Independent singer trying for Bollywood

Candid talk

Nidhi Kohli would be considered nascent for many who don’t know her and a professional for those who do. A singer graduating from the music talent hunt reality TV show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, is not so visible in the scene of playback singing.

Most established Bollywood singers today say that Bollywood is not their only objective, they want to be independent and experiment, but Kohli is direct, she says that it is her dream to enter Bollywood for playback singing.

“How often do you hear names of Debojit and Aneek Dhar in Bollywood. Music directors hosting the show often say that they will build our career in movies. But after the show gets over, it’s a different journey altogether. It’s only your hard work that can take you anywhere,” Kohli tells Metrolife.

She contested in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2006, and made it to the top ten but could not win the trophy. Since then, she started her expedition as an independent singer, trying to get good live shows, and by performing at weddings, and events.

“Every singer’s dream is to have a music video so that their voice reaches wider audience. I managed to raise funds from my work to produce my own music video, but was always unsuccessful in promoting it,” she says.

Recently, Kohli launched her new song Duawan Mangi, promoted by SteelBird Entertainment. “They are promoting potential talents and I am glad that someone could help me promote my music video,” she says. The song often plays in many Punjabi music channels like NH1 Punjabi and PTC Punjabi.

She has shared the stage with Kumar Sanu, Sukhwinder Singh, KK and Kailash Kher in many instances. But having started professionally singing in 2003, she is steadily climbing the ladder.

“After my win at Awaz Punjabi (a musical talent hunt), I got many offers to sing on various occasions. I have also done a Himachal tour. People know me as a Punjabi singer but through this song I want to justify that I can sing Hindi songs as well,” says Kohli.
Duawan Mangi, a romantic song is inspired from Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar rendition, where Kohli has deliberately emulated Shamshad Begum.