arijit Singh announced his retirement to focus on independent music and explore classical music, besides reportedly escaping the monotony of commercial projects. While fans are dejected, several celebrities have come in support of his decision, and Shilpa too stands with him. “I believe he knows best what he wants to do with his music and his life. He also has the freedom to make those choices. And I know him well enough to say that whatever he does, he does with a lot of heart. Whatever path he takes, he will pour his heart into it, and I’ll support him all the way,” she explains.
For Shilpa, the monotony has not fortunately arrived yet. She is completing her 20-year milestone next year, and the singer speaks about her journey without the years weighing in on her. “It feels like I’m just starting out, and every time I step into the studio, it feels like my very first song,” she reflects, after a pause. “I never feel like, ‘Oh, I’ve done this before.’ Each song brings a completely different feeling, and that excitement of trying something new never fades. Once you become a learner, you remain one for life. That mindset has helped me constantly — and it still does. I don’t think I’ll ever stop evolving or growing,” she signs off.