Sunidhi Chauhan (Hindi: सुनिधि चौहान) (born August 14, 1983) is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Bollywood film songs. She is credited with over 2000 songs.

Chauhan began to sing at the age of four, and was discovered by a local TV anchor. She won recognition through a televised, singing contest, Meri Awaz Suno, which she won, and made her entrance into playback singing with the Hindi film Shastra.

Her breakthrough was Ram Gopal Verma's film, Mast, in which she sang the hit song, Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi. Chauhan has since then gone on to work with some of the most prominent musicians, and has lent her voice for a large number of commercially successful films.

She has been nominated for twelve, Filmfare Awards, of which she won three. She has also won two Star Screen Awards, two IIFA Awards and one Zee Cine Award.

Early career

Chauhan started her singing career as a child, giving her first performance at the age of four, in a local temple in Delhi. Thereafter, she began to participate in, and sing for, various competitions and local gatherings. When local TV anchor, Tabassum, spotted her talent, her family shifted to Mumbai in a bid to further develop the young singer's skills, and Chauhan became the lead singer in Kalyanji's 'Little Wonders' troupe.

Recognition first met her in 1996, through the music show Meri Aawaz Suno - the first such televised contest in India - which was broadcast through the Indian national television channel, Doordarshan. She won the competition, and bagged the top prize of recording an album, Aira Ghaira Nathu Khaira, with HMV.

Unluckily for Chauhan, Aira Ghaira Nathu Khaira was promoted as a children's album, and failed to get the recognition it deserved. In 2002, Chauhan herself observed this in an interview:

"My first song and the contest did not help me much. Nothing happened for a while. But by then, I had made up my mind that I will pursue singing as a career."

Chauhan stepped into the world of playback singing with the 1996 Bollywood film, Shastra, after Aadesh Srivastava asked her to lend her voice to the song Larki Deewaani Dekho, Ladka Deewaana. She followed it with work in films like Gang, Veergati, Dahek, Bade Dilwala, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and Samar. By the age of nineteen, Chauhan had already lent her voice to over 350 songs.

Breakthrough, and later work

Chahuhn's breakthrough was Ram Gopal Verma's Mast, in which she sang the hit song, Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi, alongside three other songs, including the title song itself. In an interview, while speaking of Mast, she said:

"Whatever I am today, I owe to Mast. I met Sandeep Chowtha through Sonu Nigam, and fifteen days later, Mast was in my lap. I was only thirteen then."

After Mast there was no turning back. Chauhun went on to work with nationally and internationally acclaimed directors and composers. However, she earned much criticism when she rendered Yeh Mera Dil (Don 2006), for not matching up with the earlier version sung by Asha Bhonsle in 1978.

Chauhan has worked with literally every music director of the new millennium's first decade, and is one of the most "played" voices on India's radio circuit. Hit singer Himesh Reshammiya, when asked to rate her in the popular talk show Koffee with Karan gave her a score of 9/10.

Chauhan's strength lies in her versatility - Having been labelled "genre-defying," she is perhaps the only Bollywood singer who can sing just about any genre, including rock, pop, classical, folk, and semi-classical . This has helped her beat stiff competition in the industry, especially from top Indian female playback singer, Shreya Ghosal - to whom, many feel, Chauhan has lost her limelight.

In Feb 2007, as part of its marketing campaign and launch of Windows Vista in India, Microsoft hired Sunidhi Chauhan to sing the "Windows Vista Song" titled Wow is Now. This song features English and Hindi lyrics proclaiming the many 'glamorous' features of the Windows Vista Operating System.

Chauhan also sung for the Hindi-dubbed version of Disney's movie, High School Musical - songs which were sung by Vanessa Anne Hudgens in the English version. Moreover, she was the singer of the English language song "Reach Out" at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Asian Games at Doha, Qatar.

2008 was a highly successful year for the young singer, as she went on to deliver a huge number of superhit songs like Chhaliya, Rock Mahi, Lucky Boy, Desi Girl (Dostana), Dance Pe Chance (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi), and Race Saanson Ki (Race), and which resulted in her winning the "Kelvinator GR8! FLO Women Award 2009" for her mind blowing contribution in Music.

Collaborations

Chauhan has worked with almost all the leading singers, composers and lyricists of India. She has collaborated with Indian singers such as Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Udit Narayan, and is known for her popular pairing with Sukhwinder Singh (in films such as Omkara, Aaja Nachle). She is most often paired with highly acclaimed singer Sonu Nigam, and with the successful female playback singer Shreya Ghosal, whom many view as a stiff competition for Chauhan.

