‘Eight songs didn’t work last year’: ‘Besharam Rang’ singer Shilpa Rao,opens up about failure and surviving the music industry |

‘Besharam Rang’ singer Shilpa Rao shared her thoughts on how unpredictable a singer’s career can be, stating she experienced eight songs that did not get any traction last year, but then she remembered that some legendary singers, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar were able to maintain their presence in the industry through hard work, not necessarily by being successful every single time.

Shilpa Rao opens up about the music industry

In a conversation with Mid-day, the singer recalled how challenging it can be for newcomers to break into the music world. Her first playback opportunity came when composer Mithoon offered her ‘Tose Naina Lage’ from ‘Anwar’ in 2007. Looking back, she remembered, “It was a very unusual song to start with.”Over the years, Shilpa Rao has lent her voice to a wide range of popular tracks, from ‘Ghungroo’ and ‘Tose Naina Lage’ to ‘Malang’ and ‘Khuda Jaane’. While these songs brought her recognition and awards, she admitted that success in playback singing is never permanent. According to her, persistence and consistency matter far more than momentary applause, a truth she confronted during phases of professional lows.In addition to her observations regarding the determination and dedication of the aforementioned icons, Shilpa also identified other musicians who encourage creative expression in other artists. She mentioned two of her songwriting partners, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Pritam as individuals who are open to new ideas, and that even AR Rahman appreciates being able to collaborate with singers who are trying to create something out of his comfort zone. She credits Shankar Mahadevan, for helping guide her into the world of commercial music and providing her with an early platform to showcase her talent with the creation of advertising jingles.

Shilpa Rao on learning from legends and personal failures

Reflecting on the era before reality shows, Shilpa spoke about how Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar dominated the music scene for decades. Stressing the importance of endurance, she said, “Lata is somebody, you have one person like that in lifetime. Her sheer persistence, you have these names because not because they were talented or hardworking, but because they didn’t give up. To be able to do this for 10-20 years, and you can’t fail even once. There are many failures between two recordings.”The singer admitted that her own career has seen more setbacks than triumphs. Recalling an early disappointment, she shared, “The first song that I tried was Shantanu Moitra’s ‘Kaisi Paheli Zindagani’ for ‘Parineeta’. And I was informed that Sunidhi is singing and her recording is scheduled, but give it a shot. More than me you should understand what you are capable of. I sang it and I was horrible. I realised that singing a song for film as yourself is more difficult. More than him understanding, it was my understanding that I was not ready for it. I got back home and it was just the start. This can happen at the peak of your career as well. Last year, my eight songs didn’t just work out and it happens to the best of us.”

Shilpa Rao on why persistence matters more than motivation

Summing up her outlook, Shilpa emphasised that artists should not constantly chase motivation. “There are many life-altering moments. I think you should stop looking for motivation. It should become your second nature to go into the studio and try and work at it. That’s why when you talk about these legends, persistence is important. Talent can’t take you all the way through. Be it Michael Jackson, Sting or Freddie Mercury, it’s scary.”

Shilpa Rao on the work front

Shilpa Rao’s recent hits include ‘Chaleya’ (‘Jawan’, 2023), ‘Ishq Jaisa Kuch’ (‘Fighter’, 2023), and ‘Mere Mehboob’ (‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’, 2024), along with songs from 2025 like ‘Dhurandhar,’ ‘Banda Tere Liye,’ and ‘Sahana Sahana,’ with many singles like ‘Ro Lain De’ also releasing in 2025. She continues to release new music across films and as singles, showcasing her popular style in Bollywood and beyond.