17 September,2010 09:48 AM IST | | Urmimala Banerjee
She's a fantastic singer and that's no secret. But Richa Sharma is also a superb hostess and truly colourful personality. When CS visited her, she was busy entertaining guests who had come to her place for Ganpati.
A god-fearing girl, the singer says she can do puja-paath for the entire day. "My father was a temple priest so the atmosphere at home was pretty devotional," she recalls. Richa, who's looking to the release of films like Action Replay, Hichki and Shadow of Taj, talks about the multi-hued person behind the spirited voice:
WHO: Richa Sharma WHAT: Revealing the singer behind the voiceu00a0
WHERE: At her Versova residence
Raising her voice
I belong to a Brahmin family from Faridabad. My dad taught me bhajans and Mata Ka Jagran, which I used to sing at religious functions. I realised quite early that I wanted to become a singer and enrolled myself at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, from where I got my classical training.
In the initial stages of my career, everyone told me that I had a very different voice which may not work for me. But I have always believed that the distinct quality of my voice is my biggest strength. I am very proud of it.
Sufi-sticatedu00a0
My first hit number Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jaave was Sufi. Thereafter, I have been constantly experimenting with the texture and the nasal quality of my voice. However, people really stood up and noticed me when I sang Billo Rani. It was an item song and totally different from all my previous work. Another complaint that some of my friends had was that I always looked like a behenji on stage.
So, when I got a chance to participate in a music show on TV, I thought it was time for a change. I shed 12 kilos, got a new hair cut and worked on a glamourous wardrobe. So, when they saw me wearing a red gown with straightened hair, they got a shock of their lives (laughs).
My other side...
Frankly, competition has never bothered me. If a song is destined to be sung by me, then I will get to sing it. Having said that, I love many of the new singers who are entering the industry. I loved Shilpa Rao's Khuda Jaane and some of Rekhaji's (Bharadwaj) recent songs. I like it that there is space for everyone in our industry.u00a0
I'm terrible at marketing myself. You will never see me at Page 3 parties or filmy events. Everyone tells me that it's a huge drawback as networking is important in Bollywood. People may perceive that I am a boring person, but it's not true. If I am partying with close friends then I can easily sing or dance till the wee hours!