Renowned lyricists she has worked with include Gulzar, Sameer, Prasoon Joshi, Swanand Kirkire, the late Anand Bakshi and Javed Akhtar; music directors include A. R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Jatin Lalit, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Pritam Chakraborty, Nadeem-Shravan, Vishal-Shekhar, Himesh Reshammiya and others.

Chauhan is one of the few female singers of the present generation who have lent their voice for nearly every leading actress in the Indian entertainment industry, including including Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra and more. She has also sung for actresses of yesteryear cinema, such as Rekha. She was the main singer who lent her voice for the comebacks of two leading Bollywood actresses, Kajol, in the movie Fanaa; and Madhuri Dixit, in the movie Aaja Nachle.

Vocal ability

Chauhan's voice has been described as "powerful,"  "amazing," "husky ... [and] sensuous". However, it has been noted that Chauhan can not hit high notes without losing some tonal quality, and people have cited her voice more suited to fast and pop songs, as compared to slow ones.

In 2007, while discussing Chauhan's popular song Beedi Jailaile, actress Bipasha Basu (on whom the song was picturised) said, "Sunidhi is a goddess. Her singing is so powerful. She added another dimension to my dancing."

Indian singing legend, Lata Mangeshkar has called Chauhan "one of the finest young singers." Ironically, Chauhan's item numbers have been said to mark the end of the "squeaky Lata era", a period in which Mangeshkar's style of soft voice and classical music were preferred over racy or fast pop songs.

Special Appearances

In October 2008, Chauhan appeared on a special episode of the singing contest, Star Voice of India, alongside composer Ashu Dhruv, to promote their film, Drona.

She was also a guest RJ for India's Radio City 91.1 FM's new morning show, Musical-e-Azam where, over her week-long stint, she interviewed the likes of Kunal Ganjawala, Daler Mehendi, Sukhwindar, Adnan Sami and Gulzar (lyricist).

Personal life

Chauhan, whose family basically hails from Uttar Pradesh, was born in a Gujarati-speaking household in Delhi,. Her father is a minor theatre personality who pushed her into the music industry from a young age. She has a younger sister, Suneha.

She completed her schooling from Greenway Public School, Dilshad Garden. She has only studied up to grade tenth, admitting she "was never interested in studies."

Chauhan, who believes herself to be "the most versatile singer today," attributes her success to her parents and Indian singer Sonu Nigam. She has cited Sadma (Shock) as her favourite film; gymnastics and cricket as her favourite sports; and Akshaye Khanna and Madhuri Dixit as her favourite actor and actress, respectively. Chauhan also loves western music, and cites Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson as her inspirations. She has noted that one of her ambitions is to achieve global fame like them. She has said of Maria Carey: "There's nobody like her. She has an amazing range and quality in her voice. She's a goddess."

Chauhan "changed" her image after making it big into Bollywood, upgrading her wardrobe and losing twelve kilos by jogging and working out. In 2000, she revealed a "secret dream" of seeing herself as a Bollywood actress. In an interview, she said: "I have many acting offers too, but I don't want to rush it. Frankly, I would like to do just one or two films to fulfill that secret dream of seeing myself as an actress. But my life is singing and my aim is to keep singing better."

Marriage, Disowning, and Divorce

In 2002, at the age of 18, Chauhan eloped with music video director and choreographer Bobby Khan, who came visibly close to her while working on the video of her hit song, Pehla Nasha.  It was reported that the couple married in a secretly arranged ceremony, attended only by very close friends, and vigilantly watched over by security,

Chauhan was initially happy with the marriage. In an interview, she said:

"My in-laws don't make me feel I am 'married'. I don't feel I have stepped into a new house. I am so comfortable. And Bobby is a darling. I am very, very happy."

On the downside, the marriage caused a rift between the young singer and her parents, who considered the union unsuitable, and consequently disowned her. However, Chauhan and Khan separated a year later, bringing about a reconciliation between the estranged parents and daughter. Chauhan, who lived with mentor, actor and TV anchor, Annu Kapoor and his wife Arunita during the separation, filed for divorce the same year, citing that she had realized she and Khan "wanted different things from life."

Religious

Chauhan has firm belief in God. On her official website, she is quoted as saying:

"God is my inner conscience; my intuition, my inner self, my guiding force and my angel who protects me. I have always had deep faith in the supreme power and it has never wavered at all."

In another interview, she commented, "I believe God gives everyone an opportunity."

