Sunidhi’s career has unforgettable highlights like Sushmita Sen’s ‘Mehboob Mere’ from ‘Fiza’, ‘Dhoom Macha Le’ featuring Esha Deol and many more. She has always been a survivor. She got married to Hitesh Sonik in 2012 and with the arrival of her son Tegh in 2018 it was like Sunidhi’s life was filled with new tunes.
In this week’s Big Interview, Sunidhi looks back at her journey. How Tabassum spotted her talent, how Naushad and Kalyanji-Anandji gave her career a new direction and how she was renamed from Baby Nidhi to Sunidhi. Read on…
Please tell us how Tabassum discovered your talent and can you share some memories that you’ve had with the late actress.
I have great memories with the Tabassum ji. She was so fond of me. She first saw me singing on stage during those megastar nights that used to happen in Delhi and I used to participate in them as a kid. And in one of the shows she had come as a guest along with the other stars and I did my performance. She really liked it very much. When we met backstage, she said if there is anything that I need and I should tell her because she was impressed by me. She said that she loved my voice and should her whenever I come to Mumbai (then Bombay). She said all of this to my dad while I was right there standing, but I used to barely talk and used to just listen to the adults talking. I remember Tabassum ji was so happy to see me. And she told my dad that he must come to Bombay and whenever he does, he should call her first.
What happened in Bombay?
We went to Bombay after a few years perhaps it was for some work, or perhaps it was vacation time. When we reached Bombay, my dad called Tabassum ji and she immediately called us back and asked us to come over. She showered lots of love on us. Ghar pe bula ke hamen itna pyar diya, bahut acche se she treated us. We listened to some songs and then she made a few calls. She took me to Naushad saab. I can’t forget that moment ever. Mujhe us waqt samajh nahi aa raha tha, main choti thi mujhe malum nahi tha whom I am meeting (I was too young to even realise whom I was meeting with). Tabassum ji was big hearted like that. Then she took me to Kalyanji Anandji and made them hear my voice. That’s how it all began. I think the rest everybody knows.
You used to be called Nidhi. How did you end up transitioning to Sunidhi?
So yeah, my name was Nidhi Chauhan and earlier on in Delhi when I used to perform at various shows, I used to be addressed as Baby Nidhi. It all changed in just one second when I met Kalyanji Anandji. Kalyanji Bhai loved me so much. He used to give me so much attention and really made sure that I was taken care of. And you know, he came out with the concept of ‘Little Wonders’ (televised on-stage singing show with kids) with people like me and Aditya Narayan and a few more kids who were so talented. And I think it was just that one day, randomly he said that ‘Tumhara naam Nidhi se Su-nidhi rakhte hai. S se sadhana, S se sargam hai, S se Sonali Vajpayee hai (She was there in his academy then). So he said Sur ki nidhi-Sunidhi tumhara naam dete hain. Sur ki Nidhi, Sunidhi aisa unaka kehna tha. That’s how my name got changed to Sunidhi.
You performed at a concert recently. How was the experience of singing for a live audience?
The concert was amazing. Though things didn’t happen as planned, it was a wonderful experience. Half of our team members didn’t get the visa, so we had to hold the concert with half of the team. For the first time, I was so nervous on stage but as we moved ahead, the show went well. The audience was dancing, singing and also praised us and when they got to know the real reason why the stage looked emptier than it should have been. The audience ended up praising us even more.
Does your 5-year-old son enjoy your singing?
I don’t think he enjoys my singing. When he was a baby he had no option but to listen to my songs. But now at times, he tells me to stop singing. He literally says, “Mom, will you please stop singing” (laughs). On the contrary, when I am on stage, he enjoys me and my singing. I think he likes me performing on stage.
You’ve been singing for decades now. How has the music industry changed over the years?
Change is constant and the music industry is always evolving. I entered the industry when my kind of voice was not needed. It was just because of Ram Gopal Varma and Sanjay Khanna that I got introduced to the film music industry. I am thankful for the opportunity that was offered to me. Whatever I have today, I owe it to that chance.
India brought home an Oscar this year for an Original Song. What do you have to say about this honour for the music fraternity?
‘Naatu Naatu’ being nominated at the OSCAR was indeed a proud moment for all of us. And now that the song has brought home the Oscar trophy the feeling has become even more special.
You worked with MM Keervani during ‘Sur’, how do you look back at that experience?
Working with MM Kreem sir was a blessing. I have learned so much during his sessions. I have been lucky to have worked with him on many projects and he is such a wonderful artiste, and wonderful musician to work with. During ‘Sur’, I was a newcomer, I was singing various kinds of songs and I had already heard about his music, his style of compositions and also about him. Therefore, I was a bit skeptical and was thinking ‘What will I do there?’, ‘How will I sing for him?’, ‘Will I be able to deliver what he is expecting from me?’ All those thoughts crossed my mind, but Kreem sir made it really easy. When I met him for the very first time, he showed his fondness for me. He was very gentle and very patient with me. I think that’s why I was able to deliver, in the best way that I could.
What sort of challenges did you face while working with MM Keeravani?
The real challenge was not with the song ‘Aa Bhi Jaa’, but the real challenge was with ‘Dil Mein Jaagi Dhadkan Aise’. Kreem sir wanted me to sing in one breath. Not the whole song but the whole mukhda and that was impossible. I tried a couple of times and it was not happening. I was worried because singing the whole thing in one breath was seeming like an impossible thing to do. But then Kreem sir said, “I know you can do it, you just take some time off, go to the other room and practice. You keep practicing a little and it will come.” He just said it in the simplest of ways. I remember telling him, ‘Thank you for being so patient with me’. I went to the other room and I took my time. I think I took about 45 minutes to an hour to work on the song and then finally, thanks to Kreem sir, I was able to come a little close to what he expected from me. I base this on the observation that later, after we were done with the recording, he seemed really happy. It was a fun and amazing experience working with Kreem sir. It was also very challenging.
Does the quality of his compositions demand that something extra from the singer?
A simple song like ‘Kaun Mera’ from ‘Special 26’ sounds easy. Kreem sir’s compositions have this deep kind of feeling. One has to really connect with it. If one gets it then he/she is in the ideal place and can sing a belter. Unki compositions ka ek apna sur hota hai. Agar aapko woh sur mil jaye toh, anyone will feel good singing with it. You will also feel good about it. Working with MM Keeravani can be magical that way.
Do you feel you are blessed to be a musician?
I would say it’s been a blessing that I started singing in movies at the age of 11. God has been really kind to me. I feel Kalyanji and Tabassum ji are always watching over me. These are people who have made a really big difference to my life. They are always giving me love from up there and I am still doing what I love to do. It’s such a liberating feeling. This is such a beautiful feeling, the fact that you can make a living out of what you are crazy about doing. I am doing exactly what I am passionate about. I wish to continue do this forever.