Famous songs

In alphabetical order:

* Aisa Jadoo (Khakee)
* Aaja Nachle (Aaja Nachle)
* Avalude raavukal (Shakeela)
* Beedi Jalaile (Omkara)
* Bhaage Re Mann (Chameli)
* Cash Meri Aankhon Mein (Cash)
* Chhaliya (Tashan)
* Crazy Kiya Re (Dhoom 2)
* Dance Pe Chance (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)
* Dhadak Dhadak (Bunty Aur Babli)
* Deedar De (Dus)
* Dekh Le (Munna Bhai MBBS)
* Desi Girl (Dostana)
* Dhoom Machale (Dhoom)
* Dil Mein Jagi Dhadkan Aise(Sur)
* Ek Ajnabee (Ek Ajnabee)
* Ek Din Fursat (Zindaggi Rocks)
* Gazab (Aa Dekhen Zara)
* Happy New Year (Kuruvi)
* Hey Shona (Ta Ra Rum Pum)
* Hum To Aise Hain Bhaiyya (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag)
* Ishq Samundar (Kaante)
* Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani (Parineeta)
* Kar Le Baby Dance Wance (Hello)
* Khulam Khula Pyar Karen (Road)
* Le Chale (My Brother Nikhil)
* Lucky Boy (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
* Maa Da Laadla - Remix (Dostana)
* Mehboob Mere (Fiza)
* Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani (Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.)
* Race Saanson Ki (Race)
* Right Here Right Now (Bluffmaster)
* Sajna Ve Sajna (Chameli)
* Sajnaji Vari Vari (Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.)
* Shalala(Ghilli)
* Shut Up and Bounce (Dostana)
* Tere Ishq Me (Supari)
* Pyaar ki yeh kahani suno (Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.)
* Vallava Ennai (Vallavan)
* Ya Ali (Aap Ka Suroor)
* Dildara (Welcome to Sajjanpur)
* Saiyaan (Nayak: The Real Hero)
* Saradaga (Oy)
* Mere sang (New York)
* Kambakth Ishq (Kambakth Ishq)
* Chor Bazaari (Love Aaj Kal)
* Hadippa (Remix) (Dil Bole Hadippa)
* Raat Ke Dhai Baje (Kaminey)
* Do Ghut Peelay (Munde U.K. De)

Filmography

* Ehsaas - A Feeling (Released November 30, 2001) [Special Appearance]
* Bas Ek Pal [Special Appearance in Promotional Song Dheeme Dheeme with singer K.K.]
* Bhoot [Special Appearance in Promotional Song Bhoot Hoon Main]

Awards

Winner: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2007)
Song: Beedi

Movie: Omkara
Winner: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2007)
Song: Beedi

Movie: Guru
Winner: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2006)
Song: Beedi

Movie: Omkara

Winner: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2005)
Movie: Dhoom

Winner: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2005)
Song: Sajna Ve Sajna
Movie: Chameli

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2009)
Song: Dance Pe Chance
Movie: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2009)
Song: Dance Pe Chance
Movie: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2009)
Song: Desi Girl
Movie: Dostana

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2008)
Song: Sajanaji Vari Vari
Movie: Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.

Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2008)
Song: Sajanaji Vari Vari
Movie: Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.

Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2008)
Song: Aaja Nachle
Movie: Aaja Nachle

Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2008)
Song: Aaja Nachle
Movie: Aaja Nachle

Nominated: Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2007)
Song: Beedi
Movie: Omkara

Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2007)
Song: Crazy Kiya Re
Movie: Dhoom 2

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2007)
Song: Sajanaji Vari Vari
Movie: Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2007)
Song: Aaja Nachle
Movie: Aaja Nachle

Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2006)
Movie: Parineeta

Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2006)
Movie: Dus

Nominated: Global Indian Film Awards for Best Playback Singer (Female) (2006)
Song: Beedi
Movie: Omkara

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2006)
Movie: Parineeta

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2006)
Song: Aashiqui Meri
Movie: 36 China Town

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2006)
Song: Soniye
Movie: Aksar

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2005)
Movie: Dus

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2005)
Movie: Parineeta

Nominated: Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2005)
Movie: Parineeta

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2005)
Movie: Dhoom

Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2005)
Song: Dhoom Machale
Movie: Dhoom

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2004)
Movie: Dhoom

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2004)
Movie: Armaan

Nominated: Screen Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (2001)
Movie: Mission Kashmir

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (2000)
Movie: Fiza

Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer (1999)
Song: Ruki Ruki
Movie: Mast